Perhaps, One of the Most Exciting Developments of the Year Was the Beginning of Construction

The Annual Report of the Board of Governors 2015-2016

Inspiring Excellence … Fulfilling Potential FOREWORD

As you will see from the detail of this report, St. Mary’s continued to thrive throughout the 2015/16 school year. Academic excellence was, once again, evident in examination results and the diversity of the learning experiences afforded to pupils was apparent in the vast range of extra-curricular and enrichment opportunities in which pupils and staff were engaged. Such activities, which included sport, music, drama, travel, volunteering and student leadership, to name but a few, were enjoyed by pupils and contributed so much to the personal growth and rounded development of our young people.

Perhaps, one of the most exciting developments of the year was the beginning of construction work on site as part of the School Enhancement Programme. Aware that we are “building for the future”, we have watched with great anticipation as the £4.5 million school extension has taken shape in recent months. We look forward to the completion of this work in 2017 and the state-of-the-art facilities that the pupils of today and tomorrow will enjoy as a result of this investment.

As always, I wish to pay tribute to every member of staff – teaching and teaching support – for the immeasurable contribution they have made to the life and work of the school in the last year. I also wish to express my gratitude to you - the parents/guardians of our pupils - for your interest in and support of the school throughout the year.

Should you wish to discuss any issue arising from the contents of this Annual Report, please do not hesitate to contact me at the school between 8.30am-4.30pm.

______D Gillespie (Mrs) Principal and Correspondent to the Board of Governors December 2016 CHAIRMAN’S INTRODUCTION

I am very pleased to present the Annual Report of the Board Governors for 2015/16. As you will read, St. Mary’s has maintained the excellence we have come to expect and continues to enable staff and students to fulfill their potential.in the breadth of the school’s activities and achievements.

It is apparent that St. Mary’s provides an impressive, enriching learning environment for students through its curricular and extra-curricular activities. Staff, students, parent/guardians and the local and wider community can be confident of the school’s capacity to sustain this high quality provision in the years ahead.

I wish to pay tribute to the staff of the school who are dedicated, committed and highly skilled to ensure that each student realises his/her full potential, both within and beyond the classroom.

Finally, I would like to offer my thanks to you – the parents and guardians – and to the members of the Board of Governors, for the ongoing and generous support you have shown for all the activities engaged in by the school. As I commend this Annual Report to you, I look forward to your continued interest in and support for our work.

______J McKee (Mr) Chairman of the Board of Governors December 2016 CONTENTS

SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Membership of the Board of Governors...... 1 1.2 Key Statistical Information...... 2-3 1.3 Staffing...... 4-6 1.4 Use of Staff Development Days...... 7-8 1.5 Review of the Year...... 9-13

SECTION 2: SCHOOL PROVISION 2.1 Curriculum Provision...... 14-16 2.2 Careers and Employability...... 17-18 2.3 Health Education...... 19-20 2.4 Sports Review...... 21-27 2.5 International Dimension...... 28-29 2.6 Educational Visits...... 29 2.7 Fundraising for Charity...... 30-31 2.8 Pastoral Dimension...... 32 2.9 Pastoral House System...... 32-33 2.10 Eco-Schools/ Environment...... 34 2.11 STEM Review...... 34 2.11 Magherafelt Learning Partnership...... 35-36

SECTION 3: EXAMINATION OUTCOMES 3.1 Key Stage 3...... 37 3.2 GCSE...... 37 3.3 AS Level...... 37 3.4 A2 Level...... 37 3.5 CCEA NI Placings...... 38 3.6 Achievements in Other Awards...... 38

SECTION 4: DEPARTMENTAL ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACTIVITIES 4.1 Art and Design...... 39 4.2 Biology...... 40 4.3 Business Studies and Economics...... 40-41 4.4 Chemistry...... 42 4.5 Drama...... 43 4.6 English...... 44 4.7 French...... 45 4.8 German...... 46 4.9 Geography...... 46-47 4.10 History and Politics...... 47-48 4.11 Home Economics...... 48 4.12 ICT...... 49 4.13 Irish...... 50-51 4.14 Mathematics...... 51-52 4.15 Moving Image Arts...... 52 4.16 Music...... 52-53 4.17 Physical Education...... 53-54 4.18 Physics...... 54 4.19 Religious Studies...... 54-55 4.20 Science...... 55 4.21 Spanish...... 55-56 4.22 Technology and Design...... 56-57

SECTION 5: LINKS WITH PARENTS AND GUARDIANS 5.1 Parental Involvement...... 58

SECTION 6: SECURITY & HEALTH AND SAFETY 6.1 Safety and Security...... 59 6.2 Arrangements for Health and Safety of Staff and Pupils...... 59 6.3 Premises...... 59

SECTION 7: FINANCE 7.1 Finance Report to 31 March 2016...... 60

Section 8: POLICY DOCUMENTS...... 61

Section 7: CONCLUSION...... 61

APPENDICES Appendix 1: GCSE Statistics Appendix 2: AS Statistics Appendix 3: A2 Statistics Appendix 4: Year 14 Higher Education Destinations Appendix 5: Music Examinations Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16

SECTION 1: BOARD OF GOVERNORS

1.1 MEMBERSHIP OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS

The Board of Governors is comprised of nominees of the Trustees and the Department of Education, as well as an elected Parent Representative and an elected Teacher Representative. The Principal is the Correspondent to the Board of Governors. The Term of Office of the members is four years.

Mr J McKee Chairperson (Trustee)

Dr E Hutchinson Deputy Chairperson (Trustee)

Mrs AM Campbell Co-opted Member

Mr P Collins Co-opted Member

Mr S Dace Elected Parent Representative

Miss U Donnelly Elected Teacher Representative

Mrs R Fox DENI Appointee

Rev Father J Gates Trustee

Mrs N Skelly Trustee

Mr A Thomson DENI Appointee

Mr K Traynor DENI Appointee

Ms D Gillespie Principal, Secretary and Correspondent to the Board of Governors

The Board of Governors has worked closely with the Principal in helping to implement recent educational reforms and members have kept themselves informed of current developments in educational policy. They have applied the school’s admissions policy to prospective students, recruited and promoted staff, approved school policies and overseen the school's finances.

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 1 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16

1.2 KEY STATISTICAL INFORMATION

ENROLMENT The total enrolment for 2015-2016 was 1070. This is divided into each Year Group as shown in the table below.

Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 Year 11 Year 12 Year 13 Year 14 Boys 67 79 82 71 79 67 55 Girls 89 77 78 87 74 88 77 TOTAL 156 156 160 158 153 155 132

The pattern of total enrolment for the past five years is shown in the table below.

2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 Total 1078 1086 1096 1080 1070 Enrolment

YEAR 13 At Sixth Form, three students sought admission to St. Mary’s and were accepted.

2014-15 2015-16 No. of Boys 2 1 No. of Girls 4 2 Total 6 3

ATTENDANCE The attendance for 2015-16 was 95.9%. The attendance by Year Group for 2015-16 is shown in the table below. The Northern Ireland average for 2015-16 was 93.4%.

Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 Year 11 Year 12 Year 13 Year 14 Total Attendance 97.5% 96.1% 96.1% 95.9% 96% 95.5% 93.8%

The pattern of attendance for the last five years is shown in the table below.

2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 Total 96.3% 96.2% 95.3% 93.9% 96.1% Attendance

NI Average 92.6% 93% 92.9% 93.5% 93.4%

FREE SCHOOL MEALS (FSM)

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 2 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 The percentage of students entitled to free school meals in 2015-16 was 8.19%. The percentage of students entitled to free school meals for the last five years is shown in the table below.

2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 % FSM 6.76% 7.06% 6.54% 5.1% 8.51%

DESTINATIONS OF PUPILS

SUMMARY OF YEAR 12 LEAVER DESTINATIONS 2015-16

Number Leaving = 12

NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. ANOTHER FE APPRENTICE- EMPLOY- HE GAP YEAR OTHER UNEM- SCHOOL SHIP MENT PLOYED 7 5 0 0 N/A N/A 0 0

SUMMARY OF YEAR 14 LEAVER DESTINATIONS 2015-16

Number Leaving = 132

St. Mary’s Universities in Further Apprentice- QUB UU University Scotland Republic England Education ships College of Ireland & Wales

47 42 6 3 2 9 7 2

Further information about Year 14 destinations is outlined in Appendix 4.

1.3 STAFFING

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 3 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 TEACHING STAFF Principal Ms D Gillespie Vice-Principal Mr F Dunlop Assistant Principal Mrs I Hynds Senior Teachers Mrs E Daly Ms T Mullan Mrs D McCann Mr G Quinn Miss A Hagan Mrs S Monaghan Art and Design Mrs N McKernan (Head of Department) Mrs J Patton Biology Mrs K McAuley (Head of Department) Mrs I Diamond Dr L Connor Mrs S Johnston Mrs S McGee (Head of Year 14) Business Studies / Economics Mrs M McKeever (Head of Department) Mr M Francis (Head of Year 11) Careers Miss C Donoghue Chemistry Mrs A McGuckin (Head of Department) Miss S McCloskey Mrs R McComb (SENCo) Mrs P McGale Ms T Mullan Drama Mr G Quinn (Head of Department) Mrs A M Anderson (Head of Year 8) Miss R Allen (Drama Co-ordinator) Miss M Hatchell (Literacy Co-ordinator) English Mrs O Reid (Head of Department) Miss R Allen Mrs A M Anderson Miss H Cassidy (temp) Miss A Hagan Miss M Hatchell Miss S McAllister (Head of Year 10) Mr G Quinn French Miss N Macoscar (Head of Department) Miss Y Commault (temp) Miss V Venot Geography Mrs C Bradley (Head of Department) Mrs U McNeill (Head of Year 13) Mrs A Stevenson German Miss N MacOscar History Mrs M McCormick (Head of Department) Mrs D McCann Mr P Brolly Home Economics Mrs M Carr (Head of Department) St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 4 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 Mrs B McAuley ICT Mrs Grainne Gartland (Head of Department) Mrs E Daly Mrs S Higgins (Head of Year 12) Mr P Kalla (also Moving Image Arts) Mr B Diamond Irish Mr W McPhilomey (Head of Department) Miss M McGouran Mathematics Mr M Tracey (Head of Department) Mrs P Bolger Miss S McCloskey Mrs K McErlean Mrs B McGahon Mrs S Monaghan Mrs M O’Neill Music Miss U Donnelly (Head of Department) Miss C Flanagan (temp) Physical Education Mr J McElholm (Head of Department) Mr K Brady (Head of Year 9) Miss C Carey (temp) Ms C Donnelly Miss O Donnelly Physics Mrs A McKee (Head of Department) Mrs P Bolger Mr F Dunlop Mr R Kennedy Religious Studies Mrs G Robinson (Head of Department) Miss H Cassidy (temp) Miss A Hagan Mrs S Higgins Mrs I Hynds Mr G Maynes Spanish Mrs B Mateo Loughlin (Head of Department) Miss C Donoghue Technology and Design Mr S O’Connor (Head of Department) Mr B Diamond Mr M McVeigh

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 5 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 TEACHING SUPPORT STAFF

Bursar Mr E Conway Assistant Bursar Mrs C Henry Facilities Manager Mr C Hinfey Office Manager Mrs C McErlean Principal’s PA Mrs C Gallen Education Technology Manager Mr V Cassidy Year 13 Supervisor Mrs M O’Donnell Librarian / Year 14 Supervisor Mrs C Keenan Reception /Finance Miss M Gribbin Switchboard/ Student Reception/ Mrs M McCusker General Office Mrs C McKee Mr C Prior Café Bordeaux Admin Mrs M McGuigan Exams Admin Ms R McKernan Student Health Officer Miss Amie Hunter Classroom Assistants Ms N McCann, Ms A McCormick, Miss J Murray, Mrs L A O’Melvena, Mrs L Purvis, Miss L Smith, Miss B Warnock Technicians Ms V McKinley (Art and Design)(temp), Mrs H Shaw (Biology),Mrs R Green (Chemistry), Mrs M O’Kane (Home Economics), Mr M McCullough/Mr J McIvor/Mr M McLoughlin (PE), Mr J McCann (Physics), Mr P Teague (Technology & Design), Mr A Devine (ICT), Blanca Liaz Alba (Spanish) and Anthony Bruilliard (French) Building Supervisor/ Maintenance Mr P McKenna & Mr G Trainor Cleaning Staff Mr S Kelly, Mr S Spiers, Mrs J Ewing, Ms T Kerr, Ms B Murray, Ms A Lennox, Mrs R Mulholland, Ms O Poznakova, Mrs F O’Neill, Mrs E Taggart, Mrs P Moore, Mrs C Wilkinson, Mrs L A O’Melvena Catering Supervisor Mrs A Dawidziuk Catering Staff Miss J McVey, Mrs A Moore, Mrs E Taggart, Mrs P Moore, Mrs S Donnelly, Mrs V Molloy, Mrs W D Cassidy, Mrs C Wilkinson, Mrs S Mackle, Ms D Dougan, Mrs L Korolova, Mrs E O’Boyle, Mrs F O’Neill Supervision Mrs G Gregg, Ms S Blair, Mrs M McCusker, Mrs R Proudlove, Mrs A Higgins CHANGES IN STAFFING At the end of the 2015-16 academic year, the following permanent members of staff left St. Mary’s:- . Mrs D McCann(Senior Management), Mr G Robinson (RE) and Mrs C Keenan (Librarian//Year 14 Supervisor) who have taken retirement; . Miss M Hatchell (English) and Miss S McAllister (English / History) have left to take up positions in other schools; and . Mrs I Diamond (Biology) who has taken a career break.

We thank all of them for their commitment and contribution to St. Mary’s over many years and we wish them every success in the future.

