Larne High School

Overview

This follow-up inspection confirms that Larne High School has made significant progress in addressing previous areas for action, particularly in raising attainment and improving teaching quality. The report highlights a "significant increase" in GCSE results and notes that the school is now "effective in promoting learning for the pupils." Consequently, the Education and Training Inspectorate states that "no further follow-up inspection is required."

Strengths

• A majority of pupils now attain five GCSE qualifications at grades A* to C, with standards improving significantly for those with free school meals entitlement.
• All observed lessons were "effective in promoting learning," with teaching methods informed by research and led by middle leaders who share effective practice.
• Staff use pupil performance and pastoral data with confidence to monitor progress and implement appropriate intervention programmes.
• Parents of children with special educational needs are involved "meaningfully" in developing individual education plans and planning supports.
• Pupils report feeling safe, with staff supporting them effectively and senior pupils developing leadership skills through various school roles.

Areas to improve

• The school must "develop further the curriculum offered to meet the needs of the widening range of abilities of the pupils across all key stages."
• The current post-16 subject offer does not fully meet Entitlement Framework requirements, with limited opportunities for studying subjects elsewhere.
• The school is engaging strategies to improve overall attendance rates, which have declined since the pandemic and have not yet recovered to pre-pandemic levels.

Safeguarding

The evidence provided demonstrates that the arrangements for child and adult protection "align to the current statutory guidance."