St Patrick's College

Overview

The inspection was significantly constrained by industrial action, meaning the ETI was “unable to assure the quality of education” being provided. Consequently, no performance levels were assigned for overall effectiveness, outcomes, provision, or leadership, as the inspectors could not fully evaluate these areas.

Strengths

• GCSE attainment for pupils entitled to free school meals has been “above the NI average” for non-selective schools.
• Overall GCSE results are “in line with the Northern Ireland average” for similar schools.
• Governors possess “very relevant expertise” and there is “confidence in the aspects of governance evaluated.”
• Pupils spoke “enthusiastically” about work experience opportunities and careers events.
• The school holds the “Rights Respecting School Level 2 Award” and has been successful in the Young Enterprise Competition.

Areas to improve

• Targets within the school development plan action plans “need to be more time bound and measureable.”
• The school must monitor and evaluate the curriculum offer and outcomes for post-16 pupils, as the staying-on rate to Year 14 is “well below the corresponding NI average.”

Safeguarding

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