1.4 USE OF STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAYS 2015-16

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 6 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 DATE COURSE/MEETING . Whole Staff Meeting . Our Learning and Teaching Context Aim: To provide staff with feedback on learning and teaching and to clarify key responsibilities and expectations in terms of Back to Basics focus. . Assessment for Learning – Homework Planning, Scheduling & Recording Aim: To improve homework planning across each Department, provide structured schedule at KS3, improve recording of homework and parental communication regarding homework problems. . Our Pastoral Context – Positive Behaviour Feedback Aim: To update staff on Pastoral Care Strategy and outcomes of positive behaviour

T study. S

U . Our Positive Behaviour Strategy and Arrangements

G Aim: To inform staff of Positive Behaviour Strategy, revised positive behaviour policy, U

A sanctions framework and ensure consistent approach to promotion of positive

5 behaviour. 2 . Pastoral Care Strategy –Role of Form Teacher/ Tutor Aim: To inform staff of form teacher duties and ensure a consistent approach. . Safeguarding and E-Safety Training Aim: To have understanding of school policy on safeguarding, to be able to identify signs of abuse, to understand role of key staff in regard to safeguarding, and to understand how to keep ourselves safe. . Drugs Education Training Aim: To update staff on drugs young people use and provide them staff with strategies to enable young people into making good decisions. . Our Priorities Aim: To review priorities and Key Performance Indicators for 2014-15 and outline priorities for 2015-16 . Literacy /Numeracy Priorities Aim: To outline priorities for Literacy and Numeracy for 2015-16. . SEN Priorities and Pupil Update Aim: To update staff on students currently on SEN Register, to raise awareness of the range of SEN and the responsibility on classroom teachers to ensure they reach their full potential and how we plan to achieve this. . Data Tracking and Baseline Testing Aim: To update staff on how to use the data model to improve pupil progress and T

S learning. U . Idoceo Update Training G

U Aim: To revisit and review the new Idoceo 4 as an application to enhance and improve A administration of all staff. 6

2 . ITunesU Training Aim: To outline iTunes U as a platform to enhance whole school collaboration and communication. . UCAS Update Aim: To update staff on leavers’ destinations, outline UCAS arrangements and procedures and outline arrangements for changes to predicted grades. . Departmental Meeting Aim: To complete an analysis on examination results and value added analysis. To complete 3 Year Development Plan and 1 Year Acton Plan. To complete homework planning and scheduling.

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 7 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 . Pastoral Team Meeting Aim: To prepare for return of students, to inform form teachers of pastoral procedures and to reflect on the use of data and target setting with a pastoral context.

T . Departmental Meetings S

U Aim: To complete an analysis on examination results and value added analysis. To

G complete 3 Year Development Plan and 1 Year Acton Plan. U

A To complete homework planning and scheduling.

7 . Senior Leadership Team iTunesU Training 2 Aim: To guide SLT on how to access relevant material for academic year and instruct contributors on adding material to the course. . . Departmental Meetings Aim: To provide time for Departments to reflect upon progress and plan for a new academic year. T

S . UICT Team Meeting U Aim: To amend current UICT tasks to give students opportunity to meet Level 5 G

U . Learning Support Team A Aim: To identify and agree Learning Support arrangements. 8

2 . Careers Department Team Aim: To guide CEIAG Team in their roles and responsibilities. . Great Teaching through Building Power and Building Learning Power R

E PRSD Objectives B

M Introduction to Great Teaching and Learning 8 E 2

T Feedback on Feedback

P Using Apps for Feedback E

S Using PDP for Feedback

R Twilight Session E

B . Quizlet 2 O 2

T Aim: Using Quizlet as an application to create Flashcards and study sets on iPad and C

O on a web browser on a PC/laptop . Introduction to PASS Data and Pupil Profiling Aim: To demonstrate how PASS data should be interpreted: identifying any learning barriers and how to action them. . Departmental Meetings . Aim: To complete an analysis of KS3 pupil progresses base on outcomes from Progress Check-Up1. To identify under-achieving and low- achieving students and outline strategies for improvement. To complete an analysis of KS3/4 Pupil progress Y based on mock examinations. R

A . HOD and HOY Introduction to Google Drive, Tools & Securitas U

N . Aim: To support HOD/HOYS on how they can fully utilise GAFE (Google Apps for

A Education) J

4 . e-Safety Aim: To update staff on issues surrounding e-safety with iPads in the classroom. . Moving to Paperless Aim: To provide overview on move to paperless for KS3 and enhancing current digital resources for learning at KS3. . Rights Respecting Schools Aim: To update staff on progress of RRSA Steering Committee. Twilight Session . Achievements and Standards Aim: To review Whole School targets for Years 12 to 14. Y

R . Pupil Centred Provision A

U Aim: Using iPad apps to support Differentiation R

B . Leadership and Management E

F Aim: PRSD

1 . Moving to Paperless 1 Aim: To continue the support on move to paperless for KS3 and enhancing current digital resources for learning at KS3.

H . Building Learning Power – Planning for Effective Learning and Teaching and C

R Assessment A Aim: Planning for effective Learning and Teaching M

4 2 . Planning under the directive of Heads of Department. Y A M

1.5 A REVIEW OF THE SCHOOL YEAR REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2015-16

R  Year 14 Formal E

B  Prefect Coaching and Mentoring raining with YMCA

M  University Open Days for Year 14 E

T  External and Internal Awards Ceremonies P

E  Silver Duke of Edinburgh Practice Expedition S  Amazing Brains Workshops (Year 9 and Year 14)  Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Competition Awards Ceremony in Monaghan  Applied Business Trip to Central Library, Belfast  Visit from German Partner School  Year 13 Young Enterprise Group present cheque for £1,000 to NI Children’s Hospice  European Day of Languages – Year 12 language students teach new language to students from local primary school and an All Languages Quiz is held in school for Year 10.  Homework club commences  Bio-metric scanning  Year 13 Biology Fieldtrip to Antrim Coastline and Portglenone Forest.  Year 12 Drama Trip to Lyric Theatre to see ‘Dancing at Lughnasa’  School mass for all year groups  International School Award reaccreditation  Year 13 attend Rugby World Cup as part of Sports Link Project between Magherafelt Schools.  Year 13 Parent Information Evening on Saphara.  Italian Course commences for Years 12, 13 and 14.  Staff Development Day (28 September)  Year 12 Success Skills Workshop  Familiarisation and Registration morning for GL Assessment  Cancer Focus ‘Fit4Schools’ Charity Challenge Event is launched.

R . Vocabexpress League of Champions 2015 organised by Languages Dept. E

B . Year 13 talk on Pope John Paul II Award by Dermot Kelly.

O . GCSE Drama Visit to QUB to see ‘Mojo Mickeybo’ as part of School University Partnership T

C initiative.

O . One Million Children Praying the Rosary. . Lunchtime Junior Games Club commences. . UK Mathematical Olympiad for Girls . Year 12 Chemistry at Work event in University of Ulster, Coleraine . Chemistry Cambridge Challenge Competition . Gideon Bibles distributed at Year 8 Assembly. . Deloitte Higher Apprenticeship Talk . Rotary Young Leaders of the Future Competition . Lunchtime Film-making workshop for Years 9 and 10 . Year 12 Parent Teacher meetings . Lunchtime computer programming/ coding club commences. . Year 10 Gael Linn Quiz in Glenavon, Cookstown . Parent Teachers’ Association (PTA) Coffee morning . Year 11 information evening . Lunch and Learn Seminar with Bank of Ireland Staff . Year 8 Parent Pastoral Meetings . Year 8 school photographs . GCSE Sports Nutrition workshop. . Three Year 13 students attend International Schools Award . Year 12 attend Maghera cinema to see ‘Macbeth’ . Year 11 Business Studies Class present cheque for ‘Cathy ar Gcara’ charity.

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 10 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 . Year 14 Senior Maths Challenge . Year 11 History Trip to Derry . Year 10 MLP Careers Convention . Invigilator Training for GL Assessment . GL Entrance Assessment . Year 11 English Literature Trip to Theatre-at-the-Mill to see ‘Of Mice and Men’ . Precious Life Talk to Year 13 students. . A Level PE students attend STEM event in at W5 . Year 8 Transition Review meeting and Planning for Learning Evening . A section of Year 12 students resit Double Award Science Exam: Unit 1 Physics . Stars in our Schools is launched. . Professional Women’s Speaking Competition . CCEA, Foods Standard Agency and c2k streamed live video conferences for Year 12 Child Development and A level Home Economics classes. . Year 10 Renewable Energy Talk. . Lunchtime Maths Club for KS3 commences. . Year 13 commence QUB Computer Programming Course. R

E . Irish Language Careers Day in Maghera Leisure Centre B . Year 14 Parent/Teacher meetings M

E . MLP Cross Country Event. V

O . Junior Choir sponsored Singathon

N . Migration Pattern and Dissolving Boundaries Workshops for all Year 9 MLP Students . Eco Schools Committee make bird boxes in Technology & Design Lunchtime club. . NEBESSA Cross Country event at University of Ulster, Coleraine . Three Year 12 students attend QUB Future Star Trials at MUSA, Cookstown . Mr McElholm and two Year 13 students attend Champion Schools Conference in Birmingham. . Year 14 Mock Interview Evening. . Year 10 Parent Teacher Meetings. . Year 11 & 12 Drama Students attend Careers Art Seminar . KS4/KS5 Mentoring Week . Year 8 CAT4 Testing . Seo Linn Irish Language Media Workshop . Finals of Rotary Young Leaders Competition . Ulster Colleges All-Star trials. . Pinsent Masons Work Inspiration Day . International Award Ceremony, Derry. . Anti-Bullying Week . KS4 students take part in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)

R . Year 13 Young Enterprise Students attend St. George’s Market E

B . Year 11- 14 Irish students attend Seo Linn Irish Language Media Workshop

M . Junior Choir attend St. Anne’s Cathedral. E

C . Year 9 Basketball Tournament in St. Pius X College

E . Year 11 Personal Economics Workshop with Young Enterprise D . Year 11 talk by FG Wilson . KS3 Christmas Craft Fair Club . Weekly Advent Prayer Group . Year 13 and 14 Business Students involved in ‘Jingle All the Way’ Parade in Magherafelt town centre. . Hour of Code event for KS3. . Year 9 CAT4 Testing . Ulster Colleges All Star Launch . E-Safety Workshop . eTwinning Course . House Assemblies . Cookstown Rotary Club lunch (Mrs Reid and Lauren McStocker) . Year 8 trip to Millennium Forum to see ‘Aladdin’ . Year 13 ‘Help with Work Experience’ Talk . Christmas Carol Service St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 11 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16

. Careers ‘Phase one 2017’ and ‘Medicine at QUB’ Talk . Christmas Jumper Day . Christmas Doors Competition . House Christmas Tree Competition . Year 13 Geography students receive a talk from Dr S McKay, QUB . All day STEM visit – Technology & Design Product & Design students . Year 12 Workshop ‘Coping with Exam Pressure’ . PWC Higher Apprenticeship Talk . QUB and Caterpillar Engineering Day for Year 11 Girls . Actuarial Science & Risk Management Careers Talk . FG Wilson talk to Year 11

Y . Year 13 ‘Mood Matters’ Seminar R . Year 13 ‘Amazing Brains’ Workshop A

U . Year 8,9 & 10 Mentoring Days N . Year 10 attend Young Enterprise NI Project Business Programme. A

J . Dr Halloway (QUB) talk to Year 10 re Modern Languages Studies. . Lunchtime Business French Classes for senior students. . Trinity University, Dublin talk. . Badminton Coaching . Year 9 ski trip. . HPAT Ulster Workshop . Year 11-14 Internal ‘Mock’ Examinations . Year 10 Subject Choice Interviews . Gael Linn Ulster Final Quiz . University of Liverpool Talk . Staff Development Days (28 and 29 January) . Cross Country Championships . BPW Speaking Competition . Young Enterprise NI Project Business Programme . Catholic Schools Week

Y . UNICEF Focus Group for KS4 & 5. R

A . Newcastle University Talk

U . Years 8 - 10 School Mile Challenge R

B . Year 12 Subject Choice Parent Interviews

E . GCSE Drama students attend Physical Theatre Workshop at Millennium. F . Year 12 Intermediate Maths Challenge . Year 9 taking participating in Mid Ulster Council – Seamus Heaney Project . Year 11 – 14 Art Students attend ‘True Colours’ Exhibition . Year 12 & 13 Irish student attend Gael Linn Public Speaking Competition Abair in An Carn. . Year 11/12 Business Studies Trip to Coca Cola. . Senior Choir participate in BBC Radio Ulster School Choir of the Year . Senior Choir participate in a concert in aid of Mary Peters Trust. . Year 9 attend the musical ‘Annie’ at the Millennium Forum, Derry. . Year 11 Parent Teacher Meetings. . Year 13 Irish students attend AS Day in University of Ulster, Magee. . Eight traditional players participate in ‘Siansa’ Competition in Monaghan. . Get Set for Community Action training day for MLP schools. . House Assemblies . ‘My experience as a QUB Medical Student’ presentation. . Ulster Cross Country Finals . Year 13 students attend QUB Faculty of Engineering and Sciences Open Day at NWRC, Derry. . Year 13 Work Experience. . Group County Derry Sportshall Athletics . Year 14 History students attend A Level History conference in Omagh Academy. . Year 9 Poetry Reading to celebrate Valentine’s Day. . Rights Respecting Schools initiative commences. . Year 13 attend John Moores university Personal Statement Workshop . Immunisation Team in school for Year 12. . Building Work commences. . ‘A Career in Accounting or Finance Talk’ to Year 13 St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 12 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 . Year 12 Clan Functional Revision . World Book Week activities . World Book Week activities. . Principal Classroom Pursuit – Focus on Learning . Year 12 Clan Non-Fictional Revision . Year 12 Tree of Knowledge Programme . Year 13 PE students attend Child Protection Course . Scottish Universities Presentation . Year 9 Parent Teacher Meeting. . Building Learning Power Presentation for Key staff members. . Year 14 History students visit Dublin Castle and Glasnevin. . Year 9 and 10 Photographic club . Year 13 English Literature students attend Poetry Workshop with poet, Deirdre Cartmill . Senior Choir participate in BBC Choir of the Year. . Careers Talk ‘ Careers in Mental Health.’ . Year 11 CLAN ‘Multi-Modal’ Revision

H . Annual Primary School Gaelic Blitz.

C . Year 13 attend Speech & Language Therapy Event. R

A . Year 13 and 14 Home Economics visit Loughry College.

