St Ronan's Primary School

Overview

The inspection was conducted during industrial action, with almost all teachers refusing to cooperate with inspectors. Consequently, the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) was “unable to assure... of the quality of education being provided” and could not evaluate core areas such as outcomes, provision, or leadership. The school is designated a “high priority for future inspection with no further notice.”

Strengths

• Children commented “very positively” on the “extensive range of opportunities to develop their leadership skills.”
• Pupils praised the “wide range of extra-curricular activities on offer.”
• Children reported enjoyment of learning, fostered by staff who encourage them to live out the school’s motto of being “wise, kind, loving and forgiving.”
• Children reported that they “felt safe in school and knew what to do if they had any concerns about their well-being.”

Areas to improve

• The school should “continue to implement the appropriate planned review of policies and procedures to reflect current guidance and best practice” regarding safeguarding.
• The playground is “not fully enclosed by fencing,” allowing children “easy access to the visitor and staff car park.”
• There is “no controlled access to one of the doors in to the school building.”

Safeguarding

The school provided evidence that safeguarding arrangements “reflect broadly the guidance from the Department of Education,” though the ETI was “unable to evaluate fully the outworking of the arrangements” due to the industrial action.