North Coast Integrated College

Overview

This sustaining improvement inspection was conducted during industrial action, with most teachers refusing to cooperate with inspectors. Consequently, the Education and Training Inspectorate states it is “unable to assure parents/carers... of the quality education provided for the pupils.” The evaluation relies on available evidence, noting that the school was previously evaluated as “good” in 2014.

Strengths

• Post-16 outcomes are strong, with the proportion of pupils attaining three or more A-levels at grades A* to C having “doubled over the last three years” and sitting “well above the NI average.”
• The school demonstrates “good year-on-year progress” and makes “careful and appropriate use” of internal data to track pupil progress and inform provision.
• Pupils spoke with “pride about the integrated ethos” and described “caring and friendly relationships” with peers and “helpful and approachable” teachers.
• The school development plan is of “good quality,” using suitable consultation and data to identify strengths and areas for improvement.

Areas to improve

• The school must address “disappointing outcomes for pupils who are entitled to free school meals” and specifically improve results for boys at key stage 4.
• There is “notable variation in outcomes” at five or more GCSEs including English and mathematics, requiring further attention.

Safeguarding

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