M . Year 12 students attend F G Wilson Engineering Workshop. . Year 10 Silver Fáinne speaking exams. . Sixth Form open evening. . Year 14 Drama attend ‘A Mid Summer Night’s Dream’ at Lyric Theatre, Belfast. . Year 8 Parent Teacher Meeting. . Year 11 Geography Trip to Magilligan Field Centre. . Junior Choir win their heat at Ballymena Festival. . Year 11 and 12 GCSE Swimming Practical . A2 Drama & Theatre Studies perform their devised piece. . Year 12 CLAN Poetry revision. . Year 12 GCSE PE Orienteering Practical. . GCSE Physics class take part in Olympiad Challenge. . Staff Development Days (18 & 24 March) . Year 12 CLAN Revision ‘ Blood Brothers’ . Vocabexpress Global Challenge for Language Students . A2 Irish Literature Workshop, University of Ulster, Magee . Annual Spring Concert . Year 9 Young Enterprise Event . Year 11 and 12 Numeracy Support . Ulster University Talk . Student Finance Staff attend Careers. . AS French Revision Club L I . Modern Scottish Universities Talk R

P . British Chemistry Olympiad Competition A . F1 In Schools Attend Silverstone . Year 9/10 Soccer Competition . Year 13 Physics students visit Antrim Hospital . Year 11/12 Vaccinations . UCD Talk . Year 12 French Revision Club . Year 9 Maths Challenge

. Year 8 – 10 Mentoring Days . University of Grenwich Talk

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 13 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 . Physics and Chemistry AS and A2 Practicals . Eco-Schools Bat Night at Polepatrick. . Derry County Board Coaching Clinic . Year 12 and 14 Leavers’ Mass . Year 9 Cervical Cancer Immunisation . Salters Festival of Chemistry . KS3 End of Year Exams Y

A . Best Kept School Competition M . Year 10 attend ‘Lemn Sissay Poetry Event at the Bridewell. . Year 8 Fun Sports Project . External exam commence. . Salter’s Festival of Chemistry. . Special Assembly for Year 8 & 9 Boys with Noel McGrath, Hurler and Testicular Cancer Survivor . Rosary Relay. . Staff Development Day . GCSEAS/A2 Revision Sessions

E . Year 8, 9, 10 and 11 End of Year Trips N

U . GL Information Evening J . Tottenham Hotspur FC Coaching Master Class . Year 9 MLP Science Trip of QUB. . Sentinus Young Innovators Competition at University of Ulster, Jordanstown. . Year 9 Action MS Walk . Sports Day . Primary School Visits for New Year 8 intake. . ABRSM Music Exams . ‘The Role of the Graphic Designer’ Talk by CCEA to Year 10 and 11 Art Students . Year 13 Chemistry Cambridge Challenge Competition . GCSE and A Level Art & Design Exhibition . Year 8 Induction Day and Information Evening . Year 13 ‘Phase One’ UCAS Registration Workshop

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 14 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 SECTION 2: SCHOOL PROVISION

2.1 CURRICULUM PROVISION The St. Mary’s curriculum aims to nurture the physical, social and mental well-being of all students, whilst simultaneously enabling students to acquire skills that will equip them better for life. The following section highlights the range of curricular and extra-curricular learning experiences that were provided within St. Mary’s during 2015-16. At all levels, the curriculum was supported by field work, educational visits, talks from guest speakers and participation in projects and competitions organised by the school and other agencies.

KEY STAGE 3 At Key Stage 3 (Years 8-10), all students followed a broad and balanced curriculum. In accordance with the requirements of Northern Ireland legislation, all Year 8, Year 9 and Year 10 students followed the Northern Ireland Revised Curriculum.

English with Library Skills Home Economics Drama Music Mathematics French Science Irish Technology & Design German Information Technology/ iMedia Spanish Learning for Life and Work / PSE Religious Studies History Art & Design Geography Physical Education

KEY STAGE 4 At Key Stage 4 (Years 11-12), all students followed courses of study leading to GCSE qualifications. All students pursued a minimum of nine and a maximum of ten GCSE courses.

The following GCSE subjects were offered at Key Stage 4:

Further Mathematics Home Economics (Child Development) Art & Design Home Economics (Food) Business Studies Information and Communication Technology Double Award Science Irish Drama Mathematics English Moving Image Arts English Literature Music French Performing Arts Geography Physical Education German Religious Studies History Spanish Technology and Design

In addition, Key Stage 4 students had classes in Learning for Life and Work, Careers and Physical Education.

SIXTH FORM

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 15 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 Sixth Form students may choose to study three or four of the subjects listed below at AS Level. Students who opt to study four subjects at AS Level may continue to do so at A2 Level or, alternatively, they may decide to concentrate on only three of these subjects in the A2 year.

The following A Level subjects were offered at Sixth Form:

Applied Business Studies Home Economics Applied ICT ICT Art and Design Irish Biology Mathematics Business Studies Moving Image Arts Chemistry Music Economics Physical Education English Literature Physics French Product Design German Religious Studies Geography Software Systems Development Health and Social Care Technology and Design History Theatre Studies Government and Politics (MLP) Spanish (MLP) Performing Arts (MLP) Environmental Technology (MLP) Engineering (MLP)

DELIVERY OF THE ENTITLEMENT FRAMEWORK

KEY STAGE 4 CURRICULUM 2015-16

TOTAL NO. 2015/16 2015/16 2016/17 2016/17 2015/16 TARGET TARGET TOTAL NO. TARGET TARGET FOR FOR 2015/16 FOR FOR ACADEMIC APPLIED ACADEMIC APPLIED COURSES COURSES COURSES COURSES Total No. of 24 8 8 Courses Required (minimum) (minimum) (minimum) 24 8 8 by DENI (minimum) (minimum) Total No. of 22 13 9 - - - Courses Delivered by St. Mary’s

POST-16 CURRICULUM 2015-16 TOTAL NO. 2015/16 2015/16 2016/17 2016/17 2015/16 TARGET TARGET TOTAL NO TARGET TARGET FOR FOR 2015/16 FOR FOR ACADEMIC APPLIED ACADEMIC APPLIED COURSES COURSES COURSES COURSES Total No. of Courses Required 27 9 9 27 9 9 by DENI (minimum) (minimum) (minimum) (minimum) (minimum)

Total No. of Courses Delivered 20 12 8 - - - by St. Mary’s

Total No of Courses delivered for St. Mary’s students in 9 2 7 - - - MLP

2.2 CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 17 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 In St. Mary’s, Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) is an important element of our provision. We provide students with access to high quality careers education, information, advice and guidance to enable them to make informed, considered and realistic decisions about their education, training and employment options.

We aim to: . provide students with a broad and balanced curriculum that will enable them to pursue progression pathways which match their interests and aspirations; . equip students with the employability skills required for future working lives through a range of opportunities and experiences; . instil a commitment to lifelong learning in each student which is essential in the twenty first century world of work; and . empower students to plan and manage their future careers. EDUCATION FOR EMPLOYABILITY The Education for Employability programme was delivered through Learning for Life and Work to all students in Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 and allowed them to focus on the following areas: . Work in the Local and Global Economy; . Career Management; . Enterprise and Entrepreneurship; and . Skills and Qualities for Work.

Through this programme, we aim to help our students develop the range of skills necessary for the world of work. In addition to the taught programme, students had the opportunity to engage in a range of practical activities and workshops.

CAREERS EDUCATION, INFORMATION, ADVICE AND GUIDANCE Careers Education was delivered to all students in Year 9 to Year 14 through a taught programme and a range of extra-curricular activities. Careers advice and guidance were provided by specialist Careers teachers and the Department of Employme0nt and Learning’s (DEL) Careers Officer who offered advice and guidance at key transition stages. Parents of students in Year 10, Year 12 and Year 14 also had the opportunity to attend interviews to discuss key decisions in relation to subject choices and career pathways.

As detailed below, a range of additional experiences were provided for students: . Open Day Visits to Queen’s University and University of Ulster for all Year 14 students; . Queen’s University Dental Open Day; . Careers Workshops – Struggling with Personal Statements; . Nursing Personal Statements, Nursing at Ulster University and Nursing Workshops; . Opportunities with Deloitte and Price Waterhouse Coopers; . Phase One 2016 & 2017 Support Workshops and Mock Interviews; . Allied Health Therapies HPAT Workshops; . EMS Presentation; . Health Professions Open Day at Altnagelvin Hospital; . Interview Skills Workshops; . QUB Civil Engineering Presentation; . LNAT Preparation Workshop; . St. Mary’s University College Workshops; . Talented Athlete Scholarship Workshop; . QUB Software, Electronic & Electrical Engineering Presentation; . Ulster University Business Award – Accounting Presentation; St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 18 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 . Mock Interview Evening; . QUB Actuarial Science & Risk Management Presentation; . Year 10 MLP Careers Convention – Agri Food Sector; . Struggling with Work Experience Workshop; . QUB Psychology Presentation; . CAO Applications; . Teaching Interview Practice Workshop; . Letterkenny Institute of Technology Presentation; . QUB Aerospace Engineering Presentation; . QUB Medicine Presentation; . Edgehill University Presentation; . Trinity College, Dublin Presentation; . Liverpool University Presentation; . Considering a Career in Mental Health Presentation; . Year 10 Employability Day; . Belfast Metropolitan College Presentation; . Northumbria & Newcastle University Presentation; . Year 13 Work Experience; . Scottish University Tour; . MLP Nursing Seminar; . Year 13 Personal Statement Workshop; . SWOTUP Presentation; (medical school application course) . Aberdeen University Presentation; . Opportunities with BDO (Accounts & Business Advisory Organisation); . Kilronan Science Fair; . UCD Presentation; . Speech & Language Therapy Information Morning . QUB Year 14 Clarification Session; . NEELB Student Finance Workshop; . Scottish Modern Universities Tour; . Volunteering Opportunities; . Education at University of Greenwich; . MLP Parents’ STEM Information Evening; . Year 9 Employability Day; . Year 13 Parents’ Higher Education Information Event; and . Post Result Support and Guidance.

2.3 HEALTH EDUCATION

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 19 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 As a Health Promoting School, we aim to provide students with information on a range of health-related issues and equip them with the knowledge, attitudes, values, skills and behaviours that will empower them to manage their personal health and well-being. Health Education within St. Mary’s ensures that students have access to information on a broad range of matters such as smoking, healthy eating, fitness, alcohol, drugs, sex, and mental health. Many subject areas contribute extensively to Health Education. In 2015-16, health presentations and workshops focused on topics such as: . Self Harm and Suicide (Year 11) . Self esteem (Year 11) . Nutrition (Year 11 – 14 PE Students and Senior Team) . Anti Bullying Week - ‘Together we will make a difference – End Bullying Now’ . Nutrition (Year 11-14 PE & Health & Social Care Students) . Road Traffic – Safe Driving (Year 14) . ‘Success skills’ (Year 12) . ‘Amazing Brains’ (Year 11) . ‘Amazing Brains’ Accelerate Into High Gear Learning Habits (Year 9) . CCEA, Foods Standard Agency And C2k streamed Live Video Conferences ( Year 12 Child Development & A Level Home Economics students) . Health Checks, Immunisation and Vaccination programmes (Years 8, 9, 11, 12) . Coping with Exam Pressure (Year 12) . ‘Mood Matters’ (Year 13) . Mental Health Awareness (Year 14) . ‘Resilience’ (Year 12) . Tree of Knowledge Motivational Workshop ‘Laugh in the face of Exams’ (Year 12) . ‘Alcohol Awareness’ (Year 9) . ‘Action MS’ (Year 9) . ‘Testicular Cancer Survivor, Noel McGrath (Year 9 & 10 boys) . Drugs Awareness (Year 12) . Heart Start Training (Year 10) . ‘Get Involved’ Programme (Years 8-14) Presentations and workshops were delivered by individuals and organisations such as: . Turlough Quinn

. Dairy Council of Northern Ireland

. Action Mental Health

. NI Stroke Association

. Food Standards Agency

. Dermot Kelly

. Bosco McShane

. Richard Moore

. PSNI

. Jackie Burke

. Tree of Knowledge

. Together for you. St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 20 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 . Nexus.

HEALTHY EATING In St. Mary’s, we aim to educate students about food nutrition and the importance of healthy eating. Within and beyond the curriculum, students have opportunities to develop the knowledge and skills that will enable them to make healthy food choices inside and outside the school. As a school, we believe it is important that our students understand the importance of a balanced diet and realise the impact of poor diet on health. To encourage students to make healthy food choices within school, St. Mary’s continued to operate the Healthy Eating Rewards Scheme whereby students could accumulate points for their healthy eating efforts which could then be exchanged for a £10 voucher to be used in Café Bordeaux. The Health Education Co- ordinator and members of the SNAG (School Nutrition Action Group) attended Year Group Assemblies to highlight the Importance of healthy eating and advertise healthy eating initiatives throughout the school. At various times throughout the year, more than 200 students were awarded House points in recognition of their healthy eating choices. Within the curriculum, the study of Home Economics at Key Stage 3 and a 6 week Healthy Eating Cookery Club afforded students opportunities to explore ways to ensure a healthy diet, to develop practical skills in the safe, hygienic, healthy and creative use of foods, and to plan, prepare, cook and serve a range of meals.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS In St. Mary’s, we aim to develop students’ awareness of the importance of personal fitness and regular exercise and their understanding of the benefits of a physically active lifestyle. In 2015-16, students had the opportunity to engage in regular physical activity in school through curricular and extra-curricular opportunities such as: . timetabled PE lessons for Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 students;

. Fun Sports project and ‘Couch to 3k Challenge’ for Year 8 students;

. AVIVA School Mile Challenge for all students;

. designated ‘Gym Periods’ for students in Key Stage 5;

. Coaching Day (Hurling & Football) for KS3 boys;

. MLP Cross Country Event with ASDA free fruit giveaway;

. Year 9 Action MS Sponsored Walk;

. Years 8 and 10 Sports Charity Event/ Zumbathon;

. personal health and exercise programmes for Year 12-14;

. training for school sports teams and matches e.g. football, camogie, hurling;

. sponsored walk for Action MS for Year 9 students;

. Sports Day;

. participation in sporting competitions and events e.g. athletics, swimming galas; and St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 21 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 . Bronze Duke of Edinburgh expeditions for Year 11 students.

