News

Inspectors to apologise to school for causing upset and uncertainty

St Paul's PS in Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh was awarded a `good' grade following a visit by the ETI in summer 2015
St Paul's PS in Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh was awarded a `good' grade following a visit by the ETI in summer 2015 St Paul's PS in Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh was awarded a `good' grade following a visit by the ETI in summer 2015

INSPECTORS must apologise to a primary school for causing "uncertainty, upset, inconvenience, frustration and trouble".

The Public Services Ombudsman found that the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) failed to conduct an inspection "in the appropriate manner".

St Paul's PS in Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh was awarded a `good' grade following a visit by the ETI in summer 2015.

The chairman of the school's governors subsequently made a complaint to the ombudsman about the manner of the inspection.

The governors also told the ombudsman they were unhappy with how the ETI investigated a complaint it raised about the inspection.

The complaint from the school claimed "injustice as a result of maladministration by the ETI".

A previous inspection in 2008 found all areas of the school to be very good. In the 2015 report, ETI said all areas had fallen one grade to good.

It is understood that the complaint did not relate to the grade itself.

In a report seen by the Irish News, the ombudsman Marie Anderson said she identified "a failure to conduct the inspection in the appropriate manner" and "a failure to handle the complaint submitted by the BOG in the appropriate manner".

Ms Anderson reported that she was satisfied that "the maladministration I identified caused the BOG to experience the injustice of uncertainty, upset, inconvenience, frustration and time and trouble in pursuing their complaint".

She said "by way of remedy for the injustice" that ETI should apologise to the governors.

St Paul's principal Anne Molly said she could not talk about the contents of the confidential report.

"We have received the ombudsman's report and we accept the findings," she said.

A Department of Education spokeswoman said the ETI was unable to discuss individual schools or details regarding their inspection.

"The ETI can nevertheless clarify that this particular school raised a complaint after the inspection with the ETI and subsequently with the Northern Ireland Public Service Ombudsman (NIPSO). The NIPSO made recommendations relating to aspects of administration that the ETI is working to address," she said.

The ombudsman's office said all its investigations were conducted in private.

"All investigation reports are confidential unless the ombudsman decides, in accordance with the office's governing legislation, to publish them in the public interest," a spokesman said.

"The office of the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman has no further comment to make on this matter."