Report of an Independent School Initial Registration Inspection - Scoil na Seolta, Belfast

DE Ref No IS106

May 2026

1.       Context

Scoil na Seolta is located in purpose-built accommodation on the Montgomery Road in East Belfast.  Established in August 2025, it is an Irish-medium, integrated, co-educational primary school* with seven children currently enrolled in the primary one class, Rang 1.  The school is administered by a board of directors with operational management overseen by the principal, Chair of the board and other board members.

The school mission is to deliver primary education through the medium of the Irish language in an inclusive and integrated environment where children are encouraged to follow their passions, thrive and develop a lifelong love of learning.

The school is primarily funded through donations and receives funding from the Integrated Education Fund and capital funding from The Shared Island Fund.

Statistical Information

Source: data as held by the school.

* fewer than 5

¹ The term ‘FSME Percentage’ refers to the percentage of pupils with free school meals entitlement.

2.       Focus of the initial registration inspection visit

During the initial registration inspection visit, in line with Article 38 of The Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986, the inspectors focused on the extent to which the:

• school provides efficient and suitable instruction (referred to in this report as ‘provision’) that is matched to the age, gender and ability of the pupils;
• arrangements for child protection and safeguarding (including the vetting arrangements for staff) are appropriate, are in place and are being implemented;
• accommodation is suitable for a school and is appropriate for the age, gender and numbers of pupils attending the school; 
• equipment and resources are sufficient, safe and appropriate, including those related to fire safety; and
• pupils get access to education on a full-time basis, with reference to pupil attendance.

Inspectors observed teaching and learning, scrutinised documentation and the pupils’ written work and held discussions with the teachers and staff with specific responsibilities, and the pupils while they were in their lessons.

It should be noted that independent schools are not obliged to follow the Northern Ireland Curriculum and may employ teachers who do not hold teaching qualifications recognised by the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland or the Department of Education.  Further details of the nature of the curriculum offered and the teaching qualifications held by the staff are included in this report.

3.       Key findings

• Scoil na Seolta provides efficient and suitable instruction that is matched to the age and ability of the pupils.
• The arrangements for child protection and the safeguarding procedures that are in place are appropriate.
• The purpose-built accommodation is bright, modern and well-resourced and of a very good standard and it meets well the needs of the children.
• The staff are effective linguistic role models; engaging naturally, sensitively and skilfully with the children and have created a language-rich learning environment.
• The children benefit from a broad learning experiences within a vibrant, immersion setting and use phrases in Irish independently with each other during learning activities and play.
• The school has developed and uses well a range of meaningful community links to provide opportunities for staff professional learning and supporting continuous improvement.

4.       Efficient and suitable instruction

At the time of inspection, there was a full-time teaching principal, a full-time classroom assistant and an Irish-medium post-graduate student teacher in the Rang 1 classroom.  The principal holds a recognised teaching qualification and has previously led nursery provision in the adjoining Naiscoil na Seolta; the classroom assistant is currently studying a relevant course degree level.

The school provides effective instruction that caters for the needs of all the seven pupils in Rang 1, who access full-time education from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm.

The children in Rang 1 are well settled and happy in school.  They are very much at ease with the adults and with each other and relationships at all levels are nurturing and positive.  Classroom routines and transitions are very well embedded, and all the children engage enthusiastically in the purposeful and collaborative learning activities set for them.  The children have a good understanding of Irish and use short phrases naturally in Irish with each other and with the adults.

There is planning in place that demonstrates a breadth of meaningfully connected experiences across the curriculum and progression in learning.  The adults are very effective linguistic role models and create a supportive, immersion environment for learning.  The enrolment attendance for the year currently stands at 95%.

The staff have created a bright, attractive, well-resourced and child-centred learning environment.  The children benefit pastorally and linguistically from the small group setting, and the regular interactions with the adults.  The children’s health and wellbeing are promoted through purposeful opportunities for outdoor learning, the taught curriculum and the regular use of praise and affirmations of their good work and behaviour.

The school has developed strong links with the attached Naíscoil, several local schools, local churches, youth workers, community representatives and schools including from the Eastside Learning Community, the Integrated and Irish-medium sectors.  The school is benefitting from its involvement in and representation on Fóram na bPríomhoidí, a cluster group for Irish-medium school principals, and the Association of Principal Teachers in Integrated Schools (APTIS).

The parents are valued partners in their children’s learning and are informed well about the school activities and the children’s learning through regular use of a communications app, emails and phone calls.

5.       Child protection and safeguarding

Based on the evidence available at the time of the inspection, there are appropriate arrangements for child protection and safeguarding in place.  The school provided a range of child protection and safeguarding policies, procedures and proof of vetting and training which align to the current statutory child protection and safeguarding guidance and reflects the relevant guidance from health, education, and social services departments.

6.       Accommodation, equipment and resources, including health and safety

The learning environment is of a high standard with the recently purpose-built accommodation suitable for the school's current size and the age group it serves.  The Rang 1 classroom is well equipped and suitable for delivery of the curriculum.  There are green spaces all around the school which has appropriate boundary fencing for health and safety and the school entry systems, as far as is practicable, ensure on-site safety.

The school has in place a range of health and safety policies, including the emergency evacuation procedures, site security, and pest control.  Risk assessments are completed in a range of areas including, for example play areas, medical emergencies, going on outings, and completing physical activities.

7.       Conclusion

On receipt of this report, and considering all other evidence available, the Department of Education has concluded that the school will be registered to provide education. 

8.       Appendix

Appendix 1: Notes

Page 1 

Irish-medium, integrated, co-educational primary school*

The Board of Directors describe the educational provision as an Irish‑medium, integrated, co-educational primary school.