The PE Department is central to the school’s promotion of physical fitness. Full details of the range of activities provided by the PE Department to promote physical fitness can be found in the Sports Review section of this report. STAFF HEALTH AND WELL-BEING Throughout the year, members of staff engaged in a range of health related activities such as:

. 7 week ‘Cancer Focus’ Fit for Schools Challenge which focused on exercise and healthy eating;

. Presentation by Cancer Focus on healthy lifestyles and cancer awareness;

. Fitness classes;

. Yoga classes.

Staff have access to the school’s Fitness Suite and this facility was used by many members of staff. A termly Staff Newsletter and Staff Room notice board on Health & Well Being was used to inform members of staff about the various ways they can improve their personal health and well-being.

2.4 SPORTS REVIEW

The Physical Education department aims to promote the healthy physical, social and psychological development of all students. Accordingly, it offers students a wide and varied range of sporting activities through its curricular and extra-curricular programmes.

St. Mary’s Physical Education and Sports staff includes four full-time teachers, one part time teacher and two PE technicians with other members of staff coaching in specialised areas.

The sports facilities at the school include a sports hall, a fully-equipped gymnasium, two one wall handball courts, a fitness suite, an all-weather pitch, two grass pitches and five tennis courts. The school also makes regular use of the facilities offered by the local council, in particular the swimming pool, squash courts, fitness suite, driving range, golf course and all weather pitches.

The school offers the following range of sports/initiatives:

Aerobics, Athletics, Badminton, Camogie, Coaching Qualifications in Gaelic football and soccer, Child Protection Training, Cross Country, Circuit Training, Fun Sports, Gaelic Football, Gold Mark Volunteers, Get Set for Community Action (Action Leads), Golf, Gymnastics, Handball, Health-Related Fitness, Hurling, Netball, Olympic Group, Olympic Young Ambassadors, Outdoor Education, Rounders, Rugby, Sky Sports Living for Sport, Swimming, Squash, Table Tennis, Tag Rugby, Tennis, Top Link, Volleyball, Sports Leaders UK Award and Volunteer Now.

Throughout the year, individual students and teams are entered for Area Board, Regional and Provincial competitions. Successful teams compete regularly at All - Ireland level.

A-LEVEL PHYSICAL EDUCATION

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 22 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 A-Level students were given the opportunity to participate in a wide range of certified coaching qualifications and PE specific workshops throughout the year, including the GAA Foundation level coaching award, the IFA Grassroots Soccer Coaching Award and Child Protection Training. They were then able to use these awards to couch our junior students and under age teams in their clubs.

ACTIVE COMMUNITIES PROJECT St. Mary’s continued its involvement with the Active Communities Project this year. Students received 6 week blocks of coaching in Badminton and Rugby.

ASDA INITIATIVE/SPORTS LEADERS UK This year we linked up with the ‘Asda Initiative’ which provided healthy refreshments for our primary school Gaelic Football Blitz and our secondary school cross country competition.

AVIVA SCHOOL MILE CHALLENGE All students in Key Stage 3 took part in the ‘AVIVA School Mile Challenge’ in February. This raised students’ awareness of the benefits of exercise to their heart health and overall lifestyle. New school records were set this year, with the boys’ record being broken on three occasions before Frank Duffin in Year 9A sprinted away with the title in a time of 5.35 mins. A very noteworthy performance, however, was made by Conor Fowley 10D who also ran the mile under an incredible 6 minutes. Again in the girls’ event, Emma Dace 10B was the first girl in school to run the mile under 7 mins before Mary McKee 8B set a new girls’ record at 6.45 mins. A fantastic effort was made by all our Key Stage 3 students who participated with great enthusiasm and went the ‘extra mile’ to improve their health!

TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETICS St. Mary’s students competed at District and Provincial level in track and field athletics. Thirty six students from Year 8 – 11 participated in the NEBSSA track and field district championships in Antrim. Eight students qualified for the finals: Conor Falls and Lorcan Bradley, Year 8, Frank Duffin and Lile Keenan, Year 9, Eunan McElhennon, Year 10, Ciara Malcolm, Cathaoir Purvis and Paula Rose McAuley, Year 11. Conor Falls won a gold medal in U13 long jump final and Cathaoir Purvis competed in the Boys’ 3000m race where he qualified for the Ulster Finals. Mr Mark McLaughlin, our UUJ Outreach student attended the NEBSSA AGM in June, thus ensuring our continued involvement in NEELB competition.

BASKET BALL Year 9 boys and girls attended a basketball tournament held in St. Puis X College in November.

CAMOGIE . Senior Team – Ulster finalists. . Junior Team – Ulster finalists. . 7 A Side Team – Group stages . U-14 Team – Ulster Semi Finalists. . Year 8 Team - Ulster Semi-Finalists. CAMOGIE ALL STARS St. Mary’s were awarded two Ulster College All-Stars Award this year; Eimear McGuigan and Jacqueline Donnelly. Both girls competed for Ulster in the All Ireland Inter Provincials. INTERNAL CAMOGIE COMPETITIONS An internal Camogie competition was organised to allow every girl in Year 9 and 10 to experience competitive camogie in school. Each team competed in at least two games resulting in very entertaining and competitive finals.

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 23 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 COACHES’ LUNCH In June, an appreciation lunch was held in Café Pierre to thank all members of staff for their invaluable contribution to extra-curricular sport in the school.

COACHING DAY The Derry County Board coaches delivered a Coaching Day to our Junior Boys. COACHING MODULE Sixteen Year 13 students attended a coaching module taken by Chris Collins (Derry Development Officer). The course involved both theory and practical sessions. All the students were awarded the GAA Foundation Level Coaching Award and are qualified to coach underage teams. As a follow up from the coaching award, all the participants attended a course on Child Protection and gained a qualification in this area. Both the AS and GCSE PE Classes attended an IFA Grassroots IN Soccer Coaching module in October.

COUCH TO 3K In conjunction with the PE Department and MLP, Miss Hatchell organised a group of Year 8 girls to participate in the nine week programme in at Meadowbank Sports Arena.

CROSS COUNTRY RUNNING A large number of students participated in the NEBSSA Cross Country Championships in November. They had a number of notable triumphs including Year 8 Girls’ Team Event, first place, Year 8 Boys’ Team Event, second place, Year 10 Boys’ event, fourth place and Cathaoir Purvis had a comfortable win the Senior Boys’ Race. In the District Championships In January, Conor Falls won the Mini- Boys Section, and Cathaoir finished in impressive 8th place out of 110 boys in the Intermediate Boys’ Section. CROSS COUNTRY COMPETITIONS HOSTED BY ST. MARY’S St. Mary’s hosted a cross country event for the local secondary schools and a large number of students attended these events. CÚCHULAINN CUP GAELIC St. Mary’s were involved in an exciting community initiative, led by Ulster GAA, which saw them join with other local secondary schools, St. Mary’s College, Clady, St. Pius X College and Rainey Endowed to form a Magherafelt Town football/hurling team to participate in the Ulster Cúchulainn Cup competition. Ulster GAA coaching staff presented a 90-minute ‘Taster Session’ and approximately forty Year 10/11 boys were accommodated for Hurling and Gaelic football coaching. After the trials, 5 - 7 students were chosen to represent our school to make- up a 21-player panel for the Cúchulainn Cup Blitz. The criteria for selection was that it was open only to those boys who did not currently play Gaelic Games or who have not played since U12 level. The Magherafelt Town team were convincing winners and were rewarded with a trip to London in July to play against their British counterparts. The Cúchulainns travelled to London from the 7th – 10th July where they toured the City of London, spent a day in Thorpe Park in addition to competing in the games with distinction.

DANCE COMPETITIONS Year 9 and Year 10 girls enjoyed dance competitions within their Year Groups. This was organised in line with their dance scheme of work. Each group created and choreographed their dance to a song of their choice.

GAELIC FOOTBALL . Year 8 – Semi finalists Oisin McGrath cup and O’Farrell cup – Group stages. . D’alton Cup – Quarter finalists St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 24 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 . Nannery Cup – Ulster Champions . Corn na nOg – Group Stages . Brock Cup – Group Stages . Rannafast Cup – Ulster Quarter Finalists . MacRory Cup – Beaten in a play-off against St. Patrick’s, Cavan.

FOOTBALL ALL-STARS Our MacRory Cup captain was awarded an Ulster Colleges’ All Star Award. Conor McGrogan was presented with his award at a banquet in the Europa Hotel, Belfast.

Four of the MacRory Cup team went on to represent Derry in the Ulster Minor Championship and four others represented Antrim. A number of our senior players attended a one day GAA Academy Player Development Masterclass for Ireland’s best schools’ players at QUB in November. The Academy aimed to develop the players’ knowledge base in a wide range of areas including nutrition, strength and conditioning and lifestyle management through a series of workshops and coaching sessions.

LADIES’ GAELIC FOOTBALL . Year 8 Team – Played in a blitz in MUSA and Ulster Colleges Blitz. . U14 – Group stages. . U16 – Ulster Finalists. . U20 – group stages

LADIES’ GAELIC FOOTBALL ALL STARS In January, the annual Ulster Ladies' GAA School All Star Awards were held in Kelly’s Inn. Two of our Year 12 girls received an All Star: Caiomhe Meeke and Orlaith Prenter. This is a great achievement for the girls. They then represented Ulster in an Inter Provincial tournament in Kinnegad, Westmeath in January.

FUTURE ALL STARS AWARDS QUB After distinguished performances against very high calibre opposition, St. Mary’s pupils James Crawford and Adam Connolly were chosen for the Danske Bank Queen’s University Future Stars team at numbers 6 and 12 respectively. The pupils and their parents were invited to the awards dinner at Queen's University.

GET SET TO MAKE A CHANGE AWARD As a valued and committed member of the Get Set to Make a Change community across the UK, St. Mary’s and our Legacy Leaders were offered the opportunity to become members of the Get Set for Community Action project. ‘This programme is for 14 to 19 year olds to empower them to develop new skills and strengthen relationships within their community. Mr J McElholm and two Year 13 Action Leads were invited to a training day in Birmingham. They also organised a local training day for the Magherafelt partner schools which was led by Get Set mentors from England. The team organised 3 local community festivals as a result of this project.

GUEST SPEAKERS We welcomed a guest speaker from the Dairy Council NI to St. Mary’s in September. Stephanie Ingram BSc DIS MSc; a Sports and Exercise Nutritionist spoke to our GCSE and our AS/A2 level students about the role that proper nutrition can play in enhancing performance.

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 25 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 Noel McGrath, a Tipperary hurler, and inspirational speaker visited the school in May. Noel has won an All-Ireland winners' medal and three Munster winners' medals and was an All-Ireland runner-up on two occasions. McGrath has a number of personal achievements including back- to-back All-Star awards during his first two seasons of championship hurling and in 2009 he won the All-Star Young Hurler of the Year award. On 17 April 2015, McGrath underwent surgery to help treat testicular cancer. He addressed Year 9 and Year 10 boys on his sporting achievements and his battle with testicular cancer.

GOLF A Golf team from the school competed in the NEBSSA championships.

HANDBALL Seventy Year 8/9 students participated in this extra-curricular activity which was organised by our two UUJ outreach students, John McIvor and Mark McLaughlin.

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 26 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 HURLING Year 8, 9 and 10 students experienced eight months of quality coaching delivered by Colm Dillon from the Derry County Board.

. Year 11 (Kirk Cup) – Ulster Quarter Finalists. . Casement Cup – Ulster Finalists.

INSPIRE-ASPIRE PROJECT All members of Year 9 were invited to participate in the Inspire-Aspire project. Students throughout Northern Ireland were asked to create a poster on the person who inspires them. It provided students with an opportunity for self-discovery and personal development, enabling them to think about what is important in life and about the values and qualities they will need to make a success of their own future.

MAGHERAFELT CUP St. Mary’s has initiated Year 8 sporting competition with St. Pius X College called ‘The Magherafelt Cup.’ Mrs Gillespie has provided the trophy. The Magherafelt Cup took place at St. Mary’s in September. The novel completion was in four disciplines: Gaelic Football, Ladies’ Gaelic Football, Camogie and Soccer with the scores being aggregated. This proved to be a great day for all involved.

NETBALL A Year 10 Netball Team represented St. Mary’s in the NEBSSA competition.

OUTDOOR PURSUITS As part of their GCSE Physical Education course, in June all Year 11 GCSE PE students completed an intensive course in orienteering in Armagh. This activity formed part of their GCSE practical coursework. All Year 11 and 12 students competed in an official competition at Drum Manor Forest Park, Cookstown.

PRIMARY SCHOOL BLITZES St. Mary’s organised a Gaelic football blitz for our feeder primary schools. ASDA provided water and healthy snacks for the events.

PRIMARY SCHOOL COACHING Eleven of our feeder primary schools availed of six weeks of Gaelic Football coaching offered by our technicians who travelled to their schools on a weekly basis. The climax to this coaching was a ‘Fun’ non-competitive blitz at Meadowbank Sports Arena.

RACQUET SPORTS Six weeks of tennis and badminton coaching were provided to junior school pupils in June. Year 8 and 9 pupils were introduced to the game by Active Communities Coaches. RUGBY Year 12 students experienced a six week block of rugby taken by the local Youth Development Officer.

SHOW JUMPING Our Year 13 student, Carine Fullerton qualified for the All Ireland Interschools in Kildare in April and finished overall second in the league in the open class. This was against all the secondary schools in Northern Ireland and over 59 competitors! We led the league for the full 5 weeks and on the last show had the fastest time but hit the last jump missing out in first place.

SOCCER COACHING

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 27 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 Soccer coaching was also offered to the girls as part of their PE programme. The sessions were taken by IFA coaches who were invited into school. Twenty five girls were also chosen to attend the Year 9 FIFA Girls Football ‘Live your Goals’ Road show at the Mid Ulster Sports Arena in April.

THE SMG SOCCER CUP 2016 With over one hundred Year 9 and 10 boys participating, the first SMG Soccer Cup proved to be a fantastic competition. The competition was organised by Mr P Kalla and Mr M McCullough in a bid to build on the good work put in place with the Under 12 and Under 14 teams earlier this year; it will be an annual event as they have secured a perpetual trophy.

