Staff and pupils celebrate ‘very good’ report

The Education and Training Inspectorate carried out its inspection at the Glengormley school in February this year.

The inspection focused on the children’s achievements and standards in literacy and numeracy, in particular how the school is addressing low attainment and underachievement. It also addressed the school’s arrangements for pastoral care, child protection and arrangements to promote health awareness.

“The quality of the teaching and learning observed was of a consistently high standard. The teaching ranged from good to outstanding, with the majority of lessons being very good,” the document states.

“Over the last two years the school has developed a rigorous and coherent approach to the development of literacy and numeracy skills which facilitates continuity and progression in the children’s learning.”

The report highlights the success of the school in realising its ethos statement of ‘achieving potential in a caring environment’ and describes the behaviour of the pupils as “exemplary”. It also praises the management of the school, particularly the “outstanding leadership” of the principal, the “highly motivated staff” and the “well-informed governors.”

The inspectors also remarked on the learning environment, which they described as “nurturing, safe and secure.”

“In the areas inspected, the quality of education provided by this school is very good. The school is meeting very effectively the educational and pastoral needs of the children; and has demonstrated its capacity for sustained self-improvement,” the report concludes.

Reflecting on the report, principal Robert Smith stressed that all 133 pupils at the school receive “an excellent education.”

“Our fantastic report truly reflects the daily interactions in our school,” he said. “I would like to thank the commitment of all staff in school and the support we receive from our parents. But we always keep in mind that we do this for a purpose - to make sure any child who attends Ballyhenry Primary gets the best educational start in life and can aspire to be the best.”

Meanwhile, to celebrate their good report, staff and pupils made a video showcasing life at the school. The video, which is set to the Pharrell Williams hit ‘Happy’, has already had more than 2,300 views on YouTube.

The full inspection report can be accessed online at www.etini.gov.uk