National Education Ispectorate

Basic information about the School

Cavaliers All Age School was established on its present site in 1951 and is located in the parish of St. Andrew. It is a small multi-grade school with approximately 99 students, and it has a capacity of 250. With eight teachers, the student teacher ratio is 17:1. The average daily attendance is 64 per cent. Most students are from the rural communities of Cavaliers, Burnt Shop and Golden Spring. The school previously participated in the New Horizons Project and is a current participant in the British Council sponsored, School Leadership and New Tools for Learning (SLANT) programme. This is in addition to being recently selected to be featured in an international magazine highlighting agriculture and entrepreneurship. The school has a strong Christian ethos that is supportive and contributes significantly to students’ satisfactory personal development. The institution enjoys a high reputation for its initiatives and results in agriculture.

Overall effectiveness of the school

The overall effectiveness of Cavaliers All Age School is unsatisfactory The school’s leadership and management are unsatisfactory. The Board is committed to the school and offers support and advice to the principal. However,
there is insufficient monitoring of the work of the school, particularly with respect to achievement, and too little involvement in strategic development. Leaders and managers at all levels are yet to be held to account for students' achievement. The impact of teaching on learning is unsatisfactory. Teachers have satisfactory subject
knowledge. However, teaching does not build on students’ knowledge and understanding and lacks sufficient attention as to how lessons might be organised to promote effective learning. Attainment in English is satisfactory but attainment in mathematics is unsatisfactory. Students make little progress from their starting points when joining the school, and levels of attainment at the end of Grades 4 and 6 are consistently below the national averages in both English and mathematics. The school evaluates the overall personal and social development of its students as satisfactory. However, students’ behaviour and attitudes are unsatisfactory and
school attendance and punctuality are poor.

Students’ spiritual and civic development is satisfactory. They have a good understanding of their heritage, roles as citizens of the future and of the economic systems in which they live. Students take pride in their environment and care for their surroundings. The school has sufficient teachers, all of whom are suitably qualified, and class sizes are generally small. The school has a satisfactory supply of material resources but does not use them effectively to improve teaching and learning and cater to students’ well-being. The curriculum is enhanced minimally to integrate agriculture into core subjects but further adaptations need to be made to cater to the needs and abilities of all learners. The school has strong links with the church and is making an effort to improve links with parents. It uses contacts with the British Council sponsored SLANT programme to incorporate technology in teaching and to improve agricultural and entrepreneurial skills. Students’ safety, security, health and well-being are satisfactory and effective procedures are in place with rigorous supervision. Guidance programmes and clubs help students build healthy relationships.