Fc - St Joseph's L'derry

FOLLOW-UP TO THE FOCUSED INSPECTION OF STEUGENE’S HIGH SCHOOL, CASTLEDERG (223-0111)

The focused inspection of modern languages on 10 and 11February2003 highlighted strengths in a number of aspects, including the quality of the classroom relationships, the attractive displays of work, the conscientious and hard-working teachers, the range and quality of the teaching approaches in French, the extra-curricular programme in Irish, the leadership of the head of department and the good results in external examinations in French. The inspection also identified the need for improvement in the following key areas:

·  reduction in the emphasis placed on translation in the teaching of Irish;

·  increased opportunities for the pupils to write in the target language.

The Education and Training Inspectorate (Inspectorate) carried out a follow-up inspection on 24February2004.

The modern language’s department has made satisfactory progress and the following are the most important improvements which have taken place since the focused inspection:

·  the department has drawn up action plans to address the areas for improvement and has involved the external assistance of the language advisory staff of the Western Education and Library Board in looking at the development of writing skills; the teachers have identified written assignments for each unit of work which are gradually being incorporated into the schemes of work for each group in both languages;

·  the teachers have visited each other’s classrooms to observe and reflect on language teaching methodology;

·  there has been some reduction in the amount of translation in Irish classes.

The areas which need further improvement are:

·  in the teaching of Irish there is a need to create more opportunities for all of the pupils to practise the language more extensively and intensively.

The Inspectorate will continue to monitor the work of the school to ensure that the improvements which are needed are implemented.

ã CROWN COPYRIGHT 2004

This report may be reproduced in whole or in part, except for commercial purposes or in connection with a prospectus or advertisement, provided that the source and date thereof are stated.

Copies of this report may be obtained from the Inspection Services Branch, Department of Education, Rathgael House, 43Balloo Road, Bangor, Co Down BT19 7PR. A copy is also available on the DE website: www.deni.gov.uk