Clounagh Junior High School

Overview

This sustaining improvement inspection evaluated Clounagh Junior High School’s capacity to effect improvement through self-evaluation and development planning. However, due to industrial action involving non-cooperation by most teaching staff, the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) was unable to fully evaluate the impact of school actions. Consequently, the report concludes that the ETI is “unable to assure parents/carers... of the quality of education provided for the pupils.”

Strengths

• The school has maintained a “strategic focus on the collation and analysis” of academic and pastoral data to inform self-evaluation and targeted interventions.
• There is “clear evidence of the impact for individual pupils identified as being at risk of disengagement,” including modified qualifications offers.
• Pupils are described as “respectful of each other” and expressed appreciation for teacher support and extra-curricular opportunities.
• Older pupils actively support younger students as “friendly faces” and promote literacy and numeracy awareness through peer leadership roles.

Areas to improve

• The report states that owing to the industrial action, the ETI was “unable to evaluate fully the outworking and impact” of the school’s actions regarding literacy, numeracy, and safeguarding.
• The school is required to update key policies, specifically the anti-bullying, child protection, and relationships and sexuality education policies.

Safeguarding

The school provided evidence that safeguarding arrangements “reflect broadly the guidance from the Department of Education,” and pupils reported feeling safe, although the ETI could not fully evaluate the outworking of these arrangements due to staff non-cooperation.