Omagh Academy

Overview

Omagh Academy is described as a school where the vision ‘Inspire, Empower, Achieve’ fosters a “strong sense of purpose and identity.” The inspection highlights that pupils are “inspired and empowered to achieve well” through high expectations, positive relationships, and a supportive ethos. The report presents a largely positive picture of successful learning, high attainment, and an inclusive community, with one specific area for action identified regarding target setting.

Strengths

• Pupils demonstrate “exemplary” behaviour and are “highly motivated, polite, respectful and confident.”
• Teachers’ planning and assessment in most lessons enabled “successful learning,” with pupils applying knowledge through active strategies and critical evaluation.
• The school achieves high standards in public examinations, with “almost all (97.9%) year 12 pupils attained seven or more GCSE... at grades A* to C.”
• Staff professional learning is effective, inspiring passion through “connected team working” and sharing best practice, which impacts the quality of learning.
• There is a strong focus on equity, with pupils with special educational needs achieving “in line with, or above, expectation” in public examinations.

Areas to improve

• Ensure “greater precision in whole-school target setting processes, including through robust evaluation of first-hand evidence of the pupils’ learning.”
• Develop employability skills and work-related learning opportunities for pupils at Key Stages 3 and 4 to better understand progression pathways.
• Review targets for pupils with special educational needs to ensure they are “more specific and measurable” as staff transition to personal learning plans.

Safeguarding

The report states that “arrangements for child and adult protection align to the current statutory guidance” and pupils feel safe in school and online.