“Developing lifelong learners in a caring, creative community�
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Ballyclare High School “Developing lifelong learners in a caring, creative community.”
Buddies The aim of the Buddy scheme is to enable pupils to settle into school life and feel safe and secure in their new environment. Year 14 Buddies support the work of Year 8 Form Tutors by providing a listening ear for Year 8 pupils. They nurture their learning in the classroom, support them through extra-curricular activities and encourage new pupils to participate in the wider school community.
Special Educational Needs Ballyclare High School offers a fully inclusive education. We welcome the wide diversity that already exists in our school and ensure every learner is given an equal chance to achieve their potential. Information from primary schools and parents is invaluable to the pastoral and SEN staff as they start planning for provision prior to pupils' commencement date.
How do the pupils and parents rate Pastoral Care in Ballyclare High?
In an independent, external survey carried out by Kirkland Rowell,
iili 1104 PUPILS surveyed rated the following as excellent in school:-
• The safeguarding arrangements • School discipline • Control of bullying
• Ensuring pupils do their best and make progress.
ii ALL PARENTS who responded to the survey noted as excellent:• Explaining to parents
how to help their children
• Handling of complaints • 94% would recommend this school to another parent
Teaching and Learning
Gender Gap Girls have had a well-established educational lead over boys at all levels of education in the UK, from the age of seven to higher education. There is a consistent picture of boys underachieving relative to their female peers. Moreover, this so-called 'gender gap' widens between the ages of 14-16. The picture is complex but at Ballyclare High School we have recognised this and pursued boy-friendly learning strategies to address this trend. This approach has resulted in our most recent GCSE pupils experiencing huge success in narrowing the gap.
Health and Wellbeing As a school community we are committed to providing an environment where our pupils feel supported emotionally and physically throughout their studies. We strive to ensure this through the approaches and manner in which we work with our young people and a varied lifeskills programme that supports our pupils as they grow up, one which empowers them to make informed choices. Different pressures come with different stages in the personal and academic development of children and we believe good mental health and all round wellbeing is the foundation upon which they will achieve their potential. The cornerstone of this approach is to equip our young people with coping strategies and learning techniques as aids to managing difficulties themselves and with a clear knowledge of where to secure help and advice. An openness about the topic of mental health promotes a culture of support for the challenges of adult life and is enhanced by the expertise harnessed from various outside agencies. 10
The focus on boy-friendly learning continues with both classroom and pastoral strategies across the curriculum. These include: • use of data to identify pupils requiring support;
• reading groups with male role models, staff and sixth form to encourage the literacy habit;
• use of boy-friendly learning strategies in the classroom; • systematic and long-term strategy of mentoring and coaching with GCSE pupils.
eSafety At Ballyclare High School, we are acutely aware of the ever-changing world of online learning, collaboration and global connection. We encourage the use of emergent technologies in a safe and responsible way to ensure that our teaching and learning is engaging and equips our pupils with the digital skills needed to work beyond the confines of the classroom walls. Supporting the online safety of our pupils is a whole-school strategy, with staff, governors, pupils and parents responsible for ensuring that policy statements are upheld. As the first school in Northern Ireland to achieve the eSafety Mark, we have been recognised as demonstrating exemplary practice with regards to protecting young people online. In place to protect our community we have: • an eSafety co-ordinator who is a qualified CEOP and ENABLE Anti-bullying Ambassador;
• a lifeskills programme which incorporates staying safe online; • eSafety messages communicated to parents via email Facebook and Twitter;
• our own pupils trained as Digital Leaders who educate pupils and parents about staying safe online;
• an endorsement from Childnet, a leading national agency, who recognise our work and support our programme.
We are very proud to be the first school to achieve the e Safety Mark and the recognition of being "a beacon school for e-safety in Northern Ireland." (E-safety Mark report 2015).
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Careers Education Young people's time in Ballyclare High School is a transitional stage from childhood into the world of work, usually via Further or Higher Education. Recognising that this is both an exciting and a daunting experience for young people, the School places a high importance on supporting them through every step of their career journey, whether that should take them to university or an apprenticeship.
• Year 8 and 9 pupils are given a gentle introduction to a variety of careers and the skills and qualities required in the workplace. • In years 10, 12, 13 and 14, weekly careers programmes, careers guidance interviews and experiences of the world of work support subject choices and career and Higher Education decision-making. • Pupils are prepared for the world of work in terms of employers' expectations, interview skills, adjusting CVs and application forms. • The annual Ballyclare Learning Community Careers Convention brings employers, professionals, colleges and universities from across the British Isles to Ballyclare.
Recognising that these career decisions can be stressful for parents too, the School provides information evenings for parents, in association with universities from across the British Isles. The implications of subject choices made at school are considered in the light of the most up-to-date labour market information.
