Cambridge House taken out of ‘formal intervention’

The school had been placed into the process after a damning inspection report but has now been taken out of special measures after making “important improvements”.

A follow-up inspection reported: “In the areas inspected in the original inspection, the overall quality of education is now satisfactory”.

Responding to the DENI decision, Mrs Elma Lutton said: “We are delighted that the Department of Education has recognised the significant level of our recent academic and leadership progress and sanctioned the school’s exit from the Formal Intervention Process, which had been focused, specifically, on the Sixth Form. We have achieved a 17% rise in A*-C at A Level since entering the Formal Intervention Process”.

The Department of Education commended the school staff for the hard work and commitment shown to effect the necessary improvements. The school community has been wished every success to build on the positive findings within the Inspection Report; the Department of Education also stated that they: ‘…expect that the school will continue to improve, building on the progress you have made to date’.

Mrs Lutton thanked the Board of Governors, staff, pupils and parents for their loyalty and commitment to “the family that is Cambridge House Grammar School during these past difficult months”.

She said: “We have proved, what we always knew, that we are strong, that we deliver a good value added education for all our pupils, as we have done for over 100 years, and that we stand solidly together as a team, when faced with challenges. We will continue to provide a sound and forward thinking educational experience for the young people who choose to come to us, for many years to come.”

She added: “Despite the external pressures placed on staff during the last months, we have continued to ensure that our pupils have been provided with the very best academic support and extra curricular experiences.

“In 2012-13 the Music Department’s Outreach into the Community Programme has included playing at Hillsborough Castle for a Citizenship Ceremony and a British Empire Medal Ceremony and for the Diamond Jubilee Dinner hosted by the Lord Lieutenant of Antrim at Galgorm Manor. A Key Stage 3 pupil from the Home Economics Department claimed the title of NEELB winner of Dairy Council Young Cook of the Year Competition in April, while in sport one of our Year 13 girls has been selected for the Ulster U18 Hockey squad for next season.

“During the past few months we have also gained significant business based awards. In March 2013, the Young Enterprise Team retained their position as the top Young Enterprise Team, gaining, again, individual team awards for Innovation and Entrepreneurial Developments. As a result of these successes, the school has retained its position as a ‘Centre of Excellence for Enterprise’.

“This is of considerable importance for us, as we continue to develop our new educational model, which will embrace both local and global businesses, offering exciting and unique opportunities for our young people in order to maximise their life chances within a range of professional, managerial and training opportunities.

“Cambridge House has always provided the very best for its pupils, our new direction of travel will continue this ethos, recognising that we live in a changing economic landscape and that we must provide what is needed to ensure that our pupils have high levels of employability skills with an academic educational currency that is highly portable. We want our boys and girls to succeed and to enjoy satisfying and productive careers.

“We want them to look back on their school days and be glad they belonged to this family, which is Cambridge House 1910-2013.”