ANNUAL REPORT to PARENTS for the Year 2012 / 2013

Home , Exeat

Victoria College Belfast (incorporating Richmond Lodge School) Cranmore Park Belfast BT9 6JA Tel No:(028) 90661506 Fax No:(028) 90666898

ANNUAL REPORT TO PARENTS

For the Year 2012 / 2013

VICTORIA COLLEGE BELFAST CRANMORE PARK BELFAST BT9 6JA TEL: 028 90661506 FAX: 028 90666898

(Incorporating Richmond Lodge School)

GOVERNORS' ANNUAL REPORT

The following is a summary of the work of the Board of Governors, under the Chairmanship of Dr Bryan Gregory, during the academic year 2012/2013.

Board Business

The Board met on eight occasions and was supported by the work of its committees.

Transfer Arrangements Throughout the year the Board of Governors and Senior Staff continued to be fully engaged in discussions surrounding the procedures for Transfer 2012 and planning for the 2013 arrangements. In relation to September 2013 entrants to Year 8, the College did not face any challenges to the criteria it used for admissions. The Board of Governors also considered Special Circumstances applications as part of the Transfer procedure.

The College has consistently taken the view that there should be an agreed form of entrance assessment for admission into any Grammar school and the Headmistress and the Chairman will continue to be actively involved with relevant bodies to reach such an agreement. Having given due regard to guidance from the Department of Education, the Board took a decision to maintain academic criteria in order to select pupils for admission to the College in Year 8 in 2014. The Board of Governors are also fully committed to embracing the College’s ethos of inclusivity to ensure that admission to the College is open to pupils from all social backgrounds and religious and ethnic communities. In line with this, the Board remains fully committed to admitting pupils who sit either the G.L. or the AQE tests. The College’s admissions criteria for 2013/14 remained largely unchanged from 2012/2013 which had been adjusted following the Association for Quality Education’s refusal to provide percentile ranks to the schools from 2013. The Chairman and Headmistress also attended meetings with the Association for Quality Education, local MLAs and other educational establishments with a view to ensuring that its admissions process continued to be fair and transparent.

Preparatory and Early Years Accommodation The Board of Governors, through its Strategic Planning, College, Estates and Finance Committees considered the feasibility and subsequently the options available in relation to the relocation of Playgroup onto the Cranmore campus. The Board views the Playgroup as a core part of the broader Early Years’ Service provided by the College which complements the activities of both Pre-School and After School. The Board fully supported the proposals that the College should apply to Social Services for the Playgroup to increase its numbers and to extend its opening hours, as well as to the premise of consolidating all of Early Years provision on one location. Planning, costing and significant construction work had to be undertaken to facilitate the relocation, with the major construction work being overseen by the Estates Committee. In addition to the relocation work the Board also approved the conversion of part of Drumglass House to create an office, staffroom, meeting room and new staff toilets as well as a multi-purpose teaching space. The majority of this work was undertaken during the summer and the benefits have already been experienced within the Preparatory Department by both staff and pupils alike.

Examination Results Analysis Through its College Committee, the Board reviews examination results on an annual basis and actively reviews the College’s examinations targets and analysis of results. A representative of the Board was appointed during the 2012-2013 academic year to attend Heads of Subject examination analysis meetings with the Headmistress in order for the Board to gain a greater insight into the curriculum and to be more pro-active in the overview of examination results. This process commenced during the current term and the Board proposes to examine all feedback received.

- 2 -

Area Based Plan A special meeting of the Board of Governors was held to consider the consultation document on the Area Based Plan for Post-Primary Education. Feedback from the whole school community was sought and a response from the Board was considered and approved and submitted to the Department. The Board determined that there was nothing within the proposals to demonstrate a clear way forward for Post-Primary provision in the Belfast area and there was no framework within the plan. The Area Based Plan had been produced without consulting schools and therefore could not provide a representative document.

Inspections Governor representatives attended meetings with inspectors in relation to the Education and Training Inspectorate’s survey and review of computer based assessment within the Preparatory Department and the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority’s annual inspection of the Boarding Department. Feedback from both of these inspections had been excellent.

Governor Elections Parent Governors, Mr Neal Brown, Dr Ahmed Helmy and Mr Muhammad Yousaf and Teacher Governors, Mrs Heather Lavery, Mr Miguel Robinson and Mr Ernie Thompson will complete their four-year term of office at the end of November 2013. Elections for Parent and Teacher Governors for the period 2003-2017 are currently in process and the newly appointed governors will take their place on the Board from December 2013.

General Business Through the Headmistress, the Board continued to be kept fully informed and debated at length articles from the Department, Belfast Education and Library Board and the Governing Bodies Association. The Board was kept advised of curriculum proposals and changes, pupil and staffing matters and worked to ensure that all aspects of school life were subject to review and had access to support when required.

Committee Business

Audit and Risk Committee An internal audit was conducted and the College achieved a “substantial” rating. A comprehensive audit report had been received and all the auditors’ recommendations had been addressed. The Committee also oversaw the Tender process for an external audit. The Committee conducted a review of the Register of Pecuniary Interests, the College’s Risk Register and a review of work carried out by the College’s Health and Safety Sub-Committee.

College Committee The Committee and its sub-committees supervised various staff appointments, both for external and internal positions, as well as applications from staff for changes to their contracts, for redundancies and for support towards staff professional development. The Committee also reviewed the curriculum, admissions criteria, Child Protection issues and oversaw the review and implementation of the College’s School Development and Strategic Plans and Performance Review and Staff Development. The Committee’s Policies Sub-Committee reviewed a wide range of school policies and reported its deliberations to the College Committee and to the Board.

Finance Committee The Committee oversaw the College’s financial affairs and planned expenditure and advised the Board accordingly. In the current financial climate the challenges for the Board and the College in the context of a tightened budget were recognised. In light of the challenges that a substantial reduction in grant produced, the Committee discussed and initiated steps to achieve efficiencies and recognised the importance which parental financial support played in maintaining the high level of teaching, resources and extra-curricular programme currently available to pupils. The Committee considered and approved a business case for ICT provision within the Preparatory Department as well as the financial aspects of the proposed changes to the Preparatory Department and the Early Years Education. The Board’s Remuneration Committee reported to the Finance Committee in - 3 - relation to staff salaries. An external audit received an unqualified and clean audit opinion with the auditors confirming that the College had fully complied with the Department and the Companies Act in each required area.

Estates Committee The Committee oversaw the upkeep of the College and carried out maintenance work throughout the year. The Committee liaised with the Department of Education and the Belfast Education and Library Board to obtain grant aid and to commence Phase 1 of the school heating upgrade and oversaw planning permission for a new Sports Hall. It liaised with Belfast City Council regarding the repair of the boundary wall with Drumglass Park and investigated and oversaw the relocation of the Playgroup to the Cranmore campus and the maintenance work to the Preparatory Department. The Committee also considered applications for third party use of the College’s premises. The Committee, in liaison with the Audit and Risk Committee, reviewed Health and Safety issues.

Strategic Planning Committee The Strategic Planning Committee continued to discuss the future vision of the various sections of the school as well as the College as a whole.

Board Membership

There are 28 Governors of Victoria College. Fifteen are Foundation Governors, six are nominated by the Department of Education, three are Parent Governors elected by parents and three are Teacher Governors elected by their colleagues. The Principal is ex officio a member of the Board. The Board’s Secretary is Miss Nicola Mawhinney BA. Two co-opted members are currently appointed to the Board. One Departmental Nominee vacancy and one Foundation Governor vacancy are still outstanding. Mrs L Beatty and Professor D R Hadden, Foundation Governors, retired from the Board in May and June 2013 respectively, with these positions still to be filled.

Name Category Date of which term of office ends Dr B J Gregory BSc PhD CEng MICE MIEI FCIWM FGS Foundation Governor N/A (Chairman) Dame Joan Harbison BA MSc (Vice Chairman) Foundation Governor N/A Ms P Slevin BA MEd PGCE PQH (Headmistress) Ex officio N/A Mr N Brown ACII Parent Governor Nov 2013 Dr B Callender MB MRCGP Foundation Governor N/A Dr R Clarke MB BCh BAO FRCPath Dept of Education Nominee Aug 2015 Mr J N Finlay BSc CEng FICE FIEI FCIWEM MConsE Foundation Governor N/A Lady Froggatt Foundation Governor N/A Mr J A B Gibson MBE JP BSc DipEd Foundation Governor N/A Mr M Haylett BEng CEng PMP MICE MAPM RMaPS Dept of Education Nominee Aug 2015 Dr A Helmy MBBCh MSc MRCPI Parent Governor Nov 2013 Mrs M-L Horwood LLB LLM Co-opted member N/A Mr M H Hunter FCA Foundation Governor N/A Dr M S Johnston MB BCh BAO Foundation Governor N/A Ms F Kane BA (Hons) Co-opted member N/A Mrs H Lavery BA PGCE PGCCEG Teacher Governor Nov 2013 Mr C G Maccabe CB LLB LLM FRSA Foundation Governor N/A Mr S McKillop BEng CEng MIEI Dept of Education Nominee Aug 2015 Ms C McKinney OBE BA PGCE MBA MEd Dept of Education Nominee Aug 2015 Mr A M Robinson Teacher Governor Nov 2013 Mrs E A Robinson Foundation Governor N/A Mr R Telford BSc DIS MRICS MAPM Foundation Governor N/A Mr E Thompson BSc PGCE Dip HE Teacher Governor Nov 2013 Mrs G Wells MB BCh BAO MRCGP MFCH Foundation Governor N/A Mr A Wylie FCA CertPFS BA Dept of Education Nominee Aug 2015 Mr M Yousaf MBBS FRCS FRCS (G: Surgery) MPhil Parent Governor Nov 2013

- 4 -

Subject Choice in Year 12, Year 13 and Year 14 [2012/2013]

GCSE Subjects offered in Year 12

Additional Mathematics; Art and Design; Biology; Business Studies; Chemistry; Drama; English; English Literature; French; Geography; German; History; Home Economics (Food); Italian; Information and Communications Technology; Latin; Law; Mathematics; Music; Physical Education; Physics; short course and long course Religious Studies; Spanish and Technology and Design.

All GCSE courses were externally examined.

AS Level Subjects offered in Year 13

The AS Level subjects available in 2012/2013 were:

Applied Health and Social Care Single Award; Applied Health and Social Care Double Award; Art and Design; Biology; Business Studies; Chemistry; Chinese; Design and Technology; Drama and Theatre Studies; English Literature; French; Geography; Government and Politics; History; History of Art and Design; Home Economics; Information and Communication Technology; Italian; Mathematics; Further Mathematics; Music; Physics; Religious Education, Spanish and Sports Studies.

Additional Subjects for which a certification was awarded

Young Enterprise; Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (COPE); European Studies.

A2 Level Subjects offered in Year 14

All the above AS level subjects were available in 2012/2013 with the addition of German and the exception of Applied Health and Social Care Double Award.

