St Teresa's Primary School

Overview

This sustaining improvement inspection was conducted to evaluate the school’s capacity for self-evaluation and development. Due to industrial action where teachers refused to cooperate, the ETI could not fully assess classroom teaching or the specific improvement targets. Consequently, the report concludes that the inspectorate is “unable to assure parents/carers... of the quality of education being provided for the children.”

Strengths

• The school development plan was informed by data analysis and consultation, with “appropriate targets... identified to support the school’s improvement agenda.”
• A “comprehensive review of planning” and a “coherent writing and spelling programme” were developed to promote consistent progression in learning.
• Internal data and work samples demonstrated “improvement in the children’s outcomes in literacy.”
• Pupils spoke positively about opportunities to “read for pleasure,” the “welcoming ethos of the school,” and the support provided by staff and peers.

Areas to improve

• The report states the ETI was “unable to evaluate fully” the lines of inquiry regarding planning quality and writing opportunities.
• The quality of learning and teaching within classrooms could not be assessed due to non-cooperation.

Safeguarding

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