Blackwater Integrated College

Overview

The inspection was conducted during industrial action, meaning teachers did not cooperate with inspectors. Consequently, the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) states it is “unable to assure parents/carers... of the quality of education being provided for the pupils.” The report notes that evaluations are based only on the limited evidence available at the time.

Strengths

• Pupils are described as “friendly and polite” and report having opportunities for school trips and leadership roles.
• GCSE outcomes in most subjects are “in line with, or above, the corresponding NI subject averages.”
• Pupils requiring additional support have “attained well at GCSE,” with many progressing to further education.
• Governors show a “clear understanding of the work and life of the school,” particularly regarding finance and staffing.
• The curriculum at Key Stage 4 meets the entitlement framework through area collaboration.

Areas to improve

• The school must address wide differentials in GCSE outcomes for boys and girls, and for pupils entitled to free school meals.
• Action plans require a “sharper focus on the use of baseline data to set more measurable targets.”
• The school needs to review risk assessments in practical subjects, particularly for large class sizes.

Safeguarding

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