Hunterhouse College

Overview

This Sustaining Improvement Inspection evaluated Hunterhouse College’s capacity for self-evaluation and improvement, noting that the previous inspection rated overall effectiveness as “good”. Due to industrial action involving “non-co-operation” by teaching unions, the inspectorate could not fully evaluate the impact of school actions or assure stakeholders of the quality of education provided. The report states that this limitation “will be reflected in future inspection activity”.

Strengths

• The curriculum at Key Stage 4 and post-16 has been “reviewed and broadened to better match the needs, interests and career progression pathways” of pupils.
• Pupils reported they “value the feedback they receive because it helps them to improve their work” and spoke positively about target setting.
• The school is “alert to anxiety” experienced by some pupils and addresses this through “well- targeted pastoral and academic strategies” to build resilience.
• Pupils are “proud of their school” and spoke highly of the “school community” and support from teachers.
• Senior pupils valued “community placements” and leadership roles, while Year 8 pupils indicated they have “settled well in school”.

Areas to improve

• The school needs to “review its risk assessments for access to the school” due to open access to the site.
• The proportion of pupils attaining high grades at GCSE declined in 2018, falling below the Northern Ireland average for similar schools.

Safeguarding

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