Inspection Summary Report - Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh agus Naíscoil an tSratha Báin

Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh agus Naíscoil an tSratha Báin

DE Ref No 204-6638

Inspection Summary Report - November 2025

Founded by the local community, the school remains deeply grounded in its origins with staff and governors wholly committed to the shared vision - ‘Ag fás, ag forbairt agus ag foghlaim le chéile.’ This vision continues to shape a compassionate, inclusive culture where exemplary pastoral care and a proud celebration of Irish language, identity and heritage are central to school life.
The school has embedded highly effective immersion strategies that are consistently implemented across the curriculum and throughout the school. These approaches are having a clear and positive impact on children’s receptive language and oral competence in Irish, with children demonstrating increasing confidence, fluency and understanding in a rich language environment.
Comprehensive, differentiated and meaningful connected planning is in place across all areas of the pre-school and primary curricula which guides well the teaching and enables progression in the children’s learning, skills and development.
Successful learning in the school is supported by the consistently impactful and nurturing immersion environment and the well-planned and appropriately challenging opportunities for the children to engage in active, purposeful and well-connected learning experiences.
Where assessment for learning is most impactful, the teachers and classroom assistants have a shared understanding of the intended learning, use skilful questions to extend the children’s learning and thinking, and provide effective verbal and written feedback that enables the children to manage and improve their work. Embedding assessment for learning
strategies more consistently across each class will support the school’s ongoing priority to raise further the children’s attainment.
The health and well-being of all is prioritised and actively promoted through the caring and inclusive pastoral systems, and the attention given to following healthy and active lifestyles.
Through the highly effective professional collaboration and thorough analysis of assessment information, the school staff monitor closely the holistic development of each child: ensuring that their needs are known and understood; and that they are supported well to achieve.
Collaborative and solution focused engagement with external agencies supports a compassionate, inclusive and well-planned approach to behaviour management. Across the school, the staff use very effectively a wide range of tailored approaches and strategies: to reduce triggers for challenging behaviour; promote high self-esteem and a sense of belonging; and encourage positive engagement in learning.
The children are confident, well-mannered, enthusiastic and friendly. They are at ease in their learning environment and the strong sense of pride and connection they have to the school, and the Irish language is evident in their daily interactions.
The children are making very good progress in their learning and development from their individual starting points with most achieving expected outcomes or above in literacy and numeracy as evidenced by the school’s own assessment information.
The celebration of the children’s success is an intrinsic and visible part of school life. The children are supported to grow academically, emotionally and linguistically, and achievements are affirmed in ways that build confidence, self-esteem and motivation.
The school’s commitment to Irish-medium education remains central to its identity. Staff actively promote the Irish language and culture, creating rich opportunities for children to develop pride in their heritage through an extensive range of extra-curricular events and activities.
There is an established culture of continuous improvement and a willingness to embrace change and innovation, reflecting the school’s vision to grow, develop and learn together as a thriving learning community.
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.

Next steps

The school’s journey, from its community-founded beginnings to its current position as a thriving Irish-medium learning environment, is a testament to the power of shared vision and values, strategic leadership and community. The commitment to ‘Ag fás, ag forbairt agus ag foghlaim le chéile’ is evident in every aspect of school life, from inclusive teaching and exemplary pastoral care to the celebration of Irish language, identity, and heritage. The school’s strengths in stakeholder engagement, inclusion and immersive language strategies offer valuable practice for wider dissemination. As set out in the school’s current development plan, the next steps for Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh and Naíscoil an tSratha Báin include the need to take forward the following area for action: to embed assessment for learning strategies consistently across the school.

The district inspector will monitor the school’s progress in addressing this area for action as part of ETI’s normal monitoring processes.

ETI will continue to work with Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh, including to share examples of highly effective practice from which others may learn. The aspects of practice which should be shared more widely are set out below:

the strategic and collaborative work of the leadership team and governors in developing a highly collegial community of learning that is the bedrock of the school’s ongoing work to realise its shared vision;
the highly effective immersion strategies employed by all staff; and
the collaborative and highly effective approaches to supporting the social, behavioural and emotional well-being needs of the children.