Inspection Summary Report - Abercorn Primary School, Banbridge

Abercorn Primary School, Banbridge

DE Ref No 501-1594

Inspection Summary Report - June 2026

The school has made an initial start to the development of a values-based vision which is underpinned by the motto “Learning and working together”.
The current self-evaluation processes do not provide a robust basis for monitoring and evaluating progress or driving sustained school improvement.
The development of a cohesive and collaborative community of learning has been prioritised. The intended benefits are not yet fully realised.
The board of governors are experiencing significant difficulties in recruiting staff to undertake roles of responsibility and co‑ordination. This is limiting effective curriculum oversight and the quality of the children’s learning experiences.
The significant variability in the quality of planning, learning and teaching across the school is impacting adversely on the children's learning experiences and progress. The school has identified appropriately the need to review its planning processes to map more clearly progression across all year groups and key curriculum areas.
The school’s internal assessment data indicates that most of the children attain standards in literacy and numeracy that are in line with their ability.
The school has identified appropriately the need to develop further the provision for children with additional needs.
There are rich opportunities for the children to take part in music. As a result, the children in the school choir perform confidently and enthusiastically for an audience.
The children’s achievements inside and outside of school are celebrated at class and whole-school level.
At the time of the inspection, the evidence provided by the school demonstrates that the arrangements for child protection align to the current statutory guidance. ETI will monitor the progress in addressing the following area for action: to revise the child protection flowchart on how to raise a concern to improve its clarity within the child protection policy.

Next steps

Abercorn Primary School continues to work on its emerging vision for the future of the school. All staff and stakeholders recognise that a collective commitment will be the next step in embedding the vision and motto “Learning and working together” into the life and work of the school.

The inspection has highlighted a number of areas of action which will enable the school to develop and achieve its vision. These actions are:

to develop the emerging vision, values and behaviours through reviewing and agreeing roles and responsibilities at all levels and embedding a culture of shared accountability and positive collaboration across the school community;
to improve outcomes through developing processes for self-evaluation and structures for monitoring and evaluation that are implemented consistently throughout the school; and
to improve the quality of planning, teaching and assessment for successful learning.

ETI will monitor the progress of Abercorn Primary School in addressing the areas for action, including the review of the school development plan in light of the inspection findings. There will be a progress inspection. Sustained external support will be provided to the school to help it address the areas for action in a timely way.