Formal intervention at Lisneal College

Every School a Good School - The School Improvement Policy - a Department of Education (DE) programme -aims to support schools found to be offering less than satisfactory provision for their pupils, and the school's head believes improvements have already resulted.

One of the key principles of the policy is that the interests of pupils rather than institutions are placed at the centre of efforts to

improve educational achievement and tackle underachievement.

The formal intervention at Lisneal College was triggered by an ETI Inspection Report in March that evaluated the school's provision as being less than satisfactory.

Under the process the still-to-be-implemented Education and Skills Authority (ESA) will now work with the school governors and management to develop and implement actions to effect improvement.

Lisneal principal David Funston says the intervention process has already improved the situation at the school and officers of the Western Education and Library Board (WELB) have been on site working with staff to implement a number of action plans.

He said he expects this to be reflected in improved examination results this year.

"Immediately, the report was sent back to us WELB was in the school," said Mr Funston. "The support we have been given has been first class."

"We are looking at a number of action plans to address the issues raised by the inspection report. The first thing we are looking to address are the examination results."

Mr Funston said the intervention process has been hands-on with WELB officers on site at Lisneal helping address areas highlighted as inadequate.

"A number of support people from WELB have been in here working with us and providing advice, he said.

Once this process has been completed the ETI will inspect progress and state whether satisfactory progress is being made. This is likely to take place within 12 to 18 months of the March 2009 report though Mr Funston says he expects school inspectors to be on site before then to evaluate progress.

According to a list issued by the Education Minister, Lisneal College is the only secondary level school subject to formal intervention in Londonderry but Irish-medium primary school Gaelscoil na Darige in Ballymagroarty has also entered the formal intervention process. In total, 18 Northern Ireland schools have entered into a formal intervention process.

Asked how the process was supporting schools Education Minister Caitrona Ruane stated good progress was already being made but the full establishment of the ESA was vital to ensuring future improvements.

The Minister stated: "My school improvement policy sets out clearly the need for action to raise standards and to tackle the unacceptable gap in achievement that has persisted for far too long.

"It also contains a clear commitment to supporting schools to improve outcomes for pupils and recognises the centrality of classroom teachers, supported by effective school leaders, in helping pupils to reach their full potential.

"Good progress has been made in ensuring that the education support bodies maintain a clear focus on school performance and respond quickly and appropriately to help schools deliver sustainable self-improvement but it is important to make clear that our progress in ensuring that our schools get the support they need will be much greater once we establish the Education and Skills Authority in line with the Executive's commitment.

"The school improvement policy includes a requirement to provide focused support for schools which, as a result of inspection, are found to be offering less than satisfactory provision for their pupils. This support is provided through the Formal Intervention Process."