Whiteabbey Primary School

Overview

This report details a sustaining improvement inspection conducted in May 2018, which was significantly impacted by staff participation in industrial action. The Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) was unable to evaluate key aspects of the school’s performance, including learning, teaching, and self-evaluation, because staff did not cooperate with inspectors. Consequently, the ETI could not assure parents of the quality of education or safeguarding provided at the time.

Strengths

• The previous inspection in October 2014 evaluated the school as “good”.
• During a follow-up visit in June 2018, the school provided evidence that safeguarding arrangements “reflect broadly the guidance from the Department of Education”.
• Year 6 children reported that they “feel safe in school” and know who to talk to if concerned about their safety.

Areas to improve

• The school must address the lack of cooperation with inspectors, which prevented the evaluation of learning, teaching, and school planning.
• The ETI was unable to fully evaluate the “outworking of the arrangements for safeguarding” due to the industrial action.
• The school is designated as a “high priority for future inspection with no further notice” to ensure improvements are made.

Safeguarding

While the school did not initially provide evidence that safeguarding arrangements reflected Department of Education guidance, a follow-up visit confirmed they “reflect broadly” the guidance, though the ETI could not fully evaluate their implementation.