SKY SPORTS LIVING FOR SPORT The project encourages junior pupils to participate in a range of activities at Meadowbank Sports Arena. An average of 100 pupils from Year 8 attended the 3 sessions which were facilitated by PE and other staff. Sky Sports provided tee shirts for the participants and athlete mentor visits for the school. This year we had an athlete mentor visit from Michael McKillop (Double Gold medal winning Paralympic Athlete). Michael, fresh from a pre Rio Olympic training camp, inspired and motivated our pupils with his own individual stories of his journey to the top of his chosen sport.

SKY SPORTS LIVING FOR SPORT - AMBASSADOR SCHOOLS (REGIONAL HUBS OF EXCELLENCE) At the Youth Sport Trust we are continually working to further broaden the reach of Sky Sports Living for Sport (SSLFS) and the role the programme can play in supporting school improvement priorities. As part of this strategy, the YST invited St. Mary’s to become a SSLFS Ambassador School. These schools will be Regional Hubs of Excellence that have a strong track record in delivering SSLFS. They are spread across 12 UK Regions and their main role is to support the development and expansion of the programme. St. Mary’s will play a lead role in advocating the benefits of the programme to other schools highlighting the impact the programme can have on young people. This role will continue in the 2016-17 academic year.

SPONSORSHIP Past pupil and former player, Mark O’Connor from Saturnled, generously sponsored the MacRory Cup again this year.

SPORTS DAY 2016 Sportsday 2016 was again a very successful event with very large number of participants. This year was notable for the fact that we were supported by the ‘Lidl Community Works’ team following an application to their community campaign. Lidl provided a range of healthy snacks for the pupils during the day.

Victor Ludorum: Frank Duffin/ Conor Falls

Victrix Ludorum: Maria O’Neill

SPORTS HALL ATHLETICS Forty students from Year 8 to Year 10 competed in the annual Sportshall Athletics Derry Finals in Meadowbank Sports Arena. The following students represented Co Derry at the event:- Frank Duffin, Ryan Lennox, Conor Falls, Erin Lynch, Orrin Johnston, Lile Keenan.

STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING - YEAR 13 AND YEAR 14

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 28 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 Both PE technicians were available for any student who wished to undertake a personal training programme.

TOP LINK For the tenth consecutive year, St. Mary’s students became involved in the Top Link Programme. The department organised a primary school Gaelic football event Meadowbank Sports Arena. Twelve of our larger feeder primary schools took part with a total of 200 primary 6 and 7 students experiencing a comprehensive coaching programme, lunch and a competitive blitz.

VOLUNTEER NOW (GOLD MARK) AWARD We continued our involvement in this initiative. Mark McLaughlin and John McIvor (UUJ Outreach students) achieved their two hundred hours Gold Mark Award at a ceremony held in the Titanic Suite, Belfast.

YOGA Year 12 girls experienced a six week block of Yoga as part of their PE programme. These sessions were taken by a qualified Yoga instructor.

YOUTH SPORT TRUST INNOVATION SCHOOLS St. Mary’s Grammar School continued its involvement with this project, having been the only school in Northern Ireland to be invited to join. Set up after extensive consultation with teachers and head teachers and building on the success of our Leadership, Coaching and Volunteering, Health and Wellbeing and Inclusion Partner schools networks, YST Innovation Schools works across seven strands in order to use the power of PE and Sport to improve aspirations, attainment, achievement and employability in young people.

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 29 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 2.5 INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION In St. Mary’s, we recognise our responsibility to ensure that our young people are educated to become global citizens who are fully aware of the world within which they live and in which they will eventually work. It is important that the young people of today develop an understanding of a range of global issues so that they may be fully prepared for tomorrow’s world. We understand that the International Dimension is an increasingly important aspect of school education. Over a number of years, we have focused on enhancing this aspect of our provision. As an outward-looking school, we are always keen to develop partnerships, to work with and learn from others beyond the boundaries of our school. This is an attribute that we encourage in our students, not least in our efforts to incorporate the International Dimension throughout the school. So that our young people may develop as global citizens and acquire knowledge of global issues, we embrace the International Dimension in many aspects of our provision. In 2015-16, we continued to:

. forge and sustain international school partnerships; . provide students with learning experiences beyond the parameters of the classroom through various international educational visits; and . brought the world into the classroom through curriculum initiatives and activities.

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS

BRITISH COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL AWARD We were very pleased to achieve reaccreditation of the prestigious British Council International School Award in September 2015. First awarded in May 2013, the International School Award is an accreditation scheme for curriculum-based international work in schools. The scheme provides recognition for teachers and their schools working to instill a global dimension into the learning experience of all children and young people. The International School Award supports schools to develop: . an international ethos embedded throughout the school; . a majority of pupils within the school impacted by and involved in international work; . collaborative curriculum-based work with a number of partner schools; . curriculum-based work across a range of subjects; . year round international activity; and . involvement of partner schools and the wider community in the UK.

GERMAN In September 2015, the German Department was visited by 28 pupils and 2 members of the English Department at our German Partner School, Gymnasium Oesede. The group arrived on the evening of Sunday 20th September and left on Saturday 26th September. During the week German pupils attended classes with Year 11 and Year 12 pupils. The Home Economics Department kindly gave a cookery demonstration for our visitors, who also had the opportunity to learn Irish and to attend some Gaelic Football Coaching. They also attended an evening of Traditional Irish Music and Dance with members of the local community. The German teachers visited a number of classes and taught German to our Year 8 pupils. Year 10 pupils at St. Mary’s took part in a quiz with the German visitors as part of our celebrations for European Day of Languages.

SPANISH In September 2015, we had a visit from our co-ordinating teacher from Spain, Ms Susana Torres.

E-TWINNING

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 30 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 In November 2015, a Webinar was hosted in St. Mary’s by a British Council Ambassador on effective use of E-Twinning. This involved three colleagues from Collegio Aristos, Madrid and Miss McAllister (International Co-ordinator), Miss MacOscar (Head of German), Mrs Mateo- Loughlin (Head of Spanish) from St. Mary’s.

2.6 INTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONAL VISITS

Throughout 2015-16, students had opportunities to engage in a wide range of educational visits, both residential and non-residential. Educational visits involved students in off-site academic, sporting, cultural, creative and personal development activities which contributed to their learning and development beyond the classroom. Details of the educational visits organised by each subject department are available in the Department Achievements and Activities section of this report. The following section provides an overview of the residential educational visits that took place in 2015-16.

ST MARY’S SKI VISIT TO BIBERWIER, AUSTRIA (JANUARY 2016) In January 2016, seventy Year 9 students set off on the annual Ski Trip to Biberwier in Austria. Led by Mr McElholm, the students were accompanied by Mr Dunlop, Mrs Carr, Mr Conway, Miss Hagan, Mr Brady and our principal, Mrs Gillespie. The group spent seven nights in the very comfortable Mc Tirol hotel in Biberwier and despite a lack of snow in some areas, had a great week skiing on the Zugspitze glacier and in Ehrwald. Whilst there, they were also able to shop in the village of Ehrwald, visit the picturesque local church and in the evenings could also avail of the hotel swimming pool, games room and disco. On the journey home the group visited Christmas markets in Garmisch and Zurich.

YEAR 13 VISIT TO INDIA WITH SAPHARA (JULY 2016) In June 2016, eight Year 13 students from St. Mary’s joined students from Sullivan Upper and Ampleforth College when they travelled to India as part of the school’s work with Saphara. Saphara is a Northern Ireland based charity which seeks to provide financial and practical support for under-privileged children in schools in India. The charity also assists children, women and families living in poor, marginalised communities in India. Saphara works in partnership with other charities in India to provide education, materials, support and empowerment for those living in poverty in India. Each year, teams of young people from different schools in Northern Ireland travel to India during the summer to teach in two different schools. Accompanied by Mr Tracey, the St. Mary’s students – Aoife Bradley, Faoiltiarna Burke, Shauna Lennon, Alicia McAuley, Eoin McAuley, Damien McCoy, Meabh McGirr and Ruairi O’Kane - spent 16 days in India, during which time they worked to develop the language skills and confidence of educationally disadvantaged school children in both rural and urban communities. This year the pupils achieved a superb fundraising total of over £16,000.

2.7 FUNDRAISING FOR CHARITY St. Mary’s is proud of its long history of supporting charitable causes. The generosity and kindness of the whole school community – including students, staff and parents - are widely recognised and have benefitted a range of charity organisations over many years. St. Mary’s charity work fulfils part of the school’s vision whereby we aim to:

. encourage students to play an active and responsible role in society; . provide opportunities for students to develop as global citizens; . encourage students to use their talents for the service of others; and . create a vibrant living faith community where all members of the school community are encouraged to live the Gospel values and be committed to a Christian way of life.

Through charity, fundraising and volunteering activities, students learn about charitable causes and the work of particular charitable organisations. Engagement in charity, fundraising and volunteering activities gives students an opportunity to put their faith into action, demonstrate Christian values and develop a sense of social responsibility and moral obligation by serving others in need in the local, national and global context. Throughout 2015/16, St. Mary’s students supported a number of charity organisations.

Details of the school’s charity fundraising activities are presented in the following table:-

Year Group Activity / Event Amount Raised Charity 8 Zumbathon £2,003.95 Saphara Multiple Sclerosis 9 Sponsored Walk £2,986.84 Society 10 Zumbathon £935.35 Lepra 11 Class Collection £371.31 Unicef SVDP Family Gift Aid 12 Gift Collection Gifts Appeal Mood Matters ‘Aware 13 Coffee morning £314 Defeat Depression’ Funds went directly to 13 & 14 Street Collection Genesis Special Olympics (fundraising organisers)

In addition, staff co-ordinated a range of different events to raise money for charities, as detailed below:

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 32 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 Date Event Amount Raised Charity Throughout Merchandise at Xmas £2,000 Northern Ireland the year market and leavers’ Children’s Hospice & hoodies Action Mental Health (co-ordinated by Year 13 Mini- Enterprise Scheme) Throughout sale of ‘quarter zips’ £645 Cancer Focus/ NI the year (co-ordinated by Year 11 Children’s Hospice Mini- Company) October Fit for School Challenge £5,618 Cancer Focus

November Shoe Box Appeal Shoeboxes / Shoe Box Appeal (co-ordinated by Mrs transport costs Mateo-Loughlin and Mrs Higgins) December Hamper Appeal (co- 50 hampers St. Vincent de Paul ordinated by Mr Maynes) March/ April Trocaire Box Collection £200 Trocaire (staff and students)

May / June Friday Treats £570 Action MS (co-ordinated by Miss Donnelly)

2.8 PASTORAL DIMENSION

In St. Mary’s, we believe that the quality of care and support provided for our students contributes significantly to the positive ethos of our school. Students recognise and appreciate the care and support available to them. The provision fosters good relations between staff and students, and promotes the values of respect, responsibility and co-operation among students. St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 33 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 Such an environment is conducive to effective learning and teaching, hence enhancing outcomes for all students. We also believe that pastoral care underpins much of what we do in school. Some aspects of pastoral support include:

. Induction Day for all students in each year group; . Information Evenings for parents and guardians in key year groups; . External speakers at key times in the year eg Gideons International (Year 8); Jackie Burke (Year 12); Workshop on self-harm, suicide self-esteem and personal economics (Year 11), General RE speakers for senior students - Year 14 had a variety of visiting speakers over the course of the year which addressed a range of age-appropriate, relevant issues including safe driving, online profiles, mental health awareness and mindfulness, living in Belfast as a student and Faith development; . Study Skills Day – Amazing Brains – for a number of year groups; . Year 14 School Formal; . Year 14 Anti-Bullying Training and Prefect Training; During Anti-Bullying Week the St. Mary’s pupil support team of Anna Coogan, Caroline Collins, Eva Kelly, Grace McKenna, Maria Doyle, Paul McCarron, Luke Doyle and Dillon Chapman visited all year group assemblies delivering a very important message about bullying and the impact it can have on students. They offered weekly support every Wednesday at break time. Year 11 took part in an anti-bullying workshop “Together for You” . Student Counsellor addresses all students at Year Assemblies; . e-Safety Workshops - Talks from the Nexus and Wayne Denner on Internet Safety; . Parent Pastoral Interviews- Year 8 and 11; . Parents’ Evenings; . Charity involvement – year group, whole school and community level; . Peer and Subject Mentoring; . Muiredach/John Paul II awards; . End of Year Trips eg Year 8 to Craigavon Watersports Centre, Year 9 to Maghera Cinema and Meadowbank Arena, Year 11 to Odyssey; and . Year group Masses- Year 8, 12 and 14.

2.9 PASTORAL HOUSE SYSTEM

The Pastoral House System was in its third year during 2015-16. This vertical pastoral care structure, made up of five houses, has become an integral part of St. Mary’s and every pupil is encouraged to take an active role. Staff and pupils continue to embrace this initiative. Heads of Department and Heads of Year as well as Co-ordinators all contributed and organised many activities as outlined in our Pastoral House Calendars. In addition, a number of key House events were organised. During Advent, as world leaders met in Paris to discuss how the world will tackle climate change, a House assembly ‘Gifts of Hope’ was organised during 14-18 December to reflect upon the gift of creation and take hope from Pope Francis’ letter to the world, Laudato Si’. The main message of this House assembly was to highlight that putting the world back together again doesn't start with a grand plan in a big government office somewhere, nor as a great idea talked about around a table, but each person can be the one to make a difference and make this world a present worth passing on to the next generation. During the week 8-12 February 2016 each House participated in ‘The Door of Mercy’ House assembly to celebrate the Extraordinary Holy Year announced by Pope Francis - a Year of Mercy from 8 December 2015 to 20 November 2016. The theme of ‘Mercy’ is very dear to Pope Francis’ heart and he believes that “mercy is the force that reawakens us to new life and instils in us the courage to look to the future with hope.” We in St. Mary’s opened our own Holy Door: a Door of Mercy and many pupils and members of staff participated in the multi-media ‘Door of Mercy’ pilgrim journey. It was symbolic of entering into a deeper

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 34 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 relationship with Jesus Christ and allowing our lives to be touched and transformed by the mercy of God - a moment of grace, an encounter with the Merciful Father. The first Key Stage 3 House Star Celebration Talent Show took place in March 2016. There were twelve budding gifted acts who displayed great talent in singing, playing a wide variety of instruments and also the superb Tae Kwando synchronised Martial Arts performance. Key Stage 3 House members thoroughly enjoyed the Talent Show. House Captains supported and assisted the very successful Year 8 House Christmas Tree event in December. This year House members from Year 8 decorated their House Christmas Tree with inspirational quotations. Sports Day Inter-House Fun games were very well supported and enjoyed by all House members. During the Awards Ceremonies 2016, 45 students were awarded Key Stage House Champion Awards and 12 students were awarded the Key Stage House Star Champion Award. . All Heads of Year and Heads of Department completed Pastoral House System Activities Plan for his/her Year Group/Subject Department outlining specific activities/events whereby pupils could avail of House Points/Merits; . Each Head of Department included activities on Schemes of Work for all Year Groups that offer opportunities for pupils to achieve House merits/points – at least three specific activities in Term 1 and three in Term 2 for each Year Group; . Heads of Year provided a Pastoral/PD activity during term one and another during term 2 whereby pupils could avail of House Points/Merits; . House Merits were also distributed to pupils who had 100% attendance in a month - they received 5 House Merits; . Any pupil in his/her Year Group who had a clear Conduct Profile in a month received 5 House Merits; . The number of House Points/Merits entered onto the system during 2015-16 increased from the previous year 2014-15. . There was a greater usage of the Achievement Points on SIMs by staff. 2013-14 = 82,478 Achievement Points; 2014-15 = 143,854 Achievement Points; 2015-15 = 227767 Achievement Points. Pupils received 83,913 more achievement points in 2015-16 compared to the previous year.

