Carrickfergus Grammar School

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 The neutrality of this article is disputed.
Please see the discussion on the talk page.(December 2007)
Please do not remove this message until the dispute is resolved.
Carrickfergus Grammar School
Motto Praestantia
Established 1962
Type Controlled Grammar
Headmaster W. K. Irwin
Chairman of the Board of Governors C. H. C. Gould
Location North Road
Carrickfergus
Antrim
BT38 7RA
Northern Ireland Flag of Northern Ireland
LEA NEELB
Staff 55 Full-time, 4 Part-time (2007/08)[1]
Students c. 800
Gender Coeducational
Ages 11 to 18
Houses Castle, Fergus, Knockagh and Thornfield
School colours Maroon, navy
Website Carrickfergus Grammar School
Coordinates: 54°43′45″N 5°49′00″W / 54.729242, -5.816703

Carrickfergus Grammar School is a grammar school situated in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. With 60 pupils and 4 teachers, its pupil numbers have increased to just over 800 pupils from ages 11 to 18 in Years 8 to 14.

The school is situated on the site on the old Thornfield Manor overlooking the town of Carrickfergus, and has a proud view of Carrickfergus Castle and Belfast Lough beyond.

The school is known for its sporting achievements, especially in rugby, hockey, and football and its music department, including the Senior Choir which often performs in high profile venues.

The school motto Præstantia roughly translates as 'striving for excellence' and the school's mission statement reads "Further Excellence from Present Strengths".

Contents

[edit] History

The school was founded in 1962 with just 60 pupils. When J. McK Grainger,, the school's first headmaster, retired in 1977, over 61 pupils were in attendance. The new headmaster, Hugh Jamison, oversaw the school's expansion to deal with this increase in numbers when an extension was built in 1983.

The school's third and current headmaster, Kenneth Irwin, took over in 1990. He soon made his mark on the school, changing the motto to Præstantia and replacing the school crest with a new logo. The school continued to grow, and in 1999 was the first Grammar school in Northern Ireland to achieve the Investors in People award. It was also later awarded the Goldmark by the Northern Ireland Sports Council for the quality of its physical education. The school is currently working towards gaining the Charter Mark Award for Excellence.[2]

[edit] Facilities

Carrickfergus Grammar School has a wide range of on-site facilities for pupils.

  • Over 40 classrooms, including laboratories, computer suites, Art and Design rooms and workshops
  • The Grainger Centre, comprising the school library, careers office and pupil study area
  • The Jamison Room: Years 13 and 14 Sixth Form Centre
  • The Parkison Suite, a new, purpose-built H.E. department
  • Playing fields, including rugby and hockey pitches, athletics track, and tennis courts,
  • A music department, including classrooms, practice areas and study areas

[edit] Uniform

School uniform is compulsory and all pupils wear a navy blazer with the school logo emblazoned on a pocket on the left. The school tie is maroon and is imprinted with small white castles. Girls wear a grey pleated skirt, a white blouse, and either black tights or white ankle socks. Boys wear black or dark grey trousers, a white shirt, and black or dark grey socks. All pupils wear black low-heeled shoes. A navy v-necked jumper is also allowed.[3]

[edit] Badges, Colours and Honours

School badges are awarded by many of the extra-curricular clubs and organisations which run in the school, including Young Enterprise, Sports, Music and other groups. Badges are also given to School Councillors.

Pupils who have excelled in sports, music or in other ways can be awarded with a Colours tie, the normal school tie with navy stripes running diagonally down it, and for further excellence in those fields pupils can be presented with a Colours with Distinction tie, the Colours tie with the navy and maroon reversed. Special achievements such as Head Boy and Girl, Outstanding Contribution to Sports or Music, or academic achievement such as 10 A*s at GCSE Level will be awarded with a maroon Honours blazer, and Honours tie.

[edit] Curriculum

There are a wide range of subjects offered at Carrickfergus Grammar[4]:

Critical Thinking was also offered, however as of 2007 it is no longer available.

[edit] Carrickfergus Learning Community

Carrickfergus Grammar School is currently involved in a new curricular scheme called the Carrickfergus Learning Community (CLC), along with Carrickfergus College, Downshire School, and Ulidia Integrated College to provide a wider range of options to Carrickfergus' A Level students. Pupils from Carrickfergus Grammar will be able to study these subjects at the corresponding school. This initiative is popular and is an appealing choice for those who wish to remain at Carrickfergus Grammar yet want to study another subject which the school doesn't cater for. Subjects offered include:

A number of pupils from the other three schools in the CLC group can attend Carrickfergus Grammar School for alternative subjects to those offered at their school: Government and Politics, Geography, and French for example.[5]

[edit] YESIP

A new part of the curriculum is a programme called the Youth Education Social Inclusion Programme (YESIP). This program aims to educate Year 13s about cultural diversity and helps them learn more about their identity as a Northern Ireland citizen.[6]

[edit] Extra-Curricular Activities

  • Army Cadet Force
  • Bridge Club
  • Chess Club
  • Choral Groups
    • Junior Choir
    • Senior Choir
  • Orchestral Groups
    • Highly Strung (Senior Strings)
    • Orchestra
    • String Group
    • The Breath-Breaking Ensemble (Wind Band)
  • Scripture Union
    • CONNECT
    • Scripture Union Band
  • Young Enterprise

[edit] Houses

There are four school houses to which new pupils are assigned when they first start at Carrickfergus Grammar: Castle, Fergus, Knockagh and Thornfield.[7] A Boys' and Girls' House Captain and Vice-Captain are elected each year by members of Year 13.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Carrickfergus Grammar School - Staff
  2. ^ Carrickfergus Grammar School - School History
  3. ^ Carrickfergus Grammar School - Uniform
  4. ^ Carrickfergus Grammar School - Subjects
  5. ^ Ulidia Integrated College - Carrickfergus Learning Community
  6. ^ Carrickfergus Grammar School - YESIP
  7. ^ Carrickfergus Grammar School - School House System