Inspector's Report On O'Connell Primary

Post date: Mar 25, 2015 11:39:29 AM

Another example is O'Connell's boys primary, in Dublin's north inner city.

Among the 153 pupils are a significant number for whom English is an additional language.

Catering for second to sixth classes with a class for pupils with autism spectrum disorders, the school is in Band 1 of the Department of Education's DEIS programme for disadvantaged areas.

A recent WSE commends the school for its robust self-evaluation and describes the overall quality of teaching and learning at the school as very good, with teachers demonstrating a high level of insight and an appropriate awareness of needs.

In maths, inspectors say an analysis of standardised test results show that pupil attainment is surpassing ability levels.

Where the very best practice in the teaching of maths was observed, frequent opportunities were provided for pupils to engage in the resolution of collaborative, multi-stage problems.

Teaching and learning of drama was also described as very good with a broad range of strategies allowing pupils to enter the fictional world with ease, and many examples of meaningful integration between drama and other curriculum areas, the report states.

Inspectors said O'Connell's was successfully promoting a reading culture through the provision of an excellent library and initiatives designed to improve reading ability and attitudes.

Pupils also displayed a positive disposition to Irish and participated with enthusiasm with learning activities prepared for them, the report states.

Inspectors described as commendable the quality of provision for pupils with special educational needs and said the teaching observed in support settings was exemplary.

Irish Independent