Elm House of Peace, led by Mr P Kalla, were the House Champions 2015-16. The winning House Champion 2015-16 members celebrated by having a house breakfast.

2.10 ECO-SCHOOLS/ENVIRONMENT

The St. Mary’s Eco-Committee, which is made up of a range of students from all year groups, is to be commended for its hard work and sustained efforts to foster environmental awareness throughout the entire school and for improving our school environment. Activities this year included:-

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 35 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 . As part of a fundraising campaign for a ‘Fit for Schools’ Challenge for Cancer Focus, St. Mary’s organised a Cash for Clobber collection; . In November 2015, the Eco-Committee organised a ‘Power Down Day’ in school. Everyone was asked to turn off unnecessary lights and computers and to refrain from charging their iPads and mobile phones;

. In December 2015, with the assistance of the Technology & Design Department, Year 8 made bird boxes and in January 2016, the Science Club made a bird cake;

. In February, the Senior students of the Eco-Committee organised a litter pick;

. In April, Year 9 planted wild seeds as part of the ‘Grow Wild Biodiversity Project;’

. In May, St. Mary’s, partnered with the Northern Ireland Bat Group and Creggan Country Park, to hold a special Bat Night. The event began with a short talk followed by a demonstration on how to use a bat detector. There then followed a bat safari to Polepatrick Park where students saw and ‘heard’ bats flying around using the bat detectors.

. In June 2016, St. Mary’s was highly commended in The Best Kept School Competition. These awards are organised annually by the Northern Ireland Amenity Council (NIAC) and acknowledge the outstanding commitment of local schools to green projects and environmental education.

2.11 STEM REVIEW

The STEM concept aims to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics as career choices for young people. During 2015-16, St. Mary’s continued with the following:

. Presentations from Precision Engineering to Year 10 on Wind Energy and possible related careers for engineers and F G Wilson to Year 11 on opportunities in engineering, making particular reference to career profiles of women in engineering; . F G Wilson provided a one day workshop on Mechanical and Electrical engineering to a selection of Year 12 students. This included a range of problem solving exercises which gave students an insight into careers in mechanical and electrical engineering; . Twenty Year 11 girls attended an activity day hosted by QUB School of Engineering and Caterpillar to encourage more women into careers in engineering; . QUB School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science delivered a six week programming course (one hour per week) to thirty Year 13 students; . AS and A2 Product Design and Technology & Design students took part in a CAD/CAM workshop when the STEM module visited the school; . Mr M McVeigh, Technology & Design teacher, was awarded one of the very limited number of 2015 British Science Association CREST Teacher recognition awards for his outstanding contribution to enriching students’ experiences of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).

2.12 MAGHERAFELT LEARNING PARTNERSHIP The Magherafelt Learning Partnership was established in 2007. It provides a full microcosm of the post-primary sector of Northern Ireland: it includes controlled, grant maintained, integrated, maintained and voluntary grammar, both denominational and non-denominational; only Irish Medium and single sex education are absent from the. Each school is co-educational, varying in size, type and history. The schools and Northern Regional College also have a long- standing history of working together, both in terms of curricular provision and the continuing St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 36 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 professional development of staff. The MLP vision for the future of our schools and the purpose behind then can be summarised as follows:

. Education is central to our future; . Partnership will look to build community cohesion by ensuring equality of opportunity through the removal of barriers to participation in education and seeking to minimise variation in outcome through the provision of relevant and appropriate curriculae.

Throughout 2015-16, St. Mary’s continued to collaborate with other schools within the Magherafelt Learning Partnership on a range of curricular, extra-curricular and curriculum enrichment initiatives. SIXTH FORM CURRICULUM PROVISION In 2015-16, three Year 14 students attended Magherafelt High School to study Government and Politics and two Year 13 students attended Rainey Endowed to study Spanish. Also in 2015-16, three Year 13 students from St. Pius X College and two Year 13 students from Rainey Endowed studied AS Moving Image Arts in St. Mary’s. YEAR 10 CAREERS CONVENTION In October, all Year 10 students attended an MLP Careers Convention hosted by Rainey Endowed Grammar School.

MIGRATION PATTERNS AND DISSOLVING BOUNDARIES In November, St. Mary’s hosted 60 Year 9 students from across the MLP when Queen’s University delivered workshops on Migration Patterns and Dissolving Boundaries. INSPIRING LIVES / CREATING FUTURES The Research Council United Kingdom (RCUK) in partnership with Queen’s University,Belfast (QUB), is working with schools on a project entitled ‘Inspiring Lives: Creating Futures’. The partnership facilitated researchers’ direct engagement with students and brought contemporary and inspirational research contexts into formal and informal learning to enhance and enrich the curriculum. Ninety Year 9 students from the MLP (18 from St. Mary’s) took part in the project. There were three workshops:-

. ‘Cancer - From Discovery to Recovery’ - Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology . ‘Creative Technologies’- Sonic Arts Research Centre . ‘Drug Development from Concept to Clinic’ - School of Pharmacy

GET SET FOR COMMUNITY ACTION TRAINING DAY Get Set for Community Action is a brand new programme, funded by the Big Lottery Fund as part of their commitment to the legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It was launched to empower young people aged 14-19 to make a real difference in their local communities in the run-up to, and during, the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In February, St. Mary’s hosted a very successful training day led by Get Set mentors from England for interested students from the MLP schools.

SHARED EDUCATION PROJECT From January to June 2016, the Shared Education Signature Drama Project ran for all Year 9 students in the MLP. Pupils participated in a series of four lessons taught by Miss Cassidy in different venues across the MLP. These lessons were focused on themes of reconciliation, dealing with conflict and dissolving boundaries. Students had a great time and made a lot of new friends along the way. From September 2016, Year 10 students will be involved in a Shared Education History Project while Year 9 will again have shared drama lessons. St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 37 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16

CLAN PROJECT (RAISING STANDARDS IN LITERACY AND NUMERACY) As part of raising standards in Literacy, a number of students in Year 11 and Year 12 were identified and provided with extra support in the form of intensive revision classes delivered by Mrs Mary Diamond. This was a continuation of a successful programme initially started by the Collaborative Literacy and Numeracy Project throughout the Magherafelt Learning Partnership. In order to promote Literacy, students were successfully entered into the Business and Professional Women’s Speaking Competition, winning their area heat and with Sarah Gallen winning Best Chairperson in the regional final. The Valentine’s Day Poetry Reading was held in February for Year 9s, with staff from other departments and older students also joining in; proving that in St. Mary’s, Literacy really is whole school. Around World Book Day, assemblies were visited and a number of competitions were held: Book Mark, Portrait of an Artist and designing your own book cover. Literacy Support was embedded across all year groups with teachers and classroom assistants providing support to low and under-achievers throughout the year. At the beginning of the academic year, Year 14 students aided Year 12 students who underperformed in their summer module in order to help them prepare for the repeat in January.

RUGBY WORLD CUP TRIP As part of the continuation of the MLP Sports Tours initiative led by St. Mary’s and Magherafelt High School, a large group of St. Mary’s pupils attended the Rugby World Cup in London in September along with pupils from the other local post-primary schools. The group had a brilliant time starting with a go-karting competition in Newry and culminating with watching Ireland play in the Rugby World Cup.

SECTION 3: EXAMINATION OUTCOMES

The examination results for 2016 show that, once again, St. Mary’s ranks among the top performing schools in Northern Ireland. In the Sunday Times Parent Power Survey in November 2016, St. Mary’s was ranked 5th in the Top Ten State Secondary Schools in Northern Ireland. Further information about academic outcomes is outlined in Appendix 1.

3.1 KEY STAGE 3 SUMMARY OF RESULTS

KEY STAGE 3 SUMMARY OF RESULTS FOR 2016 No of Pupils in Year 10 - 157 % achieving Level 5 or above % achieving Level 6 or above % achieving Level 7 or above

Teacher English 100% 98.75% 63.75% Assessment

Teacher Maths 100% 96.88% 73.75% Assessment 3.2 GCSE SUMMARY OF RESULTS

% 7+ A*-C % % % A*-A % A*-B % A*-C No of Pupils including % A* Grades 5+ A*-C 7+ A*-C Grades Grades Grades English & Maths

2016 153 100 98.7 99.3 27 66 92 98

3.3 AS SUMMARY OF RESULTS

No of % % % % A Grades % A-B % A –C % A-E Pupils 2+ A-C 3+ A-C 4+ A-C Grades Grades Grades

2016 155 94 73 28 42 75 90 100

3.4 A2 SUMMARY OF RESULTS

No of % % % % A* % A*-A % A*-B % A*-C % A*-E Pupils 2+ A*-C 3+ A*-C 4+ A*-C Grades Grades Grades Grades Grades

2016 132 99.2 87.1 9.8 11.7 38.1 76.3 95.6 100

3.5 CCEA NORTHERN IRELAND PLACINGS

A number of St. Mary’s students excelled in CCEA GCSE and A Level examinations, achieving top subject places in Northern Ireland, as detailed in the table below:

NAME OF PUPIL SUBJECT LEVEL PLACING

Charlotte (Lottie) Kelly Drama GCSE Ist Equal Caoimhe Meeke ICT GCSE Ist Equal

3.6 ACHIEVEMENTS IN OTHER AWARDS TRINITY/ABRSM VOCAL AND INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC EXAMINATIONS Pupils from Year 8 to Year 14 received music tuition from the NEELB Peripatetic Music Service. Tutors prepared students for Trinity/ABRSM Vocal and Instrumental Music Examinations. (Further details are outlined in Appendix 5.)

PUBLIC SPEAKING EXAMINATIONS A number of students completed examinations with New Era Academy of Speech and Drama. The candidates excelled, achieving Distinctions or Merits.

DUKE OF EDINBURGH (SILVER AWARD) In September 2015, six Year 14 students completed their qualifying expedition. In April 2016, twelve Year 13 students completed their practice expedition. Both practice and qualifying expeditions were carried out in the Antrim Hills area and the Duke of Edinburgh coordinators Mr M Tracey and Mrs S Johnston were assisted by Miss McCloskey.

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 40 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 SECTION 4: DEPARTMENTAL ACHIEVEMENTS & ACTIVITIES 4.1 ART AND DESIGN DEPARTMENT GCSE

Art and Design Department achievements in 2015-16 include: . Year 13 student, Emily Quinn, achieved a ’Highly Commended’ Certificate for Self-Portrait painting in Children’s Texaco Art Competition; . Five examination students were recommended for the ‘True Colours’ Exhibition in February 2017. Final selection to be confirmed; . Emily Quinn achieved full marks and 1st equal place in NI CCEA AS examination; . CCEA submitted the Department’s KS3 (Year 10) UICT Task at Level 5+ for using Photoshop 7 to create a Book Cover for a tourist publication; . The Art Department and Registration Group 11B were overall winners in the school’s annual ‘Christmas Door’ Competition; . Year 11 Art student, Chloe O’Neill, designed the school Christmas Card; . Year 8 student, Emma Meeke won ‘Design a Mural’ Competition KS3. The range of activities provided by the Art and Design Department in 2015-16 includes: . Educational visit to the True Colours Exhibition in the Ulster Museum for Year 11-14 students; . Erecting a display for Prizegiving Drinks Reception; . Support sessions for exam students after school on a weekly basis; . Senior Students and Department staff creating a stain glass design for the production ‘Vicar of Derramore’ in Magherafelt Parish Centre; . Providing a demonstration of ceramic, drawing, painting and ICT skills on Open Evenings; . Thirty-three examination students attend an experimental workshop at the Ulster Museum which offered a unique opportunity to meet artist, Keith Ayton; . Year 12 Art Work displayed during End of Year Masses; . Year 8 ‘My Hero’ portrait Exhibition; . End of Year Art & Design Exhibition featuring the work of GCSE, AS and A2 students; . Key Stage 3 Christmas Craft Club; . Year 9 Photography Workshop; . Christine McVeigh addressing Year 10 and Year 11 GCSE students on ’The Role of a Graphic Designer.’ 4.2 BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT AS

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 41 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 68

A2 Outcome (%) 55

The range of activities provided by the Biology Department in 2015-16 includes:

. Year 13 Biology Field Trip to Antrim Coastline and Portglenone Forest Park.

