Focus on attainment: Lisneal College

CSSC's recent report, 'Attainment and performance in the controlled sector’, explores patterns of attainment in Northern Ireland’s largest school sector. To accompany the report a series of case studies have been published looking at good practice across the sector. This article provides an overview of Lisneal College’s case study.

Thumbnail

Lisneal College is an 11-18 co-educational school located in the city of Londonderry.  After entering the formal intervention process in March 2010, the school began to focus on strengthening its ethos which in turn resulted in an improvement in educational outcomes.  

The number of pupils achieving five GCSE qualifications, or their equivalent, at grades A*-C, including English and mathematics is 64%, demonstrating a steady improvement of 33% over a three year period (2015 -2017).  This is more than 17% above the Northern Ireland average for non-selective schools.  

A combination of factors helped the school realise its target, including: 

  • enhancing the perception of the school, both within the school and the wider community
  • a change of culture within the school, with all staff demonstrating a consistent approach to pupils outside, as well as inside, the classroom. The Lisneal Core Values (LCV) of teamwork, respect, integrity, responsibility, aspiration and fairness form the basis of the school’s pastoral and reward system
  • a highly supportive pastoral system has developed positive relationships at the school. The pupils, and in particular boys, are treated with respect that is reciprocated
  • throughout the college pupils’ parents are actively engaged in their children’s learning through a programme aimed at reconnecting them with the school in a pro-active manner
  • school leadership is active in their challenge and support role throughout the school day

To read the full Lisneal College case study click here.

 

12 June 2018