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" ...the implications of subject choices made at school are considered in the light of the most up-to-date labour market information."
International Dimension The International dimension is considered an integral aspect of life at Ballyclare High School. We are very proud of the strong ethos embedded in all curricular and extra-curricular activities and from the moment pupils are welcomed into this school they are offered invaluable insights into international connections and cultures.
• Pupils in years 8-10 follow courses in two languages; French and Spanish or French and German. • Annual exchange trips to our partner schools operate in Colmar, France and in Dorsten, Germany, where effective contact and collaboration has been maintained for over 20 and 25 years, respectively. • GCSE Spanish pupils have the chance to travel to Barcelona in Year 11. • Year 10 pupils have the opportunity to participate in the Language Leaders Award Scheme, which sees pupils trained on key pedagogical themes within languages and given the opportunity to teach local primary school children. • A Primary School Outreach programme involves our native language assistants and sixth form pupils teaching Spanish and French to pupils in Fairview Primary School and German to pupils in Ballyclare Primary School. • We are dedicated to the promotion of Modern Languages within the curriculum; annual events include a European Day of Languages alongside local primary schools and our 'Euro Village' interactive Open Night. • Pupils are offered an extensive range of overseas trips, field trips, ski trips, hockey and rugby tours to Portugal, Spain, Holland and even as far as New Zealand and Australia. • Year 8 pupils are rewarded with the chance of participating in our annual Year 8 trip to France or Germany.
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Drama jThe arts subjects are recognised as emergent and important curricular areas to help support the NI economy in the future.' NI Inspectorate. Drama is for everyone here at Ballyclare High School with: • a drama timetable for Year 8 and 9; • a Junior Drama Club; • an Annual Musical Production; • various Theatre Trips; • GCSE Drama course; • Drama and Theatre Studies at AS and A2 Level. We have a vibrant Key Stage 3 curriculum which is designed to aid personal development, creativity, and challenge opinions. In Drama we want pupils to ask questions, use their imagination, and develop new ideas. Creativity and communication are qualities we strive to nurture. We examine a variety of issues concerning the lives of young people such as the safe use of the internet and diversity in our community. Beyond the classroom there is Drama Club, frequent theatre trips, and the School production. We are extremely keen to pursue opportunities to experience live theatre. The Drama Club runs weekly in the fully equipped drama/dance studio. The Junior Club has produced performances such as The Wizard of Oz, High School Musical and Annie. The annual musical production is a highlight for many pupils from all year groups in roles on and off the stage. These productions provide unforgettable experiences and instil the values of teamwork and co-operation. The standard of our shows and the ability of our pupils are highly regarded in musical circles beyond Ballyclare. Shows such as Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera and Beauty and the Beast have enjoyed widespread acclaim and the School's dedication in this area has seen us benefit from the use of the Theatre at the Mill to stage productions. Pupils can pursue a more academic route with GCSE Drama where they will study a set text performing both devised and scripted work. Pupils have performed at several professional venues including the Waterfront Studio. Drama and Theatre Studies can be studied at A level, these pupils annually showcase their work. Many students go on to pursue their interest in drama at university, gaining employment both on stage and in production roles. We are very proud of the strides our past pupils are making in this industry. 17
Music Music is part of all our lives, it is in the films we watch, on television programmes, Youtube, our ipods and phones. Music is also at the centre of so much of pupil life at Ballyclare High School. You can hear instruments playing or pupils singing before school, during school and after school! Almost 200 pupils have instrumental tuition each week, leading to Associated Board, Trinity and Rock School examinations and concerts throughout the year.
• Music in the classroom - pupils in years 8-10 will have opportunities to sing and to learn to play keyboard, ukulele and guitar. They are introduced to various styles of music from Blues, Rock, Film to Classical and compose using music software. • Choirs - our various choirs perform at school functions, have been successful in local competitions and many of our singers are successful each year in gaining places in the Ulster Youth Choir. This year our award winning Chamber Choir reached the final of the inaugural Radio Ulster Choir of the Year competition. Recently a past pupil has gone on to become an Oxbridge choral scholar. • Orchestra and ensembles - all those receiving string, woodwind and brass lessons come together to form our school orchestra, performing at school concerts. We also have a string ensemble and wind band in addition to smaller ensembles formed by pupils. Instrumentalists are regularly successful in gaining places in the Ulster Youth Orchestra and Ulster Youth Jazz Orchestra. • Instrumental and vocal tuition is available for anyone interested in continuing to learn or starting to play strings, woodwind, brass, guitar, drums and percussion instruments. Singing lessons are also available. • Musical Theatre - over the last number of years we have performed Beauty and the Beast, Les Miserables, Oklahoma, Guys and Dolls and we were the first school in Northern Ireland to perform Phantom of the Opera. Recent school productions took place at the Theatre At The Mill in Mossley.