Additional Subjects offered in Year 14

In addition pupils in Years 12, 13 and 14 were entered for examinations offered by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. - 5 -

PREPARATORY DEPARTMENT PERFORMANCE DATA

END OF KEY STAGE ASSESSMENT OUTCOMES ENGLISH AND MATHEMATICS

KS1 Assessment Outcomes 2012-2013

*The expected outcome at the end of KS1 is Level 2 VCB Prep Outcome NI Girls

English Level 1 0% 7%

English Level 2 100% 70%

English Level 3 56% 23%

Maths Level 1 0% 8%

Maths Level 2 100% 73%

Maths Level 3 29% 19%

KS2 Assessment Outcomes 2012-2013

*The expected outcome at the end of KS2 is Level 4 VCB Prep Outcome NI Girls

English Level 3 0% 16%

English Level 4 100% 63%

English Level 5 40% 20%

Maths Level 3 10% 16%

Maths Level 4 90% 57%

Maths Level 5 50% 23%

- 6 -

PERFORMANCE IN SENIOR SCHOOL PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS 2013

UK NI VCB

A*/A grades at A2 level 26.3% 30.7% 40.2%

A*/A grades at GCSE 22.4% 32.6% 50.4%

A*-C grades at A2 77.2% 83.5% 95.3%

A*-C grades at GCSE 69.4% 80.7% 96.0%

GCSE 2013

Number of pupils entered for 5 or more subjects 139

% achieving 5+ A*-C grades 98.6%

% achieving 5+ A*-B grades 81.3%

% achieving 7+ A*-C grades 92.1%

% achieving 5+ A*-A grades 48.2%

A LEVEL 2013

Number of pupils entered for 3 or more subjects 83

% achieving 2+ A*-C grades 96.4%

% achieving 3+ A*-C grades 88.0%

% A* grades achieved 8.7%

% A*-A grades achieved 40.2%

KEY STAGE THREE 2013

Level 5 or above Level 6 or above VCB NI VCB NI

English 90.0% 71.3% 52.0% 38.9%

Mathematics 100% 73.2% 82.0% 45.7%

VICTORIA COLLEGE RESULTS COMPARED TO N.I. AVERAGE FOR GRAMMAR SCHOOLS

2009/2010 2010/2011 2011/2012 VCB NI VCB NI VCB NI

5+ GCSE A*-C 98 97 100 97 98 97

7+ GCSE A*-C 93 92 91 92 90 92

3+ A LEVEL A*-C 70 78 72 77 83 77

2+ A LEVEL A*-C 100 100 100 99 100 99.5

- 7 -

PUBLIC EXAMINATION RESULTS 2012/2013 GCSE RESULTS BY SUBJECT

Subject Entry A* A B C D E F G U Art and Design 58 32.8 24.1 25.9 15.5 1.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Biology 115 21.7 22.6 33.0 20.0 2.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Business Studies 28 0.0 25.0 50.0 25.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Chemistry 88 33.0 35.2 27.3 3.4 1.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Design and Technology 33 15.2 33.3 33.3 18.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Drama 28 3.6 28.6 46.4 21.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 English Language 138 4.3 27.5 29.0 29.0 10.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 English Literature 139 10.1 30.2 37.4 18.7 3.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 French 53 32.1 20.8 17.0 26.4 3.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Geography 76 32.9 30.3 19.7 17.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 German 28 7.1 21.4 35.7 21.4 10.7 3.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 History 55 30.9 16.4 30.9 18.2 1.8 1.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 Home Economics: Food 19 15.8 26.3 52.6 5.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Information Technology 35 34.3 51.4 11.4 2.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Italian 16 31.3 12.5 25.0 12.5 18.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Latin 4 25.0 50.0 25.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Law 16 12.5 12.5 18.8 31.3 25.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Mathematics 139 29.5 23.7 25.2 19.4 2.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Mathematics: Additional 44 38.6 27.3 18.2 11.4 2.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.3 Music 9 55.6 22.2 22.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Physics 71 22.5 38.0 28.2 8.5 1.4 1.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 Religious Studies 130 21.5 36.2 24.6 13.1 3.8 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 Spanish 35 20.0 22.9 31.4 14.3 11.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Sport/P.E. Studies 14 0.0 28.6 50.0 7.1 0.0 14.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 Percentage 21.66 28.30 28.81 16.99 3.72 0.44 0.00 0.00 0.07 TOTAL 1371 297 388 395 233 51 6 0 0 1

% of Year 12 Pupils Achieving no passes in either GCSE or other qualifications Nil

OTHER EXAMINATIONS

Name of Awarding Body Qualification Number of % Achieving pupils entered Qualification O.C.R. Examinations Level 2 Certificate in Enterprise 11 91.0 Board (Young Enterprise)

- 8 -

PUBLIC EXAMINATION RESULTS 2012/2013 A2 LEVEL RESULTS BY SUBJECT

Subject Entry % of pupils achieving the following grades A* A B C D E U Art and Design 17 5.9 11.8 52.9 23.5 5.9 0.0 0.0 Biology 25 12.0 20.0 24.0 36.0 8.0 0.0 0.0 Business Studies 28 7.1 14.3 39.3 25.0 10.7 3.6 0.0 Chemistry 15 6.7 33.3 20.0 33.3 6.7 0.0 0.0 Design and Technology 5 0.0 40.0 60.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Drama 11 9.1 0.0 45.5 36.4 9.1 0.0 0.0 English Literature 15 6.7 40.0 13.3 20.0 20.0 0.0 0.0 French 9 0.0 11.1 44.4 33.3 11.1 0.0 0.0 Geography 23 0.0 39.1 43.5 13.0 4.3 0.0 0.0 Health and Social Care 13 0.0 46.2 46.2 7.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 History 13 7.7 23.1 46.2 23.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 Home Economics 4 0.0 0.0 50.0 50.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Information Technology 25 0.0 52.0 32.0 12.0 4.0 0.0 0.0 Italian 5 0.0 0.0 60.0 40.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Mathematics 16 25.0 12.5 37.5 25.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Mathematics (Further) 2 100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Music 1 0.0 0.0 100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Physics 5 20.0 40.0 20.0 0.0 20.0 0.0 0.0 Politics 12 0.0 25.0 41.7 16.7 16.7 0.0 0.0 Religious Studies 16 25.0 62.5 12.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Spanish 1 100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Sport Studies 3 0.0 100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Percentage 8.33 28.79 35.23 20.83 6.44 0.38 0.00 TOTAL 264 22 76 93 55 17 1 0

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS

Name of Awarding Body Qualification Number of Pupils % Achieving Entered Qualification Associated Board of the Grades 1-8 52 (Yrs 8-14) 100% Royal Schools of Music and Trinity College and Theory Exam. 1 (Yrs 8-14) 100% Guildhall School of Music

Destinations - Leavers to

No. of Yr Higher Further Employ- Another Job Modern None of 12, 13, Education Education Ment School Skills Apprentice- other 14 ship categories Leavers 2012/13

124 70 34 1 15 1 0 3

ANNUAL ATTENDANCE RATE (ALL PUPILS) Total days attended by all pupils on roll as % of total possible days of attendance = 94.3%

- 9 -

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Summarised Department Aims

Through a balanced and varied programme, the Physical Education Department aims to contribute to a pupil’s growth, development and general fitness, to encourage each pupil to develop to their full potential and that each pupil should have an understanding of the importance of exercise, and its benefit to health. All pupils in Years 8-11 are allocated 2 hours of Physical Education within the curriculum each week. Year 12 pupils also avail of 1 hour per week, with a minority of pupils having 1 hour per fortnight.

All pupils are encouraged to participate in extra-curricular activities which run from 3.25 - 5.00 pm Monday to Friday each week, except during winter months when outdoor activities finish at 4.30 pm.

PE FACILITIES

In School:

Cranmore Campus

1. 4 Astroturf tennis courts (also used extensively for hockey). 2. Gravel Hockey Pitch (also used for Athletics). 3. Swimming Pool. 4. Gym. 5. Assembly Hall. 6. Great Hall. 7. Long Jump pit/runway.

Richmond Campus

1. Gym. 2. Multi-purpose tarmac pitch.

Off Campus

Queen’s Astroturf Pitches for Hockey QUB P.E.C. Minor Hall for Netball YMCA, Stranmillis.

FACILITIES HIRED OR USED

1. Ormeau Park and Rugby Pitches at Queens, Malone for cross country (occasionally). 2. Osborne Park (RBAI) - rugby pitches for occasional use. 3. Leisure Centre for netball matches - P.E.C., badminton 4. Leisure Centres. 5. Ice Bowl. 6. Ten Pin Bowling. 7. Lagan Water Sports. 8. Indoor Tennis Centre. 9. YMCA Stranmillis. 10. Belfast Boat Club.

- 10 -

KEY STAGE 3/4 ACTIVITIES

Aerobics Health Related PE Athletics Hockey Badminton Life Saving Basketball National Dance Boxercise Netball Circuit Training Rounders Creative Dance Rugby Cricket Sports Leadership Course Cross Country Swimming Dance Swiss Ball Equestrian Table Tennis Fitness Suite Tennis Football Trampolining Golf Volleyball Gymnastics Yoga

These may vary as some are after school activities.

Gaelic Football and Camogie are offered as extra-curricular activities in Junior School.

- 11 -

CAREERS DEPARTMENT POLICY

Careers Education Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) is the educational process which enables pupils to acquire the skills, attitudes and abilities they will need to chart their way through life with confidence and to be effective in a variety of adult roles and spheres of life. Pupils are given the opportunity to develop the skills of career decision making not only at key transition points but also in the context of changing circumstances throughout life. Careers Education forms a vital and integral part of the College curriculum in preparing our pupils for life-long learning in a rapidly changing economic environment.

The Careers programme for Years 8, 9, 10, 12, 13 and 14 is delivered through timetabled classes with the emphasis at Key Stage 3 on Education for Employability. Pupils are guided through the process of understanding themselves, reflecting on their self-development and evaluating how their interests, attributes and skills relate to future life styles, education, training and employment opportunities. Beginning in Year 8, pupils build up an Employability e-portfolio, providing a record of their research. Pupils investigate the relationship between what they are studying at school and possible routes into Higher and Further Education, training and employment. Learning for Life and Work is a statutory requirement at Key Stage 4 and Year 11 and Year 12 pupils follow a diverse programme of activities covering employability, career planning, enterprise and entrepreneurship. Many Year 12 pupils are entered for an AQA Level 2 qualification, ‘Preparation for Working Life.’ In Year 10, all pupils participate in an Experience of the Workplace Day by visiting a variety of employers in the greater Belfast area. There is also a commitment to provide personal career planning for all pupils as part of an on-going process, beginning in Year 8 and continuing into the post-16 programmes.

The Careers officer from the Northern Ireland Careers Service provides support in the delivery of the Careers programme through individual interviews with all Year 12 pupils and attendance at Subject Information Evenings, the Year 14 Mock Interview Evening and the biennial Careers and HE Convention.

Pupils are introduced to the world of work through taught classes and talks by representatives from the professions and the business world. In Year 13 pupils have the opportunity to workshadow in a wide variety of work placements and through a Business Insight Conference to test their marketing skills and gain valuable management experience. In the summer term a UCAS/CAO Preparation Evening for pupils and parents lays the foundations for the formal application process.

In Year 14, pupils are guided through application to institutions of Further and Higher Education via the UCAS and CAO systems. A Mock Interview Evening is organised to allow each pupil to experience a formal interview situation. This event relies heavily on the strong links which the school has established with professionals within the local community.

The Sixth Form programme is delivered by a specialised team of teachers. It includes visits from representatives of many Further and Higher Education Institutes across Ireland, Britain and the Netherlands. Representatives from Student Finance, gap year companies and many other stakeholders are also hosted. Pupils applying for Oxbridge, Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Art and Design and other courses involving Additional Admissions Tests are given additional support and guidance. An expanding team of reference writers are employed to support UCAS applications.

