Craigavon Senior High School

Overview

Craigavon Senior High School operates a shared vision of ‘Valuing all our young people to shape them positively for their future’, which is well understood by staff and parents. The inspection highlights effective leadership, strong community partnerships, and robust support for pupils with special educational needs, particularly through the new Personalised Opportunities for Development Department. However, the report identifies inconsistencies in teaching quality and areas for improvement in pupil attendance and behaviour.

Strengths

• The school’s vision is clear, with 95.9% of staff feeling they contribute to it and 90.7% of parents aware of it.
• Effective teaching practices, including retrieval practice and astute questioning, are evident in lessons where learning is most successful.
• Strong collaborative links with feeder junior high schools and external partners like the YMCA support pupil transitions and well-being.
• Pupils with special educational needs benefit from tailored support, including small-group teaching in the PODD, which helps them gain confidence and make progress.
• Comprehensive careers education and guidance prepare pupils well for their next steps, with 91.9% feeling prepared for future education or employment.

Areas to improve

• Improve the quality and consistency of planning, teaching, and assessment to ensure successful learning across all lessons.
• Enhance pupils’ wider attitudes and dispositions, specifically regarding punctuality, attendance, and behaviour for learning.
• Address accommodation concerns, including poor conditions in the external toilet block and insufficient indoor space during recreation times.

Safeguarding

The evidence provided demonstrates that arrangements for child and adult protection align to current statutory guidance, and all pupils told inspectors they feel safe in school and know whom to talk to if they have a concern.