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''...you can h ear
instruments playing or pupils singing before school, during school and after school!"
Sixth Form We consider our Sixth Form at Ballyclare High School to be a key part of a large and highly successful school. We pride ourselves in creating an environment in which all students achieve the right balance of independence, challenge and supportive guidance. Sixth Form students play a vital role in assisting with the running of the school and also act as role models for younger pupils. It is a special community within the larger school where care, guidance and support is balanced with opportunities to be creative, take responsibility and have a little more freedom. Relationships within the classroom and beyond are more relaxed and mature and there is a true sense of staff and pupils working together, to achieve academic and personal goals. Sixth formers have more freedom to show initiative, as they undertake research and read around their subjects in addition to taught lessons. Within supervised study periods pupils are encouraged to use their free time appropriately. The Head of Sixth Form, alongside the Heads of Year 13 and 14, operate in close consultation with a team of 20 tutors to support, engage and advise students. Each tutor group follows a Lifeskills programme which focuses on the progression and development of personal skills. Careers advice and guidance is an important part of this programme and is also built into the enrichment timetabled options on Thursday afternoons. Detailed information about work experience and progression from the Sixth Form guides pupils in making their application to Higher Education. Other classes that operate during options time are designed to be fun and provide relaxation whilst learning something different. They are also important for CVs and UCAS applications. Options include: • Community Service;
• Choral and Operatic Singing;
• Russian, Japanese and Italian;
• Self-Defence;
• Survival Cookery;
• Sign Language for the Deaf;
• Food Safety in Catering Award;
• Community Sports Leader Award; • School Magazine/Yearbook;
• Students are also encouraged to take part in the huge range of extra-curricular activities on offer on Wednesday afternoons and after school throughout the week.
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After School Activities Here at Ballyclare High School we believe there is much to be gained from having an exciting and diverse extra-curricular school life. The bell which rings to end lessons does not bring to an end opportunities for children to learn. After School Activities Include: • Eco Club • Scripture Union • Duke of Edinburgh's Award • Outdoor Pursuits • Science Club: First Lego League • Library Club • Debating Society • Chess Club • Junior Drama Club • Scratch IT Club • Go41T Club • Model Railway Club • Film Club
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Accolades Accolades
Ballyclare High School has received many accolades as we work hard Ballyclare High School has received many accolades as we work hard to continually thehas standard of many education offered pupils Ballyclare High raise School received accolades as to weour work hard to continually raise the standard of education offered to our pupils through quality assurance. to continually raise the standard of education offered to our pupils through quality assurance. through quality assurance. Accolades achieved by the school include: Accolades achieved by the school include: Accolades achieved by the school include: • 2001 Institute for IT Training Silver Award (UK)
• 2001 Institute for IT Training Silver Award (UK) • • 2001 2002Institute Institutefor forITITTraining TrainingSilver GoldAward Award(UK) (UK) • 2002 Institute for IT Training Gold Award (UK) • • 2002 for IT Training 2006Institute ICT Excellence AwardsGold (UK)Award (UK) • 2006 ICT Excellence Awards (UK) • • 2006 ICT Excellence Awards (UK) Ballyclare High School has received many accolades as we work hard 2006 -School 2011 ICT Specialist School Ballyclare High School has received many accolades accolades as as we we work work hard hard Ballyclare High has received many • 2006 - 2011 ICT Specialist School to continually raise the standard of education offered to our pupils to continually raise the standard of education offered to our pupils to continually the standard of education offered to our pupils • • 2006 2011 ICT Specialist School 2007-raise & 2010 National Training Awards (UK) through quality assurance. 2007 &assurance. 