Careers Education is dynamic and under constant review and development responding to the changes in education, employment and society as a whole. It is therefore appropriate in this context that Careers Education is delivered by specialist teachers. CPD is offered to encourage other staff to upskill themselves in CEIAG.

- 12 -

‘BAKER’ DAYS AND SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT DAYS 2012-2013

The College places a strong emphasis on continuous professional development for all staff and recognises the importance of self evaluation and reflective practice within all departments. In 2012- 2013 the school chose to take four School Development Days (SDD) for the purposes of school improvement and school/staff development in addition to five ‘Baker’ days.

During 2012-2013 the School Development Days and the ‘Baker’ days were used for:

• ongoing curriculum review and sharing of best practice across the school; • curriculum development; • target setting and monitoring of pupil progress; • ongoing training in the use of ICT to enhance the learning experience for students; • staff training in strategies to meet the individual needs of pupils with additional educational needs including gifted and talented pupils; • review and development time for the school’s pastoral teams; • staff training in child protection; • health and safety training including Defibrillator and Epipen training; • staff training in Behaviour Management on SIMS; • staff training on Positive Behaviour in School; • staff training and audit on CRED.

SOUTH BELFAST AREA LEARNING COMMUNITY

Post-primary schools have been encouraged to deliver the Entitlement Framework by working collaboratively in Area Learning Communities. Members of the ALC will be able to offer an increased range of courses to all young people in the 14-19 age group within schools and Further Education Colleges. The ongoing requirements of the Entitlement Framework which is concerned with providing additional choice and flexibility ie twenty four subjects at GCSE and twenty seven subjects at ‘A’ level both of a General and Applied nature can best be met within a framework of shared provision. The College is an active member of the South Belfast Area Learning Community along with 12 other post-primary schools and pupils and staff now have increased opportunities to learn and work together. Sixth form pupils from Victoria College, RBAI, Rathmore, Hunterhouse College and Methodist College work together for the delivery of German, Classical Civilisation, Health and Social Care and Theatre Studies. At GCSE level, pupils from partner schools have been taught together for the delivery of Islamic Studies and Irish. In addition, GCSE pupils have opportunities to attend joint workshops to develop skills in enterprise and entrepreneurship. Collaborative models allow schools to retain their ethos, while providing opportunities for their pupils to experience diverse teaching and learning contexts. The young people within the South Belfast area will be given opportunities to gain academic or vocational qualifications as well as invaluable experiences that they can use in their journey towards adulthood. Teaching staff have benefited from a range of joint staff development training sessions including an annual seminar for newly appointed or aspiring middle managers and seminars for pastoral leaders. Cluster meetings for Heads of Subjects, Timetablers, Careers staff and pastoral leaders to share best practice within curriculum areas are held on a termly basis and are proving to be a helpful means of getting to know colleagues in partner schools whilst planning for the assessment of the revised curriculum and controlled assessment.

- 13 -

THE INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION

The College has proudly retained its third prestigious International School Award (ISA) in recognition of the International Dimension pulsating the veins of the curriculum and beyond. Students and staff continue to be committed to developing and maintaining links with educational and professional institutions on a local, national and global level.

During this academic year, work in relation to the International Dimension has contributed to the achievement of other individual and whole school accolades, including Elos status (a European network of schools committed to education stretching borders) and securing the coveted Eco Schools Green Flag.

Collaborative curriculum-based work is ongoing at the College, as we continue a fruitful Global School Partnership with Himjyoti School India and welcomed one teacher and three pupils to the College in September 2012. This visit was funded by the creation and sales of our very own school branded water and the visit was a very enriching experience for all involved. Participation in the Connecting Classrooms Project continued and our new Comenius project focuses on the environment and entrepreneurship. Such projects continue to be strong vehicles for promoting the international dimension in the education and experience offered at Victoria. Pupils continue to access a range of technologies to collaborate with our partner schools, sharing, reflecting, comparing and learning from education systems across Europe. We are happy to report that Comenius project work also contributed to our achievement of the Best Kept School Award during this academic year.

European Studies is an on-going programme, delivered in the College to an increasing number of both Junior and Senior pupils, developing knowledge, curiosity and a wide range of personal skills and capabilities. The programme links schools from Northern Ireland with partners across Europe, through sustained collaborative projects furthering tolerance, mutual understanding and appreciation of other cultures. During the course of this academic year pupils communicated and shared project work with our partner schools from across Europe by uploading their work on a collaborative communication platform. Through their participation in the programme pupils have the opportunity to heighten their cultural awareness, while developing and enhancing many transferable skills such as ICT, communication, independent learning, research and presentation. As a result of their work and commitment many girls have achieved their European Studies Certificates.

To celebrate the European Day of Languages 2012, in September a group of budding linguists from Years 10-13 performed a dynamic drama piece at a cultural concert to celebrate EDL in the Belfast City Hall. The Modern Language enthusiasts participated in the tastes and sounds of Europe and beyond, as schools from across Northern Ireland joined together to celebrate and highlight their creative and linguistic talents.

Post 16 pupils were once again delighted to be invited to participate in the mock Council of the European Union, an event organised by the British Council in partnership with the European Commission Office in Northern Ireland. During October 2012, a select group of Senior pupils, Basma Salem, Wiktoria Slomkowska and Katie McComb, joined students from 27 other schools from Northern Ireland and Ireland to gain first hand experience of the cut and thrust of international politics, debating on a variety of topical European agendas and policies.

Also during October, a group of Year 12 pupils participated in the first EurVoice forum to be organised in Northern Ireland by the European Youth Parliament. Following this dynamic event many pupils became involved in the Belfast Youth City Forum and their valued contributions to this group gained them the inspirational opportunity of attending President Obama’s address at the Waterfront Hall during his visit to Belfast.

October truly was a month with a European flavour on the agenda at the College. On 24th October two representatives from the school’s India Society were invited to represent the College at a ‘Taste of India’ event, organised by the UNA to mark UN Day. Siva O’Neill and Sarah Blaney, Year 12 also contributed to the online Your Europe, Your Say Forum.

- 14 -

Also during October, a select group of Year 12 pupils, Ellen Beattie, Cara McCabe-O’Neill, Megan Halliday, Emma Gilmartin, Olivia Anderson and Alexandra Doran interviewed for the Rotary Youth Leadership programme and Emma Gilmartin progressed to represent the College at the regional finals.

During October and November a selection of Year 11 and Year 13 pupils from the College contributed to valued research into children and young people’s views of shared education. This research was conducted by the Office of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People and informed the work of the Ministerial Advisory Group on advancing shared education and future Department Education policy.

During November, Ms Slevin and Miss McMackin were delighted to be invited to attend the ‘Promoting Professional Development and School Improvement through International Links programme’, during which our excellent practice in this field was once again shared with educationalists.

In January 2013, Miss McMackin was selected to attend a funded study visit to New Orleans as a participant in the Aspiring Leaders Study Visit, facilitated by the British Council. Ms Slevin and Mrs Woods were also invited to participate in study visits to China. Such continuous professional development opportunities are supported and their contributions valued in informing whole school development and strategic planning.

During March 2013, we were one of six schools chosen to participate in the European Youth Parliament Regional Forum in the Titanic Quarter. A group of nine Year 13 pupils prepared Committee resolutions and debated current topics on the agenda across EU member states and indeed globally.

In May 2013 four Key Stage 4 pupils, Laura Hutchinson, Ellen Beattie, Megan Halliday and Chloe Haylett submitted successful applications and were selected to attend a Youth Leadership Conference during the summer months.

The Modern Languages Department continues to make a valued contribution to the promotion of the international dimension at the College, contributing to E-Twinning, visits, exchanges and the Juvenes Translatores project.

International links both in and outside the curriculum continue to strengthen. During this academic year we warmly welcomed visitors from across the globe, offering visiting teachers and pupils the opportunity to observe and discuss cultural and educational trends. This year we welcomed a group of American teachers from the Fulbright programme. Once again, visitor feedback reports a diverse, inclusive and supportive learning environment and there was much that impressed our visitors.

The College continues to support a wide range of international educational visits and recognises the benefits such opportunities offer to the pupils on a personal, academic and professional level. Evidently, an international ethos embedded throughout the school is celebrated across the curriculum. Fostering an international dimension in the curriculum is at the heart of the College, so that young people gain the cultural understanding and skills they need to live and work as global citizens.

POLICY ON DRUGS EDUCATION

The College aims to provide in its pastoral role and as an integral part of the curriculum a drugs education programme which is appropriate to the needs of all its pupils. The programme within Learning for Life and Work recognises the dangers of a drug-using culture and emphasises the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.

Through it pupils should not only acquire the knowledge and understanding to enable them to consider the effects of drugs and other substances, but also to develop the values and skills to make informed and responsible decisions about their use.

- 15 -

SPECIAL EDUCATION POLICY

Policy statement:

Victoria College aims to provide a broad, balanced, coherent and challenging curriculum which promises the spiritual, moral, cultural, intellectual, physical, emotional and social development of the pupils in order to prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life.

The school’s policy for Special Educational Needs and Inclusion ensures that each pupil has the greatest possible access to that curriculum.

Special educational need:

A pupil has special educational needs if she experiences difficulties which require special educational provision to be made:

• if she has a social, emotional or behavioural difficulty; • if she has significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of pupils of the same age; • if she has a physical disability or medical condition which prevents her or hinders her from making use of the educational facilities provided; • if she has language difficulties which hamper understanding.

Special educational provision is additional to or different from the provision made for pupils of the same age in a school.

Aims of the policy for special education:

1. To ensure that pupils with special educational needs are identified as early as possible upon arrival at the College and appropriate provision is made by the College.

2. To keep an up-to-date register of all pupils at the College with special or additional educational needs.

3. To ensure that, where necessary, the pupil is referred to the appropriate external agency - the Educational Psychology Department or Education Welfare Service of the Belfast Education and Library Board, Social Services, support agencies or the family doctor. It is accepted that referral may be made by the school, by another agency or by a parent/guardian.

4. To ensure that the provision or recommendations are made by the appropriate agency.

5. To ensure that the advice given by that agency is communicated to and followed by the relevant teachers.

6. To encourage close co-operation between all agencies.

7. To ensure that, as far as possible, all relevant information communicated by the pupil’s previous school is available to the appropriate teachers.

8. To take into account the wishes of the pupil in all aspects of the identification and provision of her educational needs.

9. To take into account the wishes of the pupil’s parents/guardians in the identification and provision of their daughter’s special educational needs.

10. To provide professional support to parents/guardians, pupils and, through the Curriculum Advice and Support Services, teachers involved with special needs provision.

11. To review the progress of each pupil with a special educational need.

- 16 -

12. To follow the procedures and stages laid down by the Code of Practice in providing evidence to the Education and Library Boards for the statutory assessment or statement of special educational need.

13. To advise parents/guardians of their right to access to an independent system of appeal should they be dissatisfied with any aspect of special needs provision for their daughter.

14. To report annually to parents on the College’s policy for the identification of and provision for special educational needs.

15. To ensure inclusive arrangements and facilities are in place and operational to support pupils with special educational needs. This includes professional development, IEPs, transition and progress review involving external agencies where appropriate.

16. To secure the implementation of SEN policies through effective communication, review and evaluation.

17. To provide equal opportunity of access for pupils with a physical disability by recognising and implementing SENDO.

The strategic shift to include Special Educational Needs at Senior Leadership Level, to date, has proved insightful and feeds positively into whole school development and strategic planning. In order to review and develop SEN provision at the College a fundamental review was conducted during October of this academic year which has provided insight into the review of policy, provision and finance and served to identify priorities for whole school development and strategic planning, over the next 3 year period.

CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

1. Rationale:

The Board of Governors, Principal and staff of Victoria College recognise that there is a duty of care and responsibility towards our pupils. The College aims to provide a broad balanced, coherent and challenging curriculum which promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, intellectual, physical, emotional and social development of the pupil in preparation for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life.

2. Definition:

Definition of a child: For the purpose of this policy, a child is a person under the age of 18 years of age as defined in The Children (N.I.) Order 1995.

Definition of Abuse: Child abuse occurs when a child is neglected, harmed or not provided with proper care. Children may be abused in many settings, in a family, in an institutional or community setting, by those known to them, or more rarely, by a stranger. There are different types of abuse and a child may experience more than one of them.

Schools and teachers have a vital role in ensuring the protection and well-being of the children entrusted to their care and they are well placed to identify distress and harm. The College, therefore, is committed to practices which protect children from harm. These involve staff and volunteers associated with this school. The staff of the College

• accept and recognise our responsibility to develop awareness of the issues which cause children harm.

• recognise our pastoral responsibility to undertake whatever is necessary to safeguard and promote pupils’ welfare and safety.

- 17 -

• endeavour to achieve this by:

(i) adopting child protection guidelines including a code of behaviour for staff and volunteers;

(ii) sharing information about child protection and good practice with pupils, parents, staff and volunteers;

(iii) sharing information about concerns with the agencies who “need to know” and involving parents and children as appropriate;

(iv) following carefully the procedures for recruitment and selection of staff and volunteers; and

(v) providing staff and volunteers with effective management through supervision, support and training.

Regular liaison will be maintained with staff of the Belfast Education and Library Board and the Belfast Health and Social Services Trust who have designated staff available for consultation.

All parents can access the pastoral care policies through the School Office. This includes details of the Learning for Life and Work programme.

The Designated Teacher with specific responsibility for child protection is the Deputy Head and in her absence the deputy Designated Teacher who has been nominated by the Board of Governors. In the event of the absence of both the Designated and deputy Designated teachers, the Principal has responsibility for child protection.

The designated Governor with specific responsibility for child protection is the Governor who has been nominated by the Board of Governors.

Awareness in Child Protection

All staff, teaching and non-teaching, are trained in child protection awareness and implementation of procedures as outlined in Section 5 on a regular basis and will be alert to the signs of possible abuse and aware of the procedures to be followed. Visitors to the College are asked to report to either office and to sign in on arrival and are issued with a visitor’s badge. Where visitors are to talk or interact with pupils a teacher must always be present.

Pupils will be advised, as part of the curriculum, about actions they and the College can take to keep themselves safe and how to access help when needed.

Prevention is the preferred approach and the College will take steps to reduce any potential for abuse to occur. For example, any situations which involve one-to-one contact between an adult and a child will be managed and monitored so that they take place in close proximity to available supervision and assistance.

Photographs of Children

Photographs are taken at all school events throughout the academic year to reflect the richness and diversity of school life. Parents should inform the Principal in writing if they do not wish their daughter’s photograph to be taken or published in any school associated publicity including the website. Parents should be aware that photographs are taken internally for school records and administration purposes. These photographs are not for public/external use and are not accessible via the internet.

Concerns and Complaints

Parents and children will be informed of opportunities to make representation to the school staff, the Board of Governors and/or the Education Welfare or Social Services staff in the event of concerns and/or complaints.

- 18 -

The College undertakes to resolve concerns and complaints as speedily as possible. Any complaints handled will be reviewed annually, be reported to the Board of Governors and be subject to inspection by the Education and Training Inspectorate.

3. Categories of Abuse:

Introduction

It is not necessary for members of staff to have detailed knowledge of what constitutes abuse nor to investigate the causes. Both diagnosis and investigation are the responsibility of the medical, social work and police services. However, concerns may result from staff member’s own observation or from a child’s self report and it is important that you take what the child says seriously and take action straight away. Whatever the reason for abuse it should be stopped and preferably prevented. It is always wrong and it is never the child’s fault.

The child may be abused by a parent, sibling, or another relative, a member of staff, a fellow pupil, a carer, an acquaintance or a stranger, whether an adult or a young person. The abuse may be the result of a deliberate act or a failure to provide proper care or both. Particularly in the school context, bullying is a form of abuse which should be dealt with as seriously as any other form of abuse. In its persistent form it should lead to the invoking of child protection procedures.

Emotional Abuse - is the persistent emotional ill-treatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve conveying to a child that she is worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as she meets the needs of another person. It may involve causing a child frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of a child. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of ill- treatment of a child, though it may occur alone. Domestic violence, adult mental health problems and parental substance misuse may expose a child to emotional abuse.

Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s physical, emotional and/or psychological needs, likely to result in significant harm. It may involve a parent or carer failing to provide adequate food, shelter and clothing, failing to protect a child from physical harm or danger, failing to ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment, lack of stimulation or lack of supervision. It may also include non-organic failure to thrive (faltering growth).

Physical Abuse - is the deliberate physical injury to a child, or the willful or neglectful failure to prevent physical injury or suffering. This may include hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating, confinement to a room or cot, or inappropriately giving drugs to control behaviour.

Sexual Abuse involves forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities. The activities may involve physical contact, including penetrative or non-penetrative acts. They may include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, pornographic material or watching sexual activities, or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.

With the rapidly changing E-world there is the potential for a child to be exposed to abuse in a variety of contexts. Where this occurs the child protection procedures will be invoked.

A child may suffer or be at risk of suffering from one or more types of abuse and abuse may take place on a single occasion or may occur repeatedly over time.

4. Possible Signs of Abuse:

• Abnormality or change in appearance, behaviour, learning pattern or development. • Bruising. • Physical neglect. • Attention seeking behaviour or excessive dependence. • Inappropriate sexual behaviour or precocity. • Inappropriate distress. - 19 -

It should be noted that the above symptoms may be due to a variety of other causes, including bereavement or other disruptions in family circumstances, drug, alcohol or solvent abuse. Alternative medical, physiological or social explanation may exist for the signs and symptoms described.

It is the role of the staff member or volunteer who suspects that a child has been, or is at risk of being physically or sexually abused or neglected to bring this to the attention of the designated teacher. In preparing the information the staff member or volunteer should not unduly probe the child’s situation but rather listen and observe explaining that they have a responsibility to bring it to the attention of senior colleagues and child protection agencies. As soon as possible after the observation or disclosure has occurred the staff member or volunteer should record an account of what has occurred.

5. Procedures to be followed:

1. Where there is a cause for concern about a child, the teacher or other member of staff should consult the Designated Teacher. 2. The Designated Teacher will consult with the Principal and together they will agree the subsequent action and who will undertake it. This will normally be the Designated Teacher. 3. The Designated Teacher may seek advice from the Designated Officer for Child Protection at BELB and/or local Social Services. 4. On any disclosure where a child is or may be at risk a referral must be made. Where possible this should be done with parental consent but where parents do not wish the referral to go ahead the member of staff must state unequivocally that there is a statutory duty to do so. Likewise where there may have been a criminal offence, then the PSNI must be informed. 5. When the decision to refer is made, the Designated Teacher should make the referral to Social Services in writing, using the standard referral from. This form should be copied to the Designated Officer for Child Protection at BELB. 6. The Designated Teacher should make a record of all the discussions held and actions taken within 24 hours of a referral. 7. If an acknowledgement of the referral is not received from Social Services within 5 working days, then the Designated Teacher should follow this up. 8. After referral, the College and BELB staff will co-operate with the child protection investigation. This can involve providing factual information about the pupil for the purposes of the multi- agency assessment of risk and the Child Protection Plan. College staff may be invited to contribute to a Child Protection Case Conference if appropriate.

6. Young Person whose Behaviour places her at Risk of Significant Harm:

A child whose own behaviours, such as alcohol consumption or consumption of illegal drugs, whilst placing the child at risk of significant harm, may not necessarily constitute abuse as defined for the purposes of this policy. If the child has achieved sufficient understanding and intelligence to be capable of making up her own mind then the decision to initiate child protection action in such cases is a matter for professional judgement and each case should be considered individually. The criminal aspects of the case will be dealt with by the PSNI.

7. Review and Evaluation:

The pastoral care provision and practice in child protection in this school will be open to inspection. The Child Protection policy will be reviewed annually by the Board of Governors and kept under review by senior members of staff who will keep Governors informed of any difficulties that may arise. - 20 -

SECURITY IN SCHOOL POLICY

1. Rationale:

Victoria College recognises the importance of security for all members of the school community, pupils, staff, governors, parents and visitors. The safety of our pupils is of paramount importance and outweighs inconvenience to staff, parents and visitors caused by security measures. Employers have a duty, under Health & Safety legislation, to ensure that employees, so far as is reasonably practicable, are provided with a safe place of work. The responsibility includes the need to ensure that each person is safe from assaults.

2. Aims and objectives:

• To promote a safe working environment for pupils, staff, visitors and third parties using the College premises; • To ensure that the College premises are secure when unattended by a member of staff.

3. Definitions:

3.1 Premises refer to the whole of the College’s grounds, including its buildings, and sports pitches. All of the College’s grounds are private places, and anyone entering without authority may be asked to leave. This might include parents, as well as pupils, ex-pupils, excluded pupils. Anyone entering without permission is a trespasser.

3.2 Staff generally refers to all those employed at the College and any others working there, such as volunteers or contractors.

4. Roles and responsibilities:

4.1 Health and Safety sub-committee The Health and Safety sub-committee is responsible for: • producing an annual report for the Risk Management committee of the Board of Governors; • arranging to consult and inform staff about security; • resource allocation and approved training for security; • conducting the risk assessment for security;

4.2 Role of the Principal The Principal will be responsible for implementing the security policy agreed by the Board of Governors and for ensuring that:- • all staff appreciate the importance of security and understand the school’s policy and their own responsibilities; • staff training needs are kept under review and training is arranged as necessary; • parents are informed of the security policy and are encouraged to help; • regular reports are made to the Board of Governors; • there is an established method of contacting the police in the event of emergency (and that all staff know of this); • all crimes are reported to the police; • there are specified periodic surveys/risk assessments of security arrangements; • there are regular routine security checks.

4.3 Role of staff All staff members have a responsibility for ensuring: • the safety of pupils in their care by not exposing them to unacceptable risks, protecting them from hazards; • pupils are guarded against assaults; • that property is safeguarded; • that they know when to contact the police; • that they know how to implement the school’s emergency plan • their own actions do not expose themselves or colleagues to unacceptable risks. - 21 -

4.4 Role of pupils The risk to pupils comes from intruders as well as from fellow pupils (the latter is covered in the school anti-bullying policy). Pupils should be encouraged as part of the PSHE programme to report to the nearest member of staff if they see a visitor on site who is not wearing a visitor’s badge. They should never approach people themselves. Pupils should not remain on the school premises unsupervised and if they do stay late with the approval of a member of staff, details should be given to the caretaking staff.

5 Procedures:

5.1 Visitors Procedure for management of visitors is as follows: 1. All visitors are required to check in and out at the School Office and to sign in with details of their name, organisation, host/destination, car registration and time of arrival/departure.

2. Visitors will be provided with an identification badge and this badge must be displayed by the visitor at all times whilst they remain on the School premises.