4.3 BUSINESS STUDIES AND ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT BUSINESS STUDIES GCSE

APPLIED BUSINESS

ECONOMICS AS

The range of activities provided by the Business Studies and Economics Department in 2015-16 includes: . In September, the Year 11 Business Studies class launched its mini company. The directors were elected democratically, and the students spent the year putting the theory learnt in the class room to great use in the practicalities of running a business. After extensive market research, they decided to sell school hats and a hoodie to the school community. The profits of £645 have been distributed to Cancer Focus and the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice. . Also in September, Year 14 Applied Business Studies students visited Grand Central Library, Belfast to carry out essential research for A2 coursework; . In November, AS students visited Caterpillar (formerly FG Wilson) pertaining to Business Studies module AS1 ie Production and marketing; . The Year 13 Young Enterprise group had a very successful year, due in part to the guidance from their mentor, Eugene Heaney - Invest NI, and the excellent leadership of their democratically elected Company Director, Conor Doran. The team sold hand-made and painted Christmas mugs to the school community. These and other products were sold at St. George’s Christmas market, Belfast. The group also sold jerseys, custom made to please our target audience and finally were responsible for the organisation of the Year 14 leaver’s hoodies. This in total generated £2000, which was distributed evenly between Northern Ireland’s Children’s Hospice and Action Mental Health. They also helped support the NI Children’s Hospice Christmas Dress parade from St. Mary’s to the town centre one very wet and windy Saturday morning in December to help raise further funding for the charity; . Year 11 and 12 Business Studies students visited one of Northern Ireland’s leading manufacturers, Coca Cola. We followed the ‘journey’ of Coca Cola products from manufacturing to the packaging department. We enjoyed sampling their products, and hearing the origin of the product and its history with Northern Ireland.

4.4 CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT AS

Chemistry Department achievements in 2015-16 include: . A group of Year 14 students were successful in the Cambridge Challenge Competition which took place in school in June 2016. Eoghan McDonald and Hugh-Roe O’Donnell received the Silver Award, Bronagh Harkin and Paul McCarron received the Copper Award and Katie McGurk and Estella Tohill-Reid were highly commended. . A group of Year 14 students were highly successful in the British Chemistry Olympiad Competition. Conor O’Kane was awarded the Silver Award and Orla Mallon, Hugh O’Donnell, Eoghan McDonald, Paul McCarron, Marc Friel, Anna Coogan, Kyle Johnston & Aoife McErlane all received the Bronze Award. . Aine Young, Eimear Harkin, Diarmuid Mulholland and Holly Dougan in Year 8 were prize winners in the practical challenge at the Salters’ Festival of Chemistry at Queen’s University, Belfast.

The range of activities provided by the Chemistry Department in 2015-16 includes: . The Chemistry at Work Exhibition took place in the University of Ulster, Coleraine on 14 October. A group of Year 12 students attended this event where a range of companies such as Randox, Almac, and Norbrook presented practical demonstrations on various processes used in their industry whilst UU staff demonstrated some leading edge research and development projects.

4.5 DRAMA DEPARTMENT GCSE

GCSE PERFORMING ARTS

Drama Department achievements in 2015-16 include: . Charlotte (Lottie) Kelly achieved First Place (equal) in Northern Ireland in the CCEA 2016 GCSE Drama examination; . 100% of students achieved A*-B in both Drama and Performing Arts at GCSE.

Drama Department activities in 2015-16 include: . In September 2015, GCSE Drama and Performing Arts students travelled to the Lyric Theatre, Belfast to see a production of ‘Dancing at Lughnasa.’ . In December 2015, Year 8 Drama students travelled to the Millennium Forum in Derry to watch the pantomime, Aladdin. . In January 2016, Year 9 Drama students travelled to the Millennium Forum in Derry to watch a production of Annie. Also in January, GCSE Drama and Performing Arts students travelled to Queen’s University Belfast to see Mojo Mickey Bo and partake in a workshop with the actors and lecturers. . Beginning in January and running throughout Term Two, the Key Stage 3 Drama Club gave students in Year 8, Year 9 and Year 10 the opportunity to take part in lunch time drama activities. . In February 2016, GCSE Drama and Performing Arts pupils travelled to the Millennium Forum in Derry to take part in a Bruiser Physical Theatre Workshop. . In March 2016. the Drama Department facilitated a trip to New York City with pupils from the senior school. The pupils enjoyed an array of activities including sight- seeing and Broadway shows. . In March 2016, Year 12 Drama students presented performances of Steel Magnolias, Cagebirds and Of Mice and Men. . In May 2016, Year 12 Performing Arts students presented ‘We Are Such Stuff As Dreams Are Made On’ in the Drama Studio as Showcase Performance work.

4.6 ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 45 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 GCSE English Outcome (%) 153

A*/C GCSE English Literature

AS English Literature

39 A/B A/C 94.8 A2 English Literature

English Department achievements in 2015-16 include: . Lauren McStocker won Rotary International Young Leaders of the Future Competition. Lauren spent a week in Strasbourg and was given the opportunity to debate in the European Parliament as part of her prize; . Soroptomist Public Speaking Competition: three students participated and Sarah Gallen was awarded third place. . Year 13 students, Sarah Gallen, James McTeague and Ethlinn Walls won the local heat of BPW Public Speaking Competition (Business and Professional Women) and Sarah Gallen was awarded Best Chairperson in the regional final. The range of activities provided by the English Department in 2015-16 includes: . Lunchtime Book Clubs for Key Stage 3/4 and 5 from September in the school library; . In September, Literacy Annual Focus was launched: Accountable Talk; . In October, English/Literacy prefects launched the Homework Club; . Year 12 English Literature students visit the cinema to see ‘Macbeth.’ . Lunchtime/After school revision classes successfully implemented for Year 12 students repeating English Language Module in January 2016; . CPD Transitioning Project launched; . Years 8-10 and Year 13 submitted a number of short stories for the Poetry Games Writing Competition; . Year 9 students and teachers wrote and recited their own poetry in the Valentine’s Day Poetry Reading event; . Year 9 enjoyed a two day ‘Mid Ulster Counsel Seamus Heaney Poetry Workshop’ focusing on the life and writings of Seamus Heaney and students had an opportunity to write their own poetry for publication; . Year 9 students enjoyed a Creative Writing Poetry Workshop with local poet, Deirdre Cartmill. . CLAN support (English/ Literacy) for targeted Year 11 & 12 students successfully implemented; . To celebrate World Book Day, all KS3 students received a £1 book token and participated in a wide range of activities including Creation of a Recommendations Board, Speed Book- St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 46 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 Dating, Book Presentations, Making a Book-Mark, Games/Quizzes in form classes, World Book Day Art Competition, Read Write Café and Year 13 enjoyed a Poetry Workshop with local poet, Deirdre Cartmill. . Year 10 attended a poetry Workshop in the Bridewell hosted by renowned poet, Lemn Sissay; . A number of students’ Spinechillers (100 word short story) were submitted to the Young Writers’ Competition and are selected for publication; . BBC Comedy Club competition.

4.7 FRENCH DEPARTMENT GCSE

French Department achievements in 2015-16 include: . Year 11 – 14 French students competed in the VocabExpress Global Challenge along with over 30,000 students from more than 200 other schools and obtained 8th position overall; . They also competed in the Vocabexpress League of Champions with 7,000 students from 60 schools and achieved 15th place overall.

The range of activities provided by the French Department in 2015-16 includes: . Key Stage 3 French Club; . Year 13-14 Business French Classes; . Year 12 students took part in a poster competition ‘L’Environement.’; . Year 10 French Bottle Competition; . As part of European Languages Day, Year 12 French students teach French to primary school children at Holy Family Primary School while Year 14 visit Gaelscoil an TSeanchai to teach French to children there; . Year 9 students played Pétanque, a French games of bowls, with their French teachers; . Year 10 and 12 students attend a talk from Dr Anne Holloway, Queen’s University, Belfast on language studies at university level and on potential careers with languages.

4.8 GERMAN DEPARTMENT GCSE

German Department achievements in 2015-16 include: . Year 11 – 12 German students competed in the VocabExpress Global Challenge and obtained 16th position overall. They also competed in the Vocabexpress League of Champions with 7,000 students from 60 schools and achieved 15th place overall.

The range of activities provided by the German Department in 2015-16 includes: . Klub Deutsch for students in Years 9 and 10; . Beginners’ Italian for students in Years 8-14; . As part of European Languages Day, Year 12 students teach German to primary school children at Holy Family Primary School; . Visit from German partner school, Gymnasium Oesede (see section on International Educational Visits)

4.9 GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT GCSE

The range of activities provided by the Geography Department in 2015-16 include: . AS Geography field trip to Crawfordsburn Country Park:- 18 Year 13 students undertook a series of fieldwork activities pertaining to AS Geography Unit 1 – Fieldwork Skills and Techniques in Geography; . Dr Stephen McKay Director of Education, School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Queen's University, Belfast delivered a careers talk to sixth form Geography students. He spoke about the courses in Queen’s University including the BSc degree in Planning, Environment and Development and also the MPlan in European Planning. In addition, he made students aware of the wide range of career opportunities in Planning and the exciting developments which are currently taking place in the profession. Dr McKay also presented the Geography department with a copy of a recently published book by the Institute of Spatial and Environmental Planning at Queen’s University – A Sense of Place: Multidisciplinary Essays in Honour of Malachy McEldowney. St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 48 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 . Year 11 Geography students visited Magilligan Field Centre to participate in a fieldwork activity which is part of their Controlled Assessment Task for GCSE. The students spent the day collecting data relevant to their CA Task in which they investigated how the characteristics of a river changed downstream. 4.10 HISTORY AND POLITICS DEPARTMENT HISTORY GCSE Entries Grades Outcome (%)

47 A* 19.1 A*/A 65.9 A*/B 91.4 A*/C 100 AS Entries Grades Outcome (%)

35 A 37.1 A/B 80 A/C 91.4 A2

16 A* 18.7 A*/A 43.7 A*/B 87.5 A*/C 100

POLITICS A2

The range of activities provided by the History and Politics Department in 2015-16 includ es: . Horrible Histories Club for Key Stage 3 students; . Year 11 History students visited the Free Derry Museum and completed a walking tour of the Bogside area of Derry to link in with their GCSE History course (NI 1965-85); . Year 14 History students attended a history conference in Omagh Academy. Russell Rees, the author of the Year 14 History textbook held a series of lectures on the Partition of Ireland course; . Year 14 History students visited Glasnevin Cemetery and Dublin castle as part of their A2 syllabus. At Glasnevin, they were able to see the final resting places of key figures in Irish history such as O’Connell, Parnell, DeValera and Collins. This was followed by a tour of Dublin Castle , the seat of British power in Ireland.

4.11 HOME ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT GCSE Child Development

AS Health and Social Care

A2 Health and Social Care

AS Home Economics

A2 Home Economics

The range of activities provided by the Home Economics Department in 2015-16 include: . Key Stage 3 weekly Cookery Club; . Hosting German students and their teachers for a morning of traditional Irish cookery; . Senior Home Economics students cooking for a PTA event in October; . In November, KS4 Home Economics Child Development students took part in a live video conference on breast feeding; . Hosting fundraising coffee mornings for Year 13 and 14 to raise funds for Cancer Focus and a Mental Health charity. . Preparing and cooking a range of dishes for visiting students and their parents for Open Night; . AS and A2 Home Economics students visited Loughry College to investigate Product Development and Sensory Analysis in their new Food Innovation Centre; . A range of visiting speakers addressed Year 14 Health & Social Care students for their Unit on ‘Children in Foster Care.’

4.12 ICT DEPARTMENT GCSE

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 50 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 AS

APPLIED ICT AS

5 A 62.5

A/B 100

A/C 100

ICT Department achievements in 2015-16 include: . Caoimhe Meeke achieved First Place (equal) in Northern Ireland in the CCEA 2016 GCSE ICT examination.

The range of activities provided by the ICT Department in 2015-16 include: . Hour of Code Event for Key Stage 3; . Lunchtime Computer Programming/ Coding Club; . Year 13 Computer Programme course organised by Queen’s University, Belfast.

4.13 IRISH DEPARTMENT GCSE

AS Entries Grades Outcome (%)

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 51 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 7 A/C 100 A2

A*/C 100

Irish Department achievements in 2015-16 include:

. Year 10 Irish students attended the annual Irish quiz in the Glenavon Hotel, Cookstown. Over 250 students participated in the event organised by Gael Linn and they all participated in the céilí event which occurred after the quiz. Bláithín Ní Raifeartaigh, Cáit Nic Laibheartaigh, Méabh Ní Siail and Cáit Nic Giolla Choiscle achieved 1st place in the regional quiz.

. The Irish Department learned that they were the regional winners of the British Academy School’s Language Award (BASLA). There were 7 winners of this prestigious award from over 150 applicants. Mr Mac Feilimí, accompanied by Miss Hagan, Róisáine Ní Mhaoláin and Tierna Ní Néill, travelled to the British Academy, London to formally receive the Award.

. The award carried a £4,000 prize fund which was used to launch Gael Talk SMG – an Irish language media project. The Irish language television station, TG4, sent their news crew to cover the award of the BASLA to the school and BBC Radio Ulster invited Mr Mac Feilimí to speak about the exciting new project live on the BBC Blas program.

. Year 10 students were offered the opportunity to complete their Fáinne Airgid exam. The top 3 boys and girls were then awarded Corn Bhríde, for excellence in spoken Irish. They were Marc Ó Ciaragáin, Aodhán Mac Bhloscaidh, Conchúr Mag Fhearraigh (boys) and Lúsaí Ní Néill, Niamh Nic Luaidh and Ella Nic Cionaith (girls)

. Over 60 students applied for Gaeltacht scholarships this year and of those interviewed, approximately 20 achieved either a ½ or ¼ scholarship to assist with the cost of a summer Gaeltacht course.

The range of activities provided by the Irish Department in 2015-16 includes: . Club Mhuire which gave Irish enthusiasts the opportunity to meet on a weekly basis to engage in a range of activities, including singing, dancing and art, through the medium of Irish; . In February, Year 14 students of Irish travelled to Gaelscoil an tSeanchaí where they taught P7 pupils about St. Bridget, all through the medium of Irish. . All year 10 students participated in a language quiz which marked the European Day of Languages through the use of the 4 languages taught in St. Mary’s. . UU AS Irish Workshop– Members of the AS Irish class participated in a 1 day workshop in preparation for their AS exams in May. . A2 Literature Day – A2 students travelled to the University of Ulster, Magee, to participate in literature workshops based on their chosen topic of study for A2 Irish literature. They met with some of the poets on the syllabus and engaged with a number of prominent lecturers from the University. . Students from the GCSE Irish classes, namely Lorcán Ó Tomhnair, Lúsaí Nig Oirc and Aoife Ní Ghribín represented the school in the annual public speaking event, Abair. . The Irish department hosted international Irish language pop music sensations, ‘Seo Linn’. The group provided singing and music technology master classes culminating in a live recording of over 100 St. Mary’s Irish pupils. . Year 8 students of Irish participated in a Memrise vocabulary competition during the month of October. The winners were announced and presented with their prizes during Year 8 assembly. St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 52 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 . During the summer months, a group of Year 8 and 9 students attended an intensive language-learning course at Coláiste Gael Linn, Machaire Rabhartaigh, approximately thirty Year 9 -12 students attended courses at Coláiste Gael Linn, Machaire Rabhartaigh and Bun an Inbhir and twenty Year 11,12 and 13 students attended Coláiste Gael Linn, Machaire Rabhartaigh.

