Strathearn School

Overview

The inspection occurred during industrial action, meaning staff did not cooperate with inspectors. Consequently, the ETI states it is “unable to assure” parents of the quality of education provided. The report concludes that the school is a “high priority for future inspection with no further notice.”

Strengths

• Parents praised the school’s culture for encouraging “individuality, confidence and caring dispositions.”
• Staff questionnaire responses endorsed the leadership and how children are “prepared well for the future.”
• Year seven children were “articulate” and expressed “enjoyment of reading,” confidently justifying their literary choices.
• Year six children spoke “enthusiastically” about their learning and listened carefully to one another.
• The curriculum is enriched by “challenging and interesting educational visits,” such as art exhibitions.
• The board of governors has a “wide range of expertise” and is “supportive of the school.”

Areas to improve

• The school needs to “review and update the intimate care policy and the anti-bullying policy” to reflect current Department of Education guidance.
• There is “limited evidence” that monitoring processes enable staff to “evaluate fully” the impact on children’s learning.

Safeguarding

The report states that safeguarding arrangements “reflect broadly the guidance from the Department of Education” and that year six children feel safe, though the ETI was unable to fully evaluate the outworking of these arrangements due to industrial action.