3. If this is the first visit, or the visitor is not personally known to the School Office staff, he/she must remain in the Cranmore foyer until collected by their host at the College. Visitors will be restricted to designated areas in accordance with their business at the school and will not be allowed unsupervised access to pupils.

4. All contractors are required to check in and out each day with the Estates Supervisor and to comply with all other management controls as detailed in the College’s policy and procedures for Management of Contractors.

5. If a member of the public is showing signs of extreme agitation and refuses to calm down, help should be sought from a member of the Senior Leadership Team. A decision will then be made whether or not to call the Police (999).

5.2 Securing premises Perimeter security is most difficult to maintain. It is vitally important, therefore, that there is good signage.

1. Caretaking staff are required to lock off areas of the school as soon as they are no longer in use, and partially set the alarm system accordingly.

2. Intruders should only be approached when staff are accompanied by another adult. .

3. When responding to a night time call out, duty staff should await the arrival of the police/alarm response company. Under no circumstances should they attempt to enter the school until the police have arrived.

4. At the end of the school day the last user of a room must ensure that all windows are closed and electrical appliances turned off if appropriate, in line with departmental policy. Caretaking staff have responsibility for securing the school and this includes closing windows, locking doors and setting the alarm system.

5. Pupils should be encouraged to inform a member of staff if they see anyone who is not wearing identification. This will be the subject of a lesson in the PSHE programme.

6. No vehicles should be parked in such a way as to provide a ‘ladder’ onto any parts of the school.

7. All tools and ladders should be locked away each day – if they are not, the opportunist thief will use them. Caretaking staff will check all rooms to ensure there is no-one concealed in the building when it is locked up. Caretaking staff will also carry out regular checks of security fittings and alarms to ensure that they are working properly.

- 22 -

5.3 Controlled access and egress during the school day

Controlled access is a combination of measures to ensure that unauthorised visitors do not present an unacceptable risk to pupils or staff.

a. Buildings and Grounds

The school will take all reasonable efforts to restrict access to the building and grounds to prevent unauthorised access to children and ensure the personal safety of staff.

The access control procedures for the building are –

• Each campus has a reception desk and access control. Signage directs all visitors to this entrance. Unauthorised visitors will be challenged by staff. • External lighting covers entrance and exit doors adjacent to car parks. • The College operates a signing in /signing out system for all parents and visitors /students who are late/ leaving early. Students out of lesson must have a green exeat slip, duly authorised by their class teacher. • Students who wish to leave the site during the school day must have written permission, signed by appropriate staff. • Teaching staff will record the attendance of pupils in each class either by recording in their personal register or centrally using Lesson Monitor.

b. Cooperation with third parties, extended services and community groups

Our school security arrangements have taken into account any other third parties who use the school building or grounds. In most circumstances the arrangements for the school in general will be equally applicable for the third parties involved.

5.4 Controlled access and egress outside the school day a. Boarding Department Pupils may not leave the Boarding Department after the school day without permission from the Head of Boarding or the matron on duty. Pupils must apply in advance for an exeat and sign out. For boarders who are staying overnight with a family member, guardian or friend, written permission must be sought at least 24 hours in advance.

Boarders are escorted to the library by a member of boarding staff in order to complete their prep each evening. The girls are supervised throughout. On returning to Drumglass House the member of boarding staff is responsible for checking that the windows in the library are closed and setting the school alarm system.

During the day, the front door will be magnetically locked. Access from outside will be gained by entering the code into the key pad. Pupils do not have access to the code.

During night-time lockup, the matron on duty will set the night time alarm which will alarm all external doors from boarding except for the front door. After this alarm has been set, staff can only gain access using both the key and the code for the keypad.

During school term the main gates at Marlborough Park are open Monday to Friday from approximately 7.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m for access to the Cranmore site. For vehicular access outside these times including weekends, e.g. for known visitors such as parents or the College’s taxi firm, access is gained via the intercom system outside the main gate. Boarding staff should not permit access to any visitor not known to them. b. Pre-school department The pupils in Pre-school class are taught in Vitaglass, Drumglass House. Pupils are supervised at all times and visitors can only gain access through the Preparatory Department door which is magnetically locked. All visitors report to the Prep school office where they sign in and are provided with a visitor’s badge.

- 23 -

During playtimes and lunchtimes, pupils are directly supervised by the pre-school teacher and assistants. Pupils eat their lunch in the Boarding department dining hall. During playtimes, pupils either remain in Vitaglass, use the clearly marked outdoors soft play area or are escorted within the school grounds by a staff member.

The pre-school teacher and/or an assistant oversee collection of pupils at the close of the day by parents/guardians or nominated adult.

5.5 Supervision of contractors

Contractors and external maintenance personnel will not always have been Access NI checked, therefore they should not have unsupervised access to children. Control measures include: • All contractors should have signed and agreed to the terms set out in the Contractor permit to work form and guidance supplied by the Estates Supervisor. • All contractors are signed in and out and issued with badges, and are expected to wear them. • Contractor vehicle movements and material deliveries are monitored by the Estates Supervisor. • Work will only be carried out at agreed times and locations.

5.6 Dealing with an emergency

If there is an intruder on the Police should be called (999). A member of the Senior Leadership Team should be informed. Separate procedures apply in the case of fire and this is covered in the School Health & Safety Policy Statement. If any of the fire alarms are activated, all staff on site must evacuate the buildings and assemble on the hockey pitch.

5.7 Security of Personal Property

Pupils are asked not to bring anything of value to school. Individual staff are responsible for their own property.

5.8 Security of Equipment and Cash

Main items of school equipment, for example computers, TVs, videos, must be security marked. Any cash on the premises must be kept in a locked safe and money is banked on a weekly basis.

5.9 Offensive Weapons

It is a criminal offence to carry an offensive weapon into school. Offensive weapons are defined as ‘any article made or adapted for causing injury to the person, or intended by the person having it with him for such use by him or some other person.’

If staff judge that the circumstances are innocent, the matter is dealt with on a disciplinary basis. If there is any doubt, the police are summoned and they assess the seriousness of the incident.

When the person suspected of carrying an offensive weapon is not a pupil at the school, or an incident occurs off the school premises, the police are informed and they carry out the search and an appropriate investigation.

5.10 Critical Incident

If the security of the school is breached, leading to a critical incident (for example, a pupil or member of staff being attacked), the Critical Incident Policy is implemented with staff and Governors responding to the procedures.

5.11 Reporting Incidents

All incidents of crime and losses are recorded in the Incident File, including information on the date, time, location, cost, staff, parents involved and action taken. The Police and Chairman of the Board of Governors are notified.

A review of incidents over the year is distributed to the Governors. - 24 -

6. Review and Evaluation:

This policy will be reviewed at least once every four years by the Board of Governors. The policy will be kept under review by senior members of staff who will keep Governors informed of any difficulties that may arise.

SOME EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES OF THE 2012/2013 ACADEMIC YEAR

These extracts show the achievements of our pupils in all spheres of school life - academic, musical, cultural and sporting - during the past academic year.

Sport

In 2012-2013 pupils from Victoria College competed in Ulster, Irish, British and European Championships.

Athletics In the South Antrim Athletics Championships all three teams (Juniors, Intermediates and Seniors) were placed second. The Intermediate team was placed 2nd in the South Antrim Championships and 6th in the Ulster Championships.

The best individual performances in the Ulster Finals were

Ella Davis - 1st (Ulster Champion) in 800m Emma Henderson - 2nd in Discus Jane Matthews - 5th in 300m Emma McAllister - 6th in 200m/8th in 300m Harriet Gilmore - 7th in 800m Zoe Jane Dickson - 6th in the Long Jump Rebecca Harvey - 4th in 1500m/5th in 3000m Rachael Henderson - 5th in 300m Amy Edwards (Year 10) - 1st (Ulster Champion) Junior Girls Javelin

Maeve Hoyt and Erin Blundell, Year 9, were selected for 800m and the High Jump respectively for the U14 Inter District Athletics team. Amy Edwards, Year 10, was selected for the Javelin for the Inter-Provincial Athletics team and was placed 6th in the All Ireland finals in Javelin. Emma Henderson was selected onto the N.I. Athletics team for the Inter-Provincial championships and in the Irish Championships was placed 7th in the Discus throwing, Ella Davis was placed 6th in the Intermediate Girls 800m and Rebecca Harvey was placed 6th in the 1500m. Emma Henderson has also been selected to represent Northern Ireland Athletics at the U.K. Schools’ Games in Sheffield in September.

Cross Country The Cross Country teams competed in the Belfast, South Antrim, Ulster and Irish Championships. At the Belfast City Council Championships the Year 8 team was placed second and the Year 9 and Year 10 teams were placed first. Eve Corry, Year 9, and Amy Harvey, Year 8, won as individuals in their races. At the South Antrim Championships the Year 8 and Year 9 teams won and the Junior team (Year 10) was second. Top individual achievers were Maeve Hoyt who was first in the Minor Girls, Rebecca Harvey, who was second in Senior Girls, Rebecca Getty, who was third in Senior Girls and Harriet Gilmore and Georgia Dick who were fourth and third respectively in the Intermediate girls sections. The Junior team was placed second and qualified for the Irish finals where they finished sixth. Maeve Hoyt, Year 9, finished 8th out of 110 competitors and qualified as an individual for the Irish Championships.

The Intermediate team – Georgia Dick, Harriet Gilmore, Ella Davis, Jane Matthews and Esmée Hall – was placed 1st in the South Antrim Championships, 1st in the Ulster Championships and 5th in the Irish Championships. The Senior team – Rebecca Harvey, Rachael Henderson, Rebecca Getty and

- 25 -

Alix Bell – was placed 1st in the South Antrim Championships, 3rd in the Ulster Championships and 8th in the Irish Championships. Georgia Dick, Year 12, was selected to represent Northern Ireland at the London Mini-Marathon in April.

All the Cross Country teams have been invited to compete at the inaugural European Championships in Gran Canaria in 2014.

Esmée Hall attended a Triathlon Ireland Talent Identification Day in April and the High Performance Team at Triathlon Ireland confirmed that she had reached Academy Level, indicating that she has the potential to compete for a qualification place in the Youth Olympics 2014. Esmée will now work with Triathlon Ireland coaches for training going forward.

Gaelic Games In Gaelic Football the Players of the Year were Kirsten Matthews, Eimear Maguire and Sophie Robinson for Years 8, 9 and 10 respectively. A Year 8 squad of two teams participated in the annual Gaelic Football development blitz. Both teams performed very well against very tough opposition and Year 9 and 10 pupils played in the U14 Gaelic Football Ulster League. An U16 team also played in the Ulster League.

Three Camogie teams played matches during the year. The Players of the Year were Rachael McCormack, Megan Ingram and Lauren Henderson for Years 8, 9 and 10 respectively.

Hockey Years 8, 9 and 10 played inter-school fixtures throughout the year and the Year 8 team played in the Northern Ireland tournament. U14 A XI team played in the Junior Cup and Plate and reached the quarter finals, being beaten by Banbridge Academy who were the eventual winners. The Year 9 team hosted St Olave’s School from England. The following girls were selected onto the Belfast U15 hockey team: Sophie Hunter, Emma Conlin, Amy Edwards, Caitlyn Harvey and Rebecca Lobo. Amy Edwards, Year 10, was selected onto the Ulster U16 Development Squad and was awarded the U14 player of the year. Olivia Blundell, Year 13, and Rachel Hanley, Year 12, were invited to the U18 Ulster Development Squad Training.

