Sperrin Integrated College

Overview

This Sustaining Improvement Inspection was conducted during industrial action, meaning only senior leadership cooperated with inspectors. Consequently, the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) states it is “unable to assure parents/carers... of the quality of education being provided for the pupils.” The report notes that full evaluation of teaching, learning, and safeguarding was not possible due to this limited cooperation.

Strengths

• The school has taken a “strategic approach to improving further the quality and consistency of teaching and learning,” supported by “well-conceived professional development.”
• Senior leadership roles have been redefined to support “clear lines of communication and accountability at all levels.”
• There is an “agreed, consistent approach to the action planning and review process” across subject departments.
• Attainment at GCSE has “continued to improve and is above the corresponding NI average.”
• Post-16 pupils attain “very well,” with the percentage achieving three A*-C grades rising to be “well above the corresponding NI average.”

Areas to improve

• The report identifies no specific areas for improvement, as the ETI was “unable to evaluate fully the lines of inquiry” due to the industrial action.

Safeguarding

The school provided evidence that safeguarding arrangements “reflect broadly the guidance issued by the Department of Education,” and pupils reported feeling safe, though the ETI was “unable to evaluate fully the outworking of the arrangements.”