St Patrick's Academy

Overview

The inspection was conducted during industrial action, meaning teachers did not cooperate with inspectors. Consequently, the ETI states it is “unable to assure the quality of education” and could not fully evaluate teaching, learning, or leadership. The report relies on available documentation, pupil feedback, and statistical data rather than direct classroom observation.

Strengths

• Pupils are described as “courteous and respectful” and benefit from “wide-ranging leadership and mentoring opportunities.”
• There are “notable levels of pupil participation and achievement” in musical, sporting, and cultural activities, including significant charitable fund-raising.
• GCSE attainment for the general cohort is “in line with the Northern Ireland average” for similar selective schools.
• A-level results are “consistently above the NI average,” with progression to higher education also above average.
• Governors are “highly committed and supportive,” playing an “active, challenging role” in school improvement.

Areas to improve

• The school must address “variation and fluctuation” in GCSE standards in a minority of subjects.
• There is a “significant differential” in attainment between boys and girls, requiring a review of curriculum relevance.
• Provision for careers education and guidance needs improvement, including better monitoring of impact and extending workplace experiences to Key Stage 4.

Safeguarding

The report states that “satisfactory arrangements are in place for safeguarding learners” and pupils feel safe, though the ETI was unable to fully evaluate the outworking of these arrangements due to the industrial action.