The 1st XI squad 2012-3 - Sophie Pollock, Emily Mills, Rachael Henderson, Maddy McCavanna, Jemma Hool, Megan Halliday, Azka Yousaf, Kathryn Shane, Rachel Hanley, Olivia Blundell, Jessica Bamber, Rebecca Lobo, Elizabeth Lawther, Eva McCartan, Kathryn Brown, Georgia Dick - reached the Schools’ Cup Final but lost 1-0 to Lurgan College. Sophie Pollock won the ‘Player of the Match’ trophy. The junior hockey players were excellent supporters and enjoyed the occasion. They joined the 1st XI at an end of season dinner and awards ceremony at Cooke RFC. The 2A XI reached the quarter final of the McDowell Cup. The 1st and 2nd XI hockey teams also participated in a trip to Barcelona in March, during which they played matches against local teams.

Rachel Hanley was selected onto the U17 Ulster Development Squad. Rebecca Lobo was selected onto the U18 Ulster Development Team and also played for the U16 Ulster hockey team. Rebecca and Amy Edwards, Year 10, were members of the winning Northern Ireland team at the U.K. School Games in September.

Netball The Senior Netball team won the Belfast League and reached the Belfast Cup Final, but lost 25:15 to Sullivan. Bronagh McCann, Year 11, was selected onto the Northern Ireland U17 squad. Natalie Clendinning and Bronagh McCann were selected onto the Belfast U16 team and Bronagh and Eve Harrison were selected onto the Belfast U15 team.

Swimming The Junior Relay team of Hannah Beattie, Maia Dougan, Sarah Montgomery and Eve Corry won bronze medals in both the medley and freestyle relays at the Ulster Swimming Championships. Rachael and Caitlin McCormack won the junior section of the Ulster Lifesaving Championships.

At the Ulster Secondary Schools Championships Emma Henderson was placed second in the Breaststroke and Esmée Hall was third in the Individual Medley. The relay team of Emma, Esmée, Katie Hayes and Evie Dougan won gold in the freestyle and silver in the medley. At the Ulster - 26 -

Grammar Schools’ Championships the Intermediate team of Esmée Hall, Katie Hayes, Emma Henderson and Sophie Hunter had excellent individual swims and won gold in both relays. They were crowned overall Grammar Schools’ Champions 2013. Esmée won gold in the Individual Medley, Emma won silver in Breaststroke and Rachael Henderson won silver in the senior Breaststroke. Congratulations to Emma Henderson who was selected onto the Ulster swim squad and was also selected to represent Ulster schools at the Interprovincial championships in Dublin where Ulster were crowned champions 2013. Emma was also selected as the youngest member to represent Great Britain at the Junior European Pool and Surf Championships to be held in Riccione, Italy in September. Esmée Hall qualified to compete in the Irish Long Course Swimming championships in April.

In Lifesaving, Rachael and Emma Henderson represented the College at the British Championships. Rachael won two British titles and Emma won five British titles, setting three new British records. Both girls were selected onto the Great Britain team and Rachael represented Great Britain at the European Championships in Sweden. Rachael gained three fourth places in finals and the British girls won gold in the ocean events and overall bronze in pool events. Both Rachael and Emma have been selected to represent Great Britain in the European Championships in Italy in September 2013.

Tennis The Senior Tennis team – Emma Dornan, Emma Russell, Lauren Russell, Hannah McFerran (Reserve: Alix Bell) – won the Ulster Schools’ Senior Tennis Cup, after defeating Belfast Royal Academy, 5 matches to 1. The Junior tennis team reached the quarter final of the Ulster Junior Cup (Sophe Hunter, Emma Conlin, Lucy Hamilton and Kristina Bell).

Other Sporting Activities The College’s Under 19 Table Tennis Team – Megan Halliday, Hazel Wong, Emma Dornan, Emma Russell, Lauren Russell and Year 10 pupils Sophie Hunter, Yasmin Abdelrahman and Kristina Bell - won the Ulster U19 league and was placed second in the Ulster Cup. The Football team competed in the Belfast District Cup for the first time. The Year 8/9 team was placed third and the Year 10/11 team was fifth. The Year 10 Rugby team competed in the Regional Tournament at Grosvenor against much older competition. They thoroughly enjoyed the experience although they did not qualify for the final stage of the cup competition. The College’s Equestrian team – Olivia Hughes, Year 8, Jordan McClements and Tara Murphy, Year 9 and Abi Carlisle, Year 10 - won at an event in Balmoral. Sophie Robinson, Year 10, was selected as a member of The Pony Club Mounted Games team and represented Northern Ireland at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May. Abi Carlisle, Year 10, was a member of winning team in the UK Intermediate Dressage Competition which was held in Cheshire in August and which had over 250 entries in the class

Rachel Houston, Year 11, was selected to represent Ireland as part of the Nations Cup team at equestrian events in Moorsele, Belgium and in Fontainebleau, France. She achieved highly in both competitions and the team was placed third in the Nations Cup, during which Rachel was the only Irish competitor to win a class.

Phoebe Hagan, Year 10, was placed third in the Northern Ireland Youth Climbing series. Abi Cairns, Year 10, achieved gold in Dancing Awards. All Year 8 pupils participated in a Five Start Sports Session, organised by Disability Sports N.I. Ara McCartan, Year 9, won the May Fitzgibbon Golf Cup and will now represent Ulster in the All Ireland Under 19 competition in July. Niamh Neale, Year 8, was placed second in the World Irish Dance Championships held in Boston, U.S. and Holly Beattie, Year 8, was selected by her dance club, Utopia, to participate in the Flamingo Land Dance Festival which was held in Yorkshire in April. Ciara-Beth Neale, Year 11, competed in the Great Britain Irish Dance Championships in England in October.

Caitlin Maguire, Year 9, was selected to play for Ulster in the Under 15 Interprovincial girls’ squash team at a tournament held in Dublin. In this tournament the Ulster team successfully competed against the other provinces in Ireland and the Under 15 Ulster team was placed second. This is the third year that Caitlin has played for Ulster both at Under 13 and Under 15 level. Rebecca Getty, Year 11, was the winner of Badminton England U15 Gold tournament in Essex, being the first player from Northern Ireland to win a title in England at U15 level. Rebecca was also a finalist in both the U15 East of Scotland and the U17 Irish Championships. She represented Ulster at the U15 and U17

- 27 - level at the English Inter-County tournaments and represented Ireland at the U15 level at the Home Nations Quadrangular and represented Northern Ireland at the U17 level at the U.K. School Games. She was the winner of the U17 Ulster Championships (singles and mixed doubles) and reached the semi-finals of the U17 Gold Star event in Nottingham. Rebecca is a member of the Ulster Senior Badminton Squad.

In September Tanith MacLynn-Hill and Rebecca Johnson were selected to represent Northern Ireland in the Sea Cadet Regatta, London. Caitriona Campbell, Year 11, was selected to represent Ireland in the Junior European Ski Championships in Andorra in January and Ruth Aicken, Year 12, competed in the Irish National Senior Cup in Waterpolo. Sophie McCoo, Year 14, won the N.I. Women’s Artistic Gymnast of the Year, the N.I. Outstanding Gymnast of the Year and the Irish Outstanding Gymnast.

Other Activities

Charity Work Pupils raised money for the College’s two chosen charities, ‘WaterAid’ and ‘Disability Sports’. Amongst the many additional fundraising events, pupils raised money for Action Cancer at the Craft Fair and Laura Hutchinson, Year 11, fundraised for Teenage Cancer Trust.

Comenius Project/International Connections/Eco Work To celebrate the European Day of Languages 2012, in September a group of budding linguists from Years 10-13 performed a dynamic drama piece at a cultural concert to celebrate the European Day of Languages in the Belfast City Hall. The Modern Language enthusiasts participated in the tastes and sounds of Europe and beyond, as schools from across Northern Ireland joined together to celebrate and highlight their creative and linguistic talents.

During October 2012, a select group of Senior pupils – Basma Salem, Wiktoria Slomkowska and Katie McComb – joined 27 other schools from across Ireland to participate in the annual Mock Council of the European Union held in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings. Organised by the British Council, in partnership with the European Commission Office in Northern Ireland, the Mock Council provides students with an opportunity to take part in topical debate and vote on European issues.

October truly was a month with an international flavour on the agenda at the College. On 24 October two representatives from the school’s India Society were invited to represent the College at a ‘Taste of India’ event, organised by the UNA to mark UN Day. Siva O’Neill and Sarah Blaney, Year 12, contributed to the online Your Europe, Your Say Forum.

Also during October, a select group of Year 12 pupils – Ellen Beattie, Cara McCabe-O’Neill, Megan Halliday, Emma Gilmartin, Olivia Anderson and Alexandra Doran – interviewed for the Rotary Youth Leadership programme and Emma Gilmartin progressed to represent the College at the regional finals.

An ever increasing number of Senior school pupils continue to participate in the European Studies programme, Comenius project, Global Schools partnership and most recently the Eco Schools initiative. Their valued work has been recognised by the renewal of our International Schools Award

- 28 - and the achievement of the Best Kept School and the Eco Schools Award and the awarding of a Green Flag.

During March 2013, we were one of six schools chosen to participate in the European Youth Parliament Regional Forum, in the Titanic Quarter. A group of nine Year 13 pupils prepared Committee resolutions and debated current topics on the agenda across E.U. member states and indeed globally.

In May 2013 four Key Stage 4 pupils – Laura Hutchinson, Ellen Beattie, Megan Halliday and Chloe Haylett – submitted successful applications and were selected to attend a Youth Leadership Conference during the summer months.

Clubs Pupils from Year 10 joined Dr Brown and Mr McCaw early on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays in the Technology block for Greek Club. The pupils have already gained some proficiency in the language, using interactive games and drills from Eton College and the Open University. It is hoped that this course will be continued next year.

Community Work Junior School welcomes the Gideons who presented all Year 8 pupils with a personalised Bible. They also presented the College with a Bible in memory of a former pupil who had been a member of the Gideons.

Competitions/Achievements Pupils from Years 8, 9 and 10 participated in the European Studies programme and were awarded European Studies Certificates. Five Year 10 pupils – Gina Gilmartin, Francesca Drumm, Caitlin McCormack, Katie Lynn and Kristina Bell – represented the College at the Stormont Climate Change Summit organised by TidyNI. The girls gave a very good presentation, speaking on behalf of the United States of America and what strategies they were employing to reduce global warming. The same five pupils were also involved in the BEEs project. They competed with other schools in the Belfast Area and were shortlisted for the finals at the Belfast City Hall. They gave an excellent presentation and won and are now the Belfast Environmentally Efficient Schools (BEEs) champions.

Year 10 pupils Francesca Drumm, Emily Greer, Francesca Eldred, Emma Connolly, Sara Gray and Alexandra Dick were winners of the Northern Ireland “Go For It” programme. Francesca Drumm, was also a member of the Belfast City Council Youth Forum. Kristina Geddis, Amy McMorris, Renuka Sharma, Emily Irvine, Katie Brennan and Amy Edwards, Year 10, were winners of the Engineering Crest Silver Award. Sarah Wilson, Year 10, took part in the N.I. Voice Box Competition Awards and was selected as a finalist and was invited to tell her joke in the Senate Chamber at the N.I. Assembly in November.

