Lurgan College

Overview

The inspection was conducted during industrial action, meaning the ETI was “unable to assure... the quality of education” and could not fully evaluate provision, leadership, or safeguarding. Despite these limitations, the report highlights positive pupil engagement, strong community spirit, and effective governance, while noting specific concerns regarding accommodation and security.

Strengths

• Pupils are described as “articulate, mature and personable,” developing independence through mentoring and school council roles.
• Questionnaire responses were overwhelmingly positive, with parents praising staff who go “‘above and beyond’” and staff citing a “familial and community spirit.”
• The senior leadership team is “distributive, cohesive and collaborative,” with robust self-evaluation and meaningful stakeholder consultation.
• Governors “combine a wide set of complementary skills” and are proactive in addressing pupil mental health and social needs.
• Arrangements for engaging with pupil opinions are a “particular strength,” leading to tangible improvements in canteen provision and timetabling.

Areas to improve

• The school must proceed “as a matter of urgency” with an updated security system, as raised with relevant authorities.
• Current provision for the canteen and physical education “does not meet the needs of the pupils.”
• The school has prioritised addressing the variation in pupil performance in subjects at grades A*-B at GCSE.

Safeguarding

The school provided evidence that safeguarding arrangements “reflect broadly the guidance from the Department of Education,” and pupils reported they “feel safe,” though the ETI was unable to fully evaluate the outworking of these arrangements due to the industrial action.