Banbridge High School

Overview

This Sustaining Improvement Inspection was conducted during industrial action, with most teachers refusing to cooperate. Consequently, the report states the ETI is “unable to assure parents/carers... of the quality of education being provided.” Evaluations are based solely on evidence available at the time, limiting the scope of findings.

Strengths

• Attainment improved, with the percentage of pupils achieving five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C rising from 36% in 2014 to 52% in 2017.
• This attainment rate is “in line with the Northern Ireland (NI) average for similar schools in the same free school meals category.”
• A majority of Year 14 leavers progressed to higher education over the past three years.
• Pupils spoke “very positively about their experiences in school” and appreciated the academic and pastoral support received.
• The school has extended its tracking and monitoring system, focusing on pupil progression and ownership of learning.

Areas to improve

• Attainment at post-16 is identified as an area for improvement, as it remains “below the average for similar schools.”
• The employing authority, governors, and staff must plan for the “sustainability of the school provision and school budget” to address current and future needs.

Safeguarding

The report states that safeguarding arrangements “reflect broadly the guidance from the Department of Education” and pupils feel safe, though the ETI was “unable to evaluate fully the outworking of the arrangements” due to the industrial action.