Lisnagarvey High School

Overview

This sustaining improvement inspection was conducted in May 2019, but the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) was unable to fully evaluate the school’s performance due to industrial action by teaching unions. Consequently, the report states that the ETI is “unable to assure parents/carers... of the quality education provided for the pupils,” limiting the scope of the findings.

Strengths

• The report identifies that “outcomes in public examinations at KS 4 and post-16 are a strength of the school,” including for pupils with free school meal entitlement.
• There is evidence that “tracking and monitoring systems and the attendance and support programmes continue to support improved outcomes.”
• The proportion of year 14 pupils progressing to higher education has “steadily increased,” with a majority doing so in 2018.
• Pupils spoke positively about the support from teachers and how “tracking systems and target setting are used well to encourage and motivate them.”
• The Parent-Teacher Association is described as “very supportive” and provides constructive feedback on key policies.

Areas to improve

• The school needs to “continue to review and update governor training and key policies,” specifically regarding anti-bullying, positive behaviour, and relationships and sexuality education.

Safeguarding

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