Fort Hill Integrated College

Overview

Fort Hill Integrated College is an integrated, all-ability school in Lisburn with a clearly understood vision to “EDUCATE, INTEGRATE and INSPIRE pupils”. The inspection highlights a supportive community where pupils are respectful and staff prioritise emotional health and well-being, though inconsistencies in teaching quality and curriculum provision require attention.

Strengths

• Pupils are “respectful, listen well” and interact politely, benefiting from a “supportive learning environment” built on restorative practice.
• The school’s focus on “relationship building and restorative practice” is identified as “highly effective practice” supporting emotional health and well-being.
• Achievement is celebrated effectively through methods such as “praise postcards” and the ‘Spirit of Integration’ award, with 80% of pupils reporting their talents are recognised.
• Staff professional learning is “research-informed” and aligned to school priorities, empowering staff to share effective practice.
• The school actively promotes integration through a “calendar of celebrations” and an equality, diversity and inclusion policy.

Areas to improve

• Improve the quality of planning, teaching and assessment, specifically addressing inconsistency in adaptive teaching and over-reliance on workbooks.
• Review the curriculum across all key stages to better meet the needs, abilities and aspirations of a minority of pupils, including post-16 provision.
• Review timetable arrangements for Year 13 and Year 14 pupils on Fridays to align with Department of Education guidance.

Safeguarding

The report states that “arrangements for child and adult protection align to the current statutory guidance.”