Bangor Grammar School
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| Address | College Avenue Bangor BT20 5HJ |
| Phone | (028) 9147 3734 |
| Fax | (028) 9146 5282 |
| Headmaster | Mr Stephen D. Connolly, M.A. |
| Senior Vice Principal | Dr Peter L. Moore, B.Sc, Ph.D |
| Academic Vice Principal | Mr Trevor C. Magee, M.A, B.Ed, ALCM |
| School type | Voluntary Grammar |
| School Board | SEELB |
| Location | Bangor, Northern Ireland, UK |
| Enrollment | 993 students |
| School colour(s) | Royal Blue, Yellow |
| School motto | "Justitiae Tenax" (Maintaining Justice) |
Bangor Grammar School is an all-boys voluntary grammar school situated in Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. It comprises of two parts, the preparatory department, Connor House (co-ed) and The Grammar, (boys only). It has around 1,000 pupils from ages 4 to 18.
The school maintains close links with its sister single sex school in Bangor, Glenlola Collegiate. The two schools regularly participate in joint activities, notably the CCF, which meets on-site in Bangor Grammar; the two schools' Scripture Unions who combine monthly; and the Bangor Grammar Drama Department, which presents an annual play by students from both schools and also Bangor Academy.
The school is divided into 4 houses: Crosby, Dufferin, School and Ward. Regular inter-house competitions are held. The House colours are as follows- Crosby (Red), Dufferin (Yellow), School (Blue) and Ward (Green).
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[edit] School building plans
A three year campaign to gain funding from the Department of Education for a new school building for Bangor Grammar School came to a successful end on March 1, 2006 when funding was granted. The new location of the school building will be outside the town centre, on the current Bangor Academy site on the Gransha Road. It is estimated that the new school will take at least five years to complete.
[edit] Costello Reforms
The school is opposed to the government's plans for the reform of education in Northern Ireland based on the Costello Report. The school believes that the reforms to ban academic selection will effectively destroy Northern Ireland's grammar schools. Over 60% of parents in Northern Ireland are opposed to the changes. [1]
[edit] Clubs and societies
[edit] Rugby
Bangor Grammar has won the Ulster Schools Cup on many occasions and, during the late 1980s, was the major force in Ulster Schools' rugby. Bangor Grammar dominated the Ulster Schools' Cup, appearing in four finals from 1985-1989 and winning three of them. Former distinguished 1st XV players include Mark McCall (Irish international and current Ulster coach), Jan Cunningham (a member of the Ulster team which won the Heineken Cup), Kieron Dawson (London Irish and Ireland), Kenny Hooks (Ireland international) and Dick Milliken (Ireland and the British Lions). Rugby continues to be a popular sport in the school, alongside hockey and cricket. In Cricket, in particular, the school has produced a plethora of Ulster and Irish Schools' internationals.
[edit] Debating
The Debating Society is Bangor Grammar's oldest society. The society was established in 1927 by teacher A.L. Hawtin. Providing an insight into past pupil's opinions on current affairs are the minutes of the society, which have been maintained since its inception. Bangor Grammar won the Schools Cup in 2003, and the Best Speaker's Shield in 2006, and has been a finalist on more occasions than any other school in Northern Ireland.
[edit] Badminton
In 2005 Bangor Grammar achieved a badminton double in the Ulster Finals of the Minors Division 2 and the Seniors Ulster Cup. The Minors beat RBAI in the League Final 4-2 and the Seniors won 4-2. The Seniors were also in the Division 2 final but were beaten by Belfast Royal Academy, a Division 1 team.
[edit] Music
The school concert band and orchestra held a concert at the Waterfront Hall with nearly 2000 people in the hall. This was on the 14 October 2006 with pupils and past pupils all together celebrating 150 years of the school's existence.
[edit] The school song
Bangor Grammar School has a latin school song:
- Comgall noster, Columbanus,
- Sanctus noster Gall, Britannos
- Effecere Christianos.
- Floreat Bangoria,
- Deo laus et gloria.
- Sana mens in corpore sano
- Hic quaeratur et humano,
- Quisque sit discipulus animo
- Ne pavidus exeat.
- Laboraturus inter pares,
- Oratorus, oratorus,
- Fidem quolibet lauturus.
However this is not the full school song, which contains three verses, although, only the above verse is sung, to make it easier to remember throughout.