2010 National Training Awards (UK) through•quality quality assurance. through • • 2007 2010 & National Training (UK) 2007,& 2012 2015 ICT Mark Awards (1st in NI) • 2007, 2012 & 2015 ICT Mark (1st in NI) Accolades achieved by the school include: Accolades achieved by the school include: Accolades achieved by the school include: • • 2007, & 2015 ICTLearning Mark (1st in NI) 20122012 3rd Millennium Award (1st in NI) 2001 Institute for IT Training Silver Award (UK) 2001 Institute for IT Training Training Silver Silver Award (UK) (UK) • 2012 3rdfor Millennium Learning Award (1st in NI) ••• 2001 Institute IT Award •2002 3rd Millennium Learning Award (1st in NI) • 2012 2014 British Language Award Institute for IT Training Gold Award (UK) 2002 Institute for IT ITAcademy Training Gold Gold Award (UK) (UK) ••• 2002 Institute for Training Award • 2014 British Academy Language Award Academy Language Award 2006 ICT Excellence Awards (UK) 2006 ICT British Excellence Awards (UK) • 2014 2017 Secondary Geography Quality Mark. (Only School in NI to be awarded this four times) ••• •2006 ICT Excellence Awards (UK) • 2017 Secondary Geography Quality Mark. (Only School in NI to be awarded this four times) ••• •2006 2006 2011 ICT Specialist School 2006 2011 ICT Specialist Specialist School -- 2011 ICT School Secondary Geography Mark. School in NI to be awarded this four times) • 2017 2008, 2011, 2014 InvestorsQuality in People Core(Only Standard • 2008, 2011, 2014 Investors in People Core Standard ••• 2007 2007 & 2010 National Training Awards (UK) 2007 & 2010 National Training Awards (UK) & 2010 National Training Awards (UK) • • 2008, 2014 in People Core Standard 20142011, Investors in Investors People Good Practice Health and Wellbeing Award (first Secondary School in NJ) ••• 2007, 2007, 2012 & 2015 ICT Mark (1st in NI) 2007, 2012Investors & 2015 2015 ICT ICTinMark Mark (1st in in NI) NI) Practice Health and Wellbeing Award (first Secondary School in NJ) 2012 & (1st • 2014 People Good •2012 Investors in People Good Practice Health Award and Wellbeing Award Secondary School in NJ) • 2014 2015 ECO-UNESCO Environmentalist won by the Eco(first Club 3rd Millennium Learning Award (1st in NI) 2012 3rd Millennium Millennium LearningYoung Award (1st (1st in NI) NI) ••• 2012 3rd Learning Award in • 2015 ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Award won by the Eco Club 2014 British Academy Language Award ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist by the Eco Scientist Club 2014 British Academy Language Language Award ••• •2014 British Academy Award • 2015 2015 ECO-UNESCO Most Innovative ActionAward Projectwon by our Young Team • 2015 ECO-UNESCO Most Innovative Action Project by our Young Scientist Team (Only School in NI to be awarded this four times) ••• 2017 2017 Secondary Geography Quality Mark. (Only School in NI to be awarded this four times) 2017 Secondary Geography Quality Mark. in NI to be awarded fourYoung times) Secondary Geography Quality Mark. (Only School • • 2015 ECO-UNESCO Action Project bythisour Scientist Team 2015 E-safety Mark Most (1st inInnovative NI) • 2015 E-safety Mark (1st in NI) ••• 2008, 2008, 2011, 2014 Investors in People Core Standard 2008, 2011, 2014 Investors in People Core Standard 2011, 2014 Investors in People Core Standard • • 2015 E-safety MarkVisionary (1st in NI) 2015 Intelin World ICT Teacher (1 of 40 in world) (1stSchool in NI) ••• 2014 2014 Investors People Good Practice Health and Wellbeing Award (first Secondary in NJ) (firstSecondary Secondary School in NJ) NJ) 2014 Investors inWorld People Good Good Practice Health and Wellbeing Wellbeing Award (first in Investors People Practice Health and Award • 2015 Intelin Visionary ICT Teacher (1 of 40 in world) (1stSchool in NI) • 2015 Intel World Visionary ICT Teacher (1 of 40 in world) (1st in NI) • 2015 - 18 British Council International School Award (1st to receive in NI and now 6th consecutive time) 2015 ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Award won by the Eco Club 2015 ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Award won won by by the the Eco Club Club ••• 2015 ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Award Eco • 2015 - 18 British Council International School Award (1st to receive in NI and now 6th consecutive time) 2015 ECO-UNESCO Most Innovative Action Project by our Young Scientist Team - Digital 18 British Council International School Award (1st to Team receive in NI and now 6th consecutive time) 2015 ECO-UNESCO Most Innovative Action Project byto our Young Scientist Team ••• •2015 ECO-UNESCO Most Innovative Action Project our Scientist • 2015 2017 Schoolhouse (first School in by NI beYoung awarded) • 2017 Digital Schoolhouse (first School in NI to be awarded) 2015 E-safety Mark (1st in NI) 2015 E-safety E-safety Mark Mark (1st (1st in in NI) NI) ••• •2015 2017 Digital Schoolhouse (first School in NI to be awarded)
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2015 Intel World Visionary ICT Teacher (1 of 40 in world) (1st in NI) 2015 Intel Intel World World Visionary Visionary ICT ICT Teacher Teacher (1 (1 of of 40 40 in in world) world) (1st (1st in in NI) NI) ••• 2015
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“Developing lifelong learners in a caring, creative community