High School responds to Inspection report

THE principal of Banbridge High School has responded to the publication of a partial inspection which deemed the schools exams record “inadequate”.

The report, only semi complete because staff at the school are currently engaged in industrial action over pensions, was published by the Education and Training Inspectorate last week, following an inspection in February.

While the report praised prinicpal Andrew Bell for his “decisive and necessary action to review and amend the school’s examination entry policy to ensure that the pupils have a much greater degree of access to accredited qualifications”, it criticised the exam results and entries.

Inspectors said, “Over the past three years, the pupils attained inadequate GCSE outcomes, well below the Northern Ireland average for similar non-selective schools at grades A*-C, both for pupils taking GCSE and equivalent examinations in at least five subjects and for pupils taking at least five GCSE subjects including English and mathematics.”

The report also highlighted a projected budget deficit over the next three years which will ikely be “substantial”.

Responding to the report’s publication Mr Bell said the school will welcome the completed report.

“The recently published inspection letter of a partial inspection carried out in Banbridge High School in February 2012 by the Education and Training Inspectorate highlights the ongoing work of the school to continue to raise the achievements of all its young people; both the Governors and staff of the school remain fully committed to this end.

“It should be noted that this inspection of the school is incomplete, due to ongoing regional industrial action by two teaching unions, affecting school inspections directly. The work of the school to provide the highest standard of education continues with the support of parents, Governors and staff. We look forward to an early completion of this inspection.”