A number of Year 8 and 9 pupils read in excess of 1 million words each since September, with Teresa Chan, Emma Greer and Jessica Welch reading a total of 36, 39 and 45 books respectively. A group of twenty Key Stage 3 pupils took part in the Sentinus Engineering Solutions Programme sponsored by the Royal Academy of Engineering, The girls worked with two PhD students from Queen’s University Belfast to complete, in groups of 4-5, an 8 week programme based on the theme of ‘futuristic technologies’ and the best team represented their school at the celebration day in the Whitla Hall, QUB. The College’s team - Anna Darling, Eva Davis, Erin Devlin and Emma Salmon – won two out of the five awards available on the day - “Most Creative Engineering Solution” and “Commercial Potential”. All the pupils who took part in the programme received a Sentinus certificate and a CREST Silver Award in recognition of their work. India Atkinson, Year 9, won the Vision Express Star Pupil competition and won an all expenses paid trip for her family to Disneyland Paris.

Fifty-four Year 9 pupils took part in the Junior Mathematics Challenge in April during which four silver certificates and ten bronze certificates were awarded. Sophie Doran, Sophie Wilson, Emma Hand and Janie Kennedy obtained the silver certificates with Sophie Doran also being awarded the ‘Best in School’ certificate. Four girls – Katie Brennan, Amy Edwards, Katie McConkey and Teresa Chan – took part in the Junior Team Mathematics Challenge held at Rockport School in April.

In November 2012 Year 13 and 14 Mathematics pupils took part in the Senior Mathematics Challenge. One gold, two silver and eleven bronze certificates were awarded. April Lam, Year 14, - 29 - obtained the gold certificate and was also awarded the ‘Best in School’ certificate. Aya Helmy and Jenny Salmon from Year 13 obtained the silver certificates. A team of our AS and A2 Mathematics pupils also took part in the regional final of the Senior Team Mathematics Challenge at Rockport School. This is a demanding mathematical competition and the team of Helen Bennett and April Lam from Year 14 and Aya Helmy and Ceci Yip from Year 13, enjoyed an afternoon of working on and solving a range of challenging mathematical problems.

Sixty-seven pupils from Year 11 took part in the Intermediate Mathematics Challenge in February. Five silver and ten bronze certificates were awarded. Helen Francis, Anna Johnston, Jessica Carter, Bronagh McCann and Nikita McColgan obtained the silver certificates with Helen also being awarded the ‘Best in School’ certificate.

In November Year 13 pupils Julia Kennedy, Wiktoria Slomkowska, Aya Helmy, Cushla Little and Elena Olmo Campos took part in the ‘Juvenes Translatores’ translation competition, organised by the European Commission. Their combined efforts covered five foreign languages – French, Italian, Spanish, German and Polish. All girls did extremely well, not least Julia Kennedy who was singled out for the quality of her translation, in which she showed remarkable skill.

Basma Salem, Year 13, was nominated as one of the Best Speakers in the N.I. Debating Competition and was invited to debate in the Senate Chamber at Stormont. Maria Doran, Year 14, participated in Lord Sugar’s “Young Apprentice” on BBC TV and did extremely well, reaching the final stages of this competition. Shannon Kincaid, Year 12, was involved in the Peace III Conference at the Belfast City Hall which was part of a special E.U. Programmes body. A team of Year 12 and 13 pupils – Asha Pandey, Amy McCartney, Hannah Ware and Meredith Telford – represented the College at the National Finals of the UK Aerospace Youth Rocketry Challenge (UKAYRoC) at Farnborough, after successfully competing in the regional finals. The team was ranked in 7th place and was awarded the prize for the best static display. Sarah Murray, Year 14, was awarded a scholarship worth £2,000 from Bangor University.

Conferences/Lectures/Training Junior pupils were encouraged to read throughout the year. The fourth annual Northern Ireland Book Award was officially launched at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution on 24th October 2012. Year 8 pupils attended this event and were encouraged to read as many books as possible from the short listed titles and to vote for their favourite book. Guest of Honour to launch the event was Joe Craig, author of the Jimmy Coates series of adventure books. A number of Year 8 and 9 pupils read in excess of 1 million words each since September, with Teresa Chan, Emma Greer and Jessica Welch reading a total of 36, 39 and 45 books respectively. In February the College hosted a visit by the author, Nicola Pierce, who gave a lively and interesting talk to Years 8 and 9 about her novel, Spirit of the Titanic.

A class of Year 8 and Preparatory 7 pupils took part in an Outdoor Classroom Science Project with Queen’s University Belfast. The project was led by Miss Bothwell and Miss Wright who attended workshops at Queen’s before jointly organising a two day Science Project for their classes. The pupils studied the habitats of Victoria College by looking at leaf litter, the pond and the trees on the school grounds. In June, Miss Bothwell and Miss Wright along with two representatives from each class were invited to attend a celebration event with a number of other schools involved in the project. Pupils and teachers presented their project and were awarded certificates for their participation.

The local PSNI Road Safety officer addressed Sixth Form pupils regarding road safety. Schools from across Northern Ireland were represented at the Anti-Bullying Ambassadors Training which was held at Cookstown High School and five pupils from Middle School attended this event.

On two occasions this year the pupils and their teacher went to Queen’s Film Theatre for evening showings of French movies and both evenings proved most enjoyable and an excellent way to boost language skills.

Drama and Music The Music Department has had another successful and busy year. The Junior Chamber Choir entertained parents and guests at the PTA Social Evening in September, along with special guests, the newly formed male voice choir, “The Lagan Seahorses”, under the direction of Mrs Murray and Mrs Gillian. For the third successive year the Senior Choir reached the semi-final of the All Island - 30 -

Choral competition. This is always a strong competition and the girls sang beautifully, but were beaten by Methodist College.

The Junior Chamber Choir enjoyed singing in a concert, ‘One Voice’, which was raising money for a children’s MRI scanner, alongside Peter Corry and Rachael Tucker, both professional singers from Belfast. The concert took place at the end of November in The Waterfront Hall.

Calamity Jane was our very successful whole school production in November in collaboration with RBAI which gave many girls the opportunity to shine and showcase their talents. They were ably supported by both Junior and Senior choir members who sang in the ‘Pit’ choir.

The Carol Service was held in Fisherwick Church on 16 December and pupils from Years 8 to 14 were involved. There were excellent performances from all choirs and the orchestra and a wonderful evening was enjoyed by everyone.

A wide range of peripatetic tuition is offered in the Music Department and our pupils continue to excel in their chosen instruments in the Associated Board and Trinity College examinations throughout the year. Special mention should be given to one of our Year 10 pupils, Alexandra Dick, who recently played one of the leading roles in ‘The Sound of Music’ alongside St Agnes Choral Society. Alexandra certainly excelled in her performances as Liesl, one of the Von Trapp children. Alexandra also performed in the International Youth Production of Cats in the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham and in front of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber during one of the performances.

Our final whole school musical event was the Spring Concert, held in March. All of our choirs and orchestra and many vocal and instrumental ensembles, gave outstanding performances, enjoyed by all.

Some girls enjoyed success at the recent Carrickfergus Music Festival. Janie Kennedy, Year 9, was awarded second place in the Under 16 Flute solo. The Victoria College Woodwind Ensemble with Kathryn Kerr, Kristina Bell, Anna Darling, Emma Conlin, Janie Kennedy, Emily McQuoid and Georgia Ross won the Under 12 Woodwind Ensemble Class. Hannah Rose Glover, Year 8, also enjoyed success at the Mossgrove Festival and was awarded first place in the Under 12 vocal solo. Sarah Rogers, Year 10, was selected for the National Youth Choir of Scotland and for the Ulster Youth Choir and the Philharmonic Choir. Sarah and Erin Devlin were also selected for the National Youth Choir of Scotland residential training course which was held in March. Robyn Chambers, Year 10, attained a place in the musical theatre company ‘The Rainbow Factory’ and Lucy Hellawell, Year 12, participated in the Schools’ Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in November.

The Drama department has had a busy and successful year, with a plethora of performances and trips, workshops and visiting practitioners. The department began in October with its performance of ‘As You Like It’ as part of the Shakespeare for Schools festival in the brand new Mac theatre in Belfast. This was a very exciting and enjoyable experience for Year 12 pupils and collaboration between the Drama and English departments. Autumn also saw a trip to the Lyric Theatre to watch Lynne Parker’s vision of ‘Macbeth’, preceded by a workshop from the actors involved in the production. November saw a trip to the Mac to watch Bruiser’s performance of ‘Lady Windermere’s Fan’. All the A-level girls enjoyed this and had the privilege of inviting the director, Lisa May, to come into school to give a talk and facilitate a workshop.

November also saw a talk from Paula McFetridge from ‘Kabosh’ theatre group, a unique opportunity and most enlightening experience. December saw the production of two A level devised pieces, ‘Anonymous’ and ‘Judgement’.

After Christmas rehearsals commenced for our AS monologues and duologues, as well as the GCSE scripted work. Six plays were performed and twenty pupils took part in monologues and duologues, all of which were showcased for parents and friends. After Easter we also showcased four plays by our AS drama groups and took a trip to see the Northern Ballet’s version of ‘The Great Gatsby’ in the Grand Opera House. The department also moved into our brand new drama suite, situated in the Cranmore car park, and this has been of great help to all the students, both for teaching and learning and rehearsing purposes.

- 31 -

Francesca Eldred, Alexandra Dick and Emma Connolly, Year 10, performed in a short drama piece at The European Day of Languages Concert at the City Hall, Belfast. Language pupils also attended and enjoyed four Onatti plays in French, German and Spanish. This was a fun way for the pupils to boost language learning.

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme The majority of Year 10 pupils (102 pupils) started working towards their Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze Award. They undertook training in the Mournes in October and completed their Bronze expeditions in the Mournes in June. Six girls achieved their Gold Award - Orlaith Sonner, Rebekah Milligan, Jody McKeown, Rachael Henderson, Lucy Crossan and Sophie Pollock and fourteen girls were presented with Silver Awards.

School Trips Year 10 Spanish students participated in a return visit to Huelva in Spain in February. Rachel Burton and Beth McGardle were the only two Year 10 pupils who stayed with a Spanish family. The girls also hosted two pupils from the La Rabida School when they visited Northern Ireland in June 2012.

Fifty Year 9 students attended an outdoor residential event at Tollymore in June during which they enjoyed bouldering, orienteering, high ropes and canoeing. Year 10 Geography students enjoyed an overnight residential at Magilligan Field Centre where they developed their fieldwork skills. They investigated rivers, coastal dune ecosystems and the formation of the Giant’s Causeway. Year 13 Geography students attended a fieldwork residential at Magilligan Field Centre in February.

Eighty-one pupils and nine members of staff participated in a two group trip to Paris in June, during which their itinerary included visits to Montmartre, a river cruise, visits to museums and the Parc Astérix. Year 8 History pupils also attended a trip to Carrickfergus Castle in June.

Two members of staff and fifteen pupils from the Senior choir took part in the Toccata trip to Kenya and the pupils gained much from their experience. Thirty-one Business Studies students from Years 13 and 14 participated in a trip to Disneyland Paris in February. The focus of the trip was to look at Disney’s Marketing mix and the pricing strategies behind the events at the Stade de France. The technology behind Montparnasse and the Eiffel Tower was also studied.

During the summer three members of staff (Miss Cassidy, Mrs Haugh and Dr Brown), together with twelve Year 13 pupils, participated in a nine day Habitat for Humanity N.I. Global Village project in Transylvania in West Romania. This project involved an “accelerated build” project, assembling a family home in five days from start to finish and also finishing a project substantially completed by Wesley College Dublin. A group of two members of staff (Mr Robinson and Miss Faloona) and 18 Year 12 and 13 pupils successfully completed a World Challenge expedition through the rainforests of Borneo. The group also climbed Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain in Borneo.

