Village school given top inspection marks

Village school given top inspection marks

18 January 2017

OUTSTANDING leadership, lessons and pastoral care have been highlighted in a glowing inspection report of Strangford’s primary school.

The excellent behaviour of children attending St Joseph’s Primary School was also praised by inspectors following a recent visit to the school.

The report, published this week, highlights the extensive strengths of the rural primary where enrolment has grown from 40 to 58 over the past four years.

School principal Laura Fitzsimons is praised for a leadership style that “inspires the confidence of the wider school community”, while the school was found to be living out its vision statement “A school at the heart of the community, community at the heart of the school.”

Inspectors found the well-being of every child was looked after through the creation of a “very close-knit school community” with outstanding attention to promoting healthy lifestyles.

“The school leadership at all levels is underpinned by a strong sense of collegiality and a clear focus on meeting the needs of the children, enhancing their learning experiences and improving further their standards and achievements,” inspectors said.

“The children’s attitudes and dispositions towards learning are outstanding; they are highly motivated.

“The children’s interactions with other children and with adults reveal very high levels of respect, kindness and consideration; their behaviour is excellent.”

The report, which also focuses on numeracy, says standards at all stages are very good with children highly engaged in their learning and very competent in the use of information and communication technology.

“The provision for numeracy is highly effective. The teachers model well for the children the effective use of mathematical language and through well-planned and challenging learning tasks,” the report states.

The board of governors was also praised with inspectors reporting that “there can be a high degree of confidence in the aspects of governance evaluated.” 

Mrs Fitzsimons said she was delighted with the Education and Training Inspectorate’s assessment of St Joseph’s and praised the effort and commitment of all her staff. 

“There is a high level of distributive leadership here at St Joseph’s and we all work together as one big team in the interests of all our learners,” she said.

“I can’t thank all the staff enough for the dedication and sheer hard work that goes in to making our school the wonderful success that it is.

“I am also indebted to all our parents for their continued support and in particular our Parent Teacher Association who work so hard in the background to provide those much-needed extra resources. 

“But most of all, I am so very, very proud of the children and it is an absolute privilege and pleasure for me to get up and go to work with them every day.”