The 2008-2009 academic year was a particularly successful one for Slemish College. The year began with excellent examination results at all levels, and the integrated college achieving specialist school status in the humanities. The year has been capped off by a standard school inspection which concluded: “…the quality of education provided by this school is outstanding; the quality of pastoral care is also outstanding.”
A team of ten inspectors visited the College for the 3 day inspection, visiting all subjects and areas of school life. Particular attention was given to English, Geography, History and Science. The school’s provision for pastoral care and the arrangements for child protection, and the provision for pupils with special educational needs were also closely evaluated as well as Slemish’s general approach towards promoting healthy eating and physical activity.
The report is unflinching in its praise of the Larne Road College. The students of the Slemish were praised as young people who, “are highly motivated, engage well in, and talk confidently about, their learning. They can work independently and collaboratively and demonstrate excellent personal and social skills.” They were praised for their high achievement at GCSE and A level.
“Cutting edge learning and teaching,” at Slemish.
The inspectorate was particularly impressed with the standard of teaching across all subjects and at all levels at Slemish College: “The quality of almost all of the teaching observed ranged from good to outstanding: three-quarters of the lessons were very good, or outstanding.” They commended the “teaching staff, who they felt: “demonstrated a very clear understanding of the learning cycle, used assessment for learning strategies effectively, made explicit connections in the learning process, and used a wide range of ‘cutting-edge’ learning and teaching approaches and resources to support learning and guide the pupils. During these lessons the pupils contributed actively to the learning process, developed their higher order thinking skills and articulated high level responses to the teachers’ effective and skilful questioning. There were also appropriate and frequent opportunities for the pupils to develop their independent learning.” The Report makes clear that: Creative and innovative approaches to learning and teaching permeate throughout the school.”
Outstanding Pastoral Care
The Inspection Team regards the quality of the arrangements for pastoral care in the school as “outstanding.” The College was praised for giving “high priority to the emotional health and well-being of the pupils. This is demonstrated in the excellent quality of the working relationships between the staff and the pupils and the caring, and supportive ethos throughout the school.”
The College’s work in the area of Special Needs was commended. The Inspectors reported that: “The school’s capacity to ensure its commitment to those pupils at risk of marginalisation is outstanding. The school…takes consistent action at an early stage to identify and support pupils at risk of falling behind or dropping out of school. Significant steps are also taken to nurture these pupils’ emotional development, providing a basis for them to learn successfully and feel included.”
Management
The Management of the College was also appraised in the Inspection. Management was judged to be highly effective. The Inspectorate reported that the Senior Leadership team are well-informed, committed educationalists. A strong focus on learning and teaching permeates all aspects of the work and life of the school, resulting in an excellent outworking of the vision statement, ‘learning together for individual success’. The governors were praised for playing “a strategic role in supporting and overseeing the work of the school.”
The Inspectors reported that there is “an outstanding culture of self-evaluation that underpins the development work at all levels throughout the school.” They praised the College staff for taking “a holistic approach to developing its pupils. Through effective monitoring and tracking of the pupils’ performance, the school is able to provide individual support and effective mentoring that is tailored to the needs of its pupils.”
High Standards in Key Subjects
The Report includes additional comments on the subjects which received particular attention for the team of inspectors.
For History, the inspectors highlighted the quality of the teaching; the quality of the responses by the pupils; the use of a wide range of learning and teaching activities to engage the pupils actively in their learning; the creative and stimulating learning environment, including the celebration of the pupils’ work; and the outstanding commitment by the teachers to continuous improvement and the highly effective leadership of the head of department.
Science received praise for the standards reached by the pupils in practical and theoretical work, including those attained in public examinations; the quality of the teaching observed;the many opportunities for practical work observed in most of the lessons and the good use of quantitative and benchmarked data to track the pupils’ progression in their learning and the standards they reach.
English was identified as an area of clear curricular strength at the College. The inspectors commended the high standards achieved in public examinations; the standards of writing in all classes; the quality of the teaching and the very good working relationships established in every class.
Geography was also identified is an area of clear curricular strength. The inspectors raised the high standards attained by the pupils in public examinations; the quality of teaching; the use of a wide range of learning and teaching approaches, including the creative use of digital and web-based resources to develop the pupils’ thinking skills and support them in their learning. They commented on the motivation and enjoyment of the pupils in their learning, and applauded the opportunities for investigative fieldwork, and the “imaginative approaches used to promote environmental and global awareness throughout the school.” The Report highlighted “the inspirational leadership of the head of department and the dedication of all the teachers.”
Responding to the report, Dr RS Jennings, Principal of Slemish College stated: “The whole College Community has been encouraged and delighted at this outstanding report. I want to assure all our parents and students that we will continue to strive to provide the best possible education and care for all our students.”
The full inspection report can be accessed at http://www.deni.gov.uk
Students wishing to register for the College’s entrance exams, must do so before 4.00 pm on the 18th September. The forms are available from the College office, or online at www.slemishcollege.org.uk
Further information regarding the recent inspection, is available from
The College’s Communications Manager – Mr Mark Weir.
Tel: 02825630156.