Ballymoney High School

Overview

This pilot baseline inspection evaluates the newly established post-16 provision at Ballymoney High School, which began in September 2023. The report highlights effective teaching and strong pastoral support, noting that pupils feel safe and valued as the first sixth-form cohort. However, it identifies that the current curriculum delivery relies heavily on external partnerships which are not yet sufficiently flexible or equitable for all students.

Strengths

• Planning, teaching, and assessment were "effective" with strategies "well matched to the pupils’ needs and abilities".
• Pupils report feeling "safe and cared for" with strong communication between staff and students.
• Staff professional learning is "impacting positively" on their capacity to deliver the post-16 curriculum.
• A new sixth-form facility has been created, described as a "welcome addition".
• Assessment and feedback cycles help motivate pupils, with an attendance rate of "almost 92%".

Areas to improve

• The school needs "greater collaborative planning" with partners to ensure the curriculum is "sufficiently flexible, equitable and accessible to all pupils".
• Senior leaders must implement the planned programme for enrichment at post-16 and "monitor its effectiveness".
• The new sixth-form accommodation will not accommodate the current cohort plus the anticipated second cohort.

Safeguarding

The report states that "arrangements for child protection align to the current statutory guidance" and the policy is being updated to include adult protection.