***************** As you will see from this report, the College offers our pupils a wide and varied experience which prepares them for the next stage in their lives.

PLAYGROUP, PRE-SCHOOL AND PREPARATORY DEPARTMENT

The academic year 2012-2013 has been a year of celebration for the Preparatory Department. Our pupil numbers continue to grow and the quality of provision across the school remains high. The continued success of the Preparatory Department has been recognised through two external accreditation processes. After rigorous assessment, the Preparatory Department was awarded the Inclusion Quality Mark, an award which fewer than ten schools across Northern Ireland have achieved. This award recognises that the Preparatory Department is committed to personalising the learning experience for each pupil, to meeting the potential of every student, to creating an inclusive learning environment for all learners and to welcoming new pupils to the school. In May 2013, the Preparatory Department achieved the coveted Green Flag in recognition of the environmental work led by the Prep Eco Action Team, under the co-ordination of Miss Spottiswoode. Prep is grateful to Ms Slevin, the Board of Governors and all of the staff, for their support and assistance with the detailed assessment procedures involved in these awards.

- 32 -

Throughout the year, the Preparatory pupils have enjoyed an enriched curriculum experience. Playgroup and Pre-School enjoyed a visit to W5 and at Christmas, they took part in their first shared Nativity performance, culminating the year with an enjoyable Sports Day event in June. Pupils across the school have all participated in a number of educational trips ranging from visits to the Zoo, Tayto Castle and Titanic Belfast. Three pupils also represented the Preparatory Department at the welcome address delivered by President Obama at the Waterfront Hall in June. Pupil voice remains central to school development and our Action Groups have worked diligently across school to organise a variety of whole school events. Miss Spottiswoode and the Eco Action Team initiated Transport Week and the summer term Park and Stride event, Mrs McLuckie and the SNAG girls organised a Breakfast Club, the School Council visited Stormont, Miss McQuillan and the Welcome Team created a welcome DVD for newcomer pupils and the new Community Action Group planned Diversity Day. In addition, the Prep girls enjoyed Money Week organised by Mrs Coulter, and International Day organised by Mrs Burnett. Some of the Prep pupils were involved with Young Enterprise and this established effective partnerships between Prep and a number of local businesses. Prep 7 also benefited from involvement in the Queen’s Outdoor Science project and a programme of Philosophy for Children.

In April, the girls all took part in our whole school performance of The Button Box. Each performance was enjoyable, energetic and entertaining. Every one of our pupils performed with enthusiasm. The Prep 7 girls were a credit to the school and gave a very professional performance. Miss Wright must be commended for writing, co-ordinating and organising such a memorable performance and Miss McQuillan and Mrs Murray must be thanked for their support with this important school event.

Transfer procedure remained unchanged and all of the girls in Prep 7 worked extremely hard and gave of their very best throughout the preparation process. This September, all of the Prep 7 pupils have taken up a Grammar school place for Year 8. This year, the Department has introduced new assessment arrangements and Prep pupils have been assessed using the Cross Curricular Assessments. In line with the new requirements, all of the Prep 4 and Prep 7 pupils have been awarded a level of achievement in Using Mathematics and Communication. Prep 4 and 7 pupils have also been involved in the final year of the CCEA ICT Accreditation scheme. From September 2013, Prep will be involved in the roll-out of the Cross Curricular Assessments in ICT.

Thanks to the generous support and enthusiastic participation of the children, Prep has raised almost £2,000 for a wide range of good causes. Thanks to the work of the newly formed Community Action Group (CAG), Prep was delighted to welcome Alistair Bennett from the ‘Stand by Me’ charity to Assembly to collect a cheque. The money raised will help to resource a school in Ethiopia. At harvest time, the CAG also arranged a collection of food and toiletries in aid of the local homeless charity, the Simon Community. The annual Harvest Sale (supported by pupils from Playgroup, Pre- School and Prep) raised almost £400 and was great fun! Special thanks to Mrs Glover and the CAG girls for such a successful first year!

This has been a very busy year for Prep sports, with school achievements in swimming, cross country and hockey. A strong team of Prep 6 and 7 girls competed in the Belfast cross country finals. They were placed first overall and Anna Hill won silver in the final. The team qualified for the Northern Ireland finals and had some successful individual runs against a very strong field of club runners from across the Province. In January, a team from Prep 5, 6 and 7 competed in the Ulster Minor Schools’ Swimming Championships held in Ballymena and all pupils had positive individual swims. For some it was their first experience of an Ulster gala, and in many set new individual bests. Lauren Patterson was placed 4th in the 50 metres Backstroke. Prep 7 girls were invited to a special taster day pentathlon event held to mark Dame Mary Peters being awarded freedom of the city. After a great morning of fun and fitness, the girls all received individual Olympic awards. Prep 7 also participated in a coaching day at the Mary Peters track. Following this event, Bree Moffett was selected to represent Prep and to participate in a special event to officially re-open the Mary Peters track in June 2013. The Prep hockey team has had a busy year and two teams participated in the regional tournament. The A team was runner up, qualifying for the Northern Ireland mini hockey finals. The team had a tough section but qualified for the cup competition where the girls played extremely well, being denied a semi final place on goal difference. Congratulations to all the squad on their commitment and perseverance and thanks to Mrs Bell for her continued hard work. A highlight of the Prep sporting calendar was our first Prep House Sports Day. The House Captains

- 33 - and Vice Captains are commended for their encouragement and for setting such a good example to the younger pupils. Congratulations to the overall winners, Howard House, and the runners up, Marlborough and Packenham.

Thanks to the enthusiasm of the Friends of Prep, we have enjoyed a number of social events throughout the year. These have included Deanes at Queens, Movie Night, a Boden Day and a school disco. The money raised through these events has been used to purchase an interactive whiteboard for Prep 5, ICT for the Prep Hall and costumes for the school performance. Special thanks must be made to Mrs Cosgrove, who will be stepping down as Secretary and Chairperson, and Mrs McAllister, Mrs Palmer and Mrs Byrne, who will also be leaving the association. Without the drive and enthusiasm of these founding members, Prep may not have had the opportunity to establish the Friends of Prep parent and teacher association.

I know that I speak for all of the staff, pupils and parents when we wish Mrs Coulter a very well deserved and happy retirement after thirty-two years of teaching. Mrs Coulter began her teaching career at Richmond Lodge in 1975 and following the amalgamation of the two schools, was appointed to Victoria College. Mrs Coulter taught in Prep 5 and 6 and in 2005 she was appointed as Deputy Head of Prep. Mrs Coulter gave loyal service to the College and will be greatly missed by the pupils, parents and staff. Miss Wright is to be congratulated on her successful appointment as the new Deputy Head of Prep.

Prep is looking forward to the academic year 2013-2014 and as our provision for early years extends, to welcoming Playgroup to the Cranmore site. Prep continues to develop and the new school building improvements mark the beginning of a new era for pupils, parents and staff. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Preparatory Department staff for their hard work this year and to thank the Governors for the continued support they show towards the Playgroup, Pre-School and the Preparatory Department.

BOARDING DEPARTMENT

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES 2012-13

The academic year 2012-13 started in August when we welcomed girls from Great Britain, Hong Kong, China, Swaziland, Egypt, Spain, Germany and of course those who come from Northern Ireland.

We started this year with staff changes. Following the retirement of Ms Gibson we welcomed Mrs Audrey Toms and a little later Mrs Janet Johnston. The appointment of two new Matrons within one year could have brought many issues, however both these staff have been tremendous additions to the house and have made the transition effortless.

Even though the normal Boarding schedule kept everyone busy during the week, the girls were still able to attend many extra-curricular activities such as choir, Orchestra, Gaelic football, table tennis, tennis and hockey. It was an advantage to the boarders to have these activities ‘on the door-step’. A few of our girls were also involved in the RBAI collaborative production of Calamity Jane, which was a huge success.

Halloween is always a busy time in Boarding with the Boarders’ Council organising a spooktacular party. We also had a visit from playwright Rosemary Jenkins and director Paula McFetridge, who were preparing for a performance in Drumglass Park with theatre company Kabosh. The production, incorporating cutting edge sound and light installations, was performed in Drumglass Park as part of The Ulster Bank Festival at Queen’s.

The play delved into the notion that the Musgrave family, who built and lived in Drumglass House in the 1800’s had secrets to tell. Paula and Rosemary spent an afternoon discovering that Drumglass House is not occupied by ghosts, just the laughter and chatter of a lively Boarding department. As part of Kabosh’s visit to Victoria College Belfast, Rosemary and Paula took the opportunity to speak with the Year 13 Drama students. Paula was able to give a valuable insight into the workings of the theatre world, advice on agents, and discuss the different aspects and career paths that could be followed.

- 34 -

Our swimming pool was the domain of the Boarders’ every Thursday evening. We were very thankful that we had two qualified life savers on our staff team as they were able to lead out with this activity.

Christmas time brought us the annual Christmas shopping trip to Belfast, the Christmas party and the ever popular ‘Boarding’s Got Talent’ where we showcased some of our very talented boarders.

January saw the usual stress of exams and with the girls working hard for re-sits mocks and early modules. Before we knew it, we were leaving for Easter and the return to Boarding brought the usual summer panic regarding exams.

Although we were very glad that the summer term was coming to a close, it is always a very sad time tinged with the joy of a summer holiday stretching out in front. It is a time to say a final good bye to some long-term and short-term boarders and to some staff who are moving on to other employment.

We bid a very fond farewell to our boarding mistress Miss Kezi Ozen, our German assistant, and to Miss Rachel Hunter, Rebecca Schwindt, Megan Porter and Maria Grumley. We thank them for their hard work and commitment and wish them every success for the future.

A department like Boarding cannot be successful without a cohesive team. I wish to thank all those who work, support and contribute to our team. I extend thanks to Ms Slevin, Mrs Woods, Mrs Diffin and the Board of Governors for continuing to wholeheartedly support us.

- 35 -

VICTORIA COLLEGE BELFAST FINANCIAL STATEMENT YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2013

PART-1 SCHOOL REVENUE ACCOUNT 2013 2013 2012 2012 £ % £ % INCOME 4,103,30 Government Grants 4,129,122 71.44% 2 72.90% 1,525,68 Other Income 1,650,403 28.56% 6 27.10%

5,628,98 Total 5,779,525 100.00% 8 100.00%

EXPENDITURE 3,144,20 Teaching salary costs 3,205,642 56.10% 1 56.26% Other education costs 985,789 17.25% 950,719 17.01% Premises costs 1,046,426 18.31% 956,537 17.12% Administration costs 475,830 8.33% 537,416 9.62%

5,588,87 Total 5,713,687 100.00% 3 100.00%

Surplus/Deficit for year 65,838 1.14% 40,115 0.71%

5,628,98 Total 5,779,525 100.00% 8 100.00%

PART-2 SCHOOL CAPITAL ACCOUNT

INCOME Government capital grants 237,739 182,503 Endowments Parents' capital fees 109,871 112,800

Total 347,610 295,303

EXPENDITURE Buildings 365,046 164,360

Total 365,046 164,360

(Deficit)/surplus for year -17,436 130,943

Total 347,610 295,303

- 36 -

2012‐13 Expenditure

Teaching salary costs Other education costs Premises costs Administration costs

18%

57%

17%

2011‐12 Expenditure

Teaching salary costs Other education costs Premises costs Administration costs

10%

17%

56%

17%