4.14 MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT GCSE

GCSE – FURTHER MATHS

Mathematics Department achievements in 2015-16 include: . In the UK Senior Mathematics Challenge for Year 14 students, forty eight students achieved a certificate: twelve students achieved a Silver Award, and thirty-six students achieved a Bronze Award. . In the UK Intermediate Mathematics Challenge for Year 12 students, fifty students achieved a certificate: four students achieved a Gold Award, fifteen students achieved a Silver Award and thirty one students achieved a Bronze Award; . In the UK Junior Mathematics Challenge for Year 9 students, forty one students achieved a certificate: one student achieved a Gold Award, ten students achieved a Silver Award and thirty students achieved a Bronze Award. The range of activities provided by the Mathematics Department in 2015-16 includes: . Numeracy support implemented for Years 8 -12 from January to June 2016; . Maths Club throughout the year for Key Stage 3 students which was led by Mrs K McErlean with assistance from A Level Maths students; . Twenty eight Year 13 pupils attended an Interactive Regional Open Day hosted by Queen’s University Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences. This half day of activities was specifically designed for students who were potentially interested in studying one of the following degree programmes: Chemical Engineering; Chemistry; Planning; Architecture; Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering; Electrical and Electronic Engineering; Computer Science; Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; Product Design Engineering; Geography and Paleoecology; and Psychology. St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 53 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 4.15 MOVING IMAGE ARTS DEPARTMENT AS

The range of activities provided by the Moving Image Arts Department in 2015-16 includes: . Lunchtime Film-making workshop for Years 9 and 10.

4.16 MUSIC DEPARTMENT GCSE

A*/C 100 AS

Music Department achievements in 2015-16 include: . Over sixty students were successful in ABRSM, Trinity Guildhall and London College of Music examinations ranging from Grade One to Performance Diploma; . The Junior Choir performed in Action Cancer’s ‘ Sound of Action’ Concert in St. Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast. They were awarded, for the second time, the award for the highest fund raising school; . The Senior Choir won their heat of the BBC Radio Ulster Choir of the Year. They went onto reach the semi-final against 5 winners from the other heats; . The Junior Choir won Ballymena Festival 11-14 years category.

The range of activities provided by the Music Department in 2015-16 includes: . Performing at the Junior and Senior School Masses throughout the year, aswell as at Senior Awards Ceremony- String quartet; School Carol services; and our Junior Instrumentalists entertained visitors on Open Nights;

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 54 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 . Annual Spring Concert – the audience enjoyed the musicians and singers who performed in group activities, small ensembles or soloists; . Twelve Junior Traditional Players attended the Music for Youth’s ‘National Festival’, Birmingham in July 2016. The group who were directed by Miss Donnelly were accompanied to the festival by Miss Allen; . Students from Holy Family Primary School were facilitated in order to take their music . examinations in the school; . The Senior Choir perform in ‘Go the Distance’ concert in aid of the Mary Peters Trust at Island Hall, Lisburn; . Junior Instrumentalists perform for visitors on Open Nights; . Musical Theatre students from Years 9-13 performed in the Parish Centre’s production of the ‘Vicar of Derramore;’ . The Junior Choir raised £1,630.78 for Action Cancer by holding a Singathon over lunchtimes; . Miss Donnelly and Miss Flanagan provided accompaniment to Students during their ABRSM, Trinity Guildhall and London College of Music examinations.

4.17 PHYSICAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT GCSE

A*/C 100 AS

A/C 100 A2 Entries Grades Outcome (%) 17 A* 11.8 A*/A 35.3 A*/B 82.4 A*/C 100

Full details of the range of achievements and activities in the PE Department are detailed in the Sports Review section.

4.18 PHYSICS DEPARTMENT AS Entries Grades Outcome (%)

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 55 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 Physics Department achievements and activities in 2015-16 include:

. British Physics Olympiad GCSE Challenge- Three Year 12 students took part in the competition:- Lorcan Toner, John Walker and Dermot O’Neill and all achieved a Commendation Award; . All Year 13 Physics students had the opportunity to visit Antrim Hospital Radiology Department. They had a tour of the radiology department and got to see how the different imaging techniques are used, eg. Ultrasound, MRI, CT scans and X-Ray machines in medicine.

4.19 RELIGIOUS STUDIES DEPARTMENT GCSE Entries Grades Outcome (%)

AS Entries Grades Outcome (%)

The range of activities provided by the Religious Studies Department in 2015-16 includes: . Religious themed assemblies for all Year groups; . Opening of the School Year Masses; . Weekly Rosary group; . General RE visiting speakers for Year 13 and Year 14 students: Dermot Kelly, ADYC, Precious Life, Adoration Sisters, Belfast, Turlough Quinn, Richard Moore, Marion Carroll, and UCO, Belfast; . SVDP hamper appeal; . School Christmas Carol Service; . Holy Week prayer services; . Catholic Schools’ Mass in Armagh with Archbishop Eamonn Martin; . The Muiredach Cross Award and the Pope John Paul II Award; . Year 14 Leavers’ Mass; Year 12 Leavers’ Mass; and Year 8 ‘Thanksgiving Mass.’

4.20 SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

GCSE Double Award Science

Details of activities provided by the Science Department in 2016-16 are contained in the Biology, Chemistry and Physics sections.

4.21 SPANISH DEPARTMENT GCSE

A*/C 89.5 AS Entries Grades Outcome (%) 3

Spanish Department achievements in 2015-16 include: . VocabExpress League of Champions – We were placed 4th in the Challenge Cup Medio (schools with less than 500 enrolled pupils) for Spanish and 15th overall. It is a significant achievement considering there were 7,000 students from 60 schools from all over the world in category. All KS4 and KS5 students studying French, German and Spanish took part together with Spanish students in KS3. The activity was led by Mrs Mateo-Loughlin and assisted by Miss MacOscar, Miss Donoghue, Miss Venot, Miss Allen and Miss Commault;

. VocabExpress Global Challenge - More than 30,000 students from over 200 schools registered points during the course of this vocabulary learning competition. St. Mary’s was one of 65 schools registered for the Medio tier (between 151 and 500 registered students). The school placed 8th overall and 3rd in Spanish, and the top scorers were: Eimear Quinn (5,710 points), Declan McFerran (4730 points) and John McElhone (3890 points).

The range of activities provided by the Spanish Department in 2015-16 includes: . Pen-pal Link with Colegio Aristos in Getafe (Madrid) – All Spanish students in Years 8 to 11 have kept in contact with partner school in Madrid through letters. This activity has taken place during class time and has been led by Miss Donoghue and Mrs Mateo-Loughlin;

. The Spanish Department took part in activities to celebrate European Day of Languages. Year 8 learned German and Year 9 played Petanque, Year 10 took part in a multilingual quiz, Year 11 took part in the VocabExpress League of Champions and 42 students from Year 12 taught Irish/German/French and Spanish in Holy Family Primary School.

4.22 TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN DEPARTMENT GCSE Entries Grades Outcome (%)

Technology and Design Department activities and achievements in 2015-16 include: . F1 in Schools is a global competition which challenges teams of students, aged 11-19, to design, manufacture and race miniature gas powered balsa wood or foam F1 cars. The challenge inspires students to learn about physics, aerodynamics, design and manufacture within an exciting context. They also learn about marketing, branding, sponsorship and financial management. As part of the challenge, teams must raise sponsorship and manage budgets to fund their projects. Using 3D CAD software the team designs a F1 car of the future and races it at more than 60Kph side by side along a 20m track. The teams are judged on car speed, as well as supporting evidence of their design, verbal presentation and marketing display stand in “the pits”.

. The regional event was held in Ballymena North Business and Recreation Centre. The girls were entered as Rookie class. They won two trophies, one for fastest car in their class completing the 20m track in 1.331 seconds and also the trophy for overall 1 st place in the rookie class. The all-female team progressed to the National final at Silverstone where they were awarded a trophy for best marketing/sponsorship and, most importantly, came 3 rd overall in the UK in their class! The car was third fastest overall and the girls were consummate professionals in their 8 minute verbal presentation and display.

. In June, seven Technology & Design pupils attended the Sentinus Young Innovators Competition held in the University of Ulster Jordanstown Campus. This Competition brings together the best science and technology projects in the regional heats of The Big Bang Competition. Niamh Hughes (Year 14) won three prizes/trophies in total -  Winner of The Best Girl in Competition – Trophy and £125  1st Place Gold Crest Award – Trophy and £100; and  Young Engineers Award. Niamh will now progress to the National Finals in Birmingham in March 2017.

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 58 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 SECTION 5: LINKS WITH PARENTS AND GUARDIANS

5.1 PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT At St. Mary’s, we value our close links with parents and guardians. We see this relationship as making a vital and positive contribution to school life. You entrust your children to us and we strive, with your support and co-operation, to assist your child to develop to his/her full potential.

Parents are involved in the life of the school in the following ways:

. Parent representation on the Board of Governors; . Parent-Teacher Progress Meetings – seven were held last year; . Pastoral Interviews for Year 8 Parents/Guardians; . Newsletters and communications from the school to home; . Parents are consulted when key policies are being drafted; . Parents attend key school events such as Masses, concerts and the Awards Ceremony; . Parents supporting school projects; . Progress reports; . Parent text messaging service; . Parental Access to SIMS Learning Gateway where information can easily be shared between parents, teachers and pupils, instantly and securely through an online portal; . ParentPay system for processing cashless payments; . Staff and Parent Coffee Morning; . Information Evenings such as e-Safety, Careers Information and Back to Basics Parent’s Workshop; . Art & Design Exhibition; . Induction afternoon for new intake; . Individual meetings by appointment as needed / requested; and . Responding to questionnaires and consultation documents.

SECTION 6: SECURITY & HEALTH AND SAFETY 6.1 SAFETY AND SECURITY The safety and security of all who are on the St. Mary’s premises continues to be a key priority for the Board of Governors. We continue to refine and develop the measures to safeguard the site and all who work on and visit the site through:

. Preventative steps to ensure a safe building site during the extensive Building Programme in 2015-16;

. The policy of separating bus, vehicular traffic and pedestrians has led to a safe school site during the past 12 months.

6.2 ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF STAFF AND PUPILS . Additional Defibrillators were introduced and staff trained in their deployment.

. Regular emergency evacuation drills were conducted during the year. The fire alarm was checked weekly and monthly;

. An ‘Acceptable Use of the Internet Policy’ was sent from the school to all parents/guardians during Term One;

. To improve health and safety on the school grounds, we have trained supervisory staff at lunchtime to safeguard students;

. Certified first aid training was undertaken by a number of the teaching and teaching support staff during the year.

6.3 PREMISES

. The school got permission from the School Enhancement Programme for a Sixth Form provision, music classrooms and the project is anticipated to complete on site in April 2017 at a cost of £4 million;

. Further enhancement work was completed to the amenity area behind the former Convent house.

SECTION 7: FINANCE

7.1 FINANCIAL REPORT 1 APRIL 2015 TO 31 MARCH 2016

Financial Statement for the Financial Year Ending March 2016 INCOME £

Department of Education Northern Ireland 4,869,697

Other Income 72,530

TOTAL INCOME 4,942,227

EXPENDITURE £ Total Expenditure 4,994,479 Operating Deficit 52,252 Retained Surplus Carried Forward at 1/4/2016 10,488

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 61 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 SECTION 8: POLICY DOCUMENTS School policy documents on the following topics are available from the school at any time. Parents may request a paper copy of any policy by contacting the School Office. Admissions Anti-Bullying Attendance Assessment Careers Education Child Protection Complaints Controlled Assessment Curriculum Data Protection Discipline and Behaviour Drugs Education Educational Visits e-Safety Examinations Health and Safety Health Education Homework Induction Policy for Beginning Teachers Learning for Life and Work Library Literacy Numeracy Nutrition Pastoral Care Progress File Quality Teaching and Learning Relationships and Sex Education Self Evaluation Special Educational Needs Suspension and Expulsion Parents/guardians or members of staff who wish to offer comments or suggestions on the content of any policy document should forward these in writing to the Principal. The Board of Governors and Senior Leadership Team will take any views expressed into account in the process of reviewing and revising school policies. SECTION 9: CONCLUSION The Board of Governors wish to acknowledge the work and commitment of the Principal and all the staff of St. Mary’s - teaching and teaching support staff, caretaking and cleaning staff, Café Bordeaux staff and supervisory staff - all of whom make an important contribution to the efficient running of the school. Finally, parents/guardians, we trust you have found this report on the work of St. Mary’s to be interesting and informative. CONTACT DETAILS Name and Address: St. Mary’s Grammar School 3 Castledawson Road Magherafelt Co Derry BT45 6AX Telephone: 028 7963 2320 Fax No: 028 7963 4250 E-Mail: [email protected] Office Hours: 8.30am – 5.00pm Principal: Mrs D Gillespie Chairman of the Board of Governors: Mr J McKee Enrolment: 1070 Admissions No: 156 Age Range: 11-18 years Type of School: Voluntary, Co-educational Grammar School APPENDIX 1 gcse statistics for academic year 2015-16 Subject Entrie A* A B C D E A*-A A*-B A*-C St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 62 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 s Art & Design 12 1 8 3 0 0 0 9 12 12 % 8.3 66.7 25 0 0 0 75 100 100 Biology 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 2 % 0 0 50 50 0 0 0 50 100 Business Studies 23 1 10 11 1 0 0 11 22 23 % 4.3 43.5 47.8 4.3 0 0 47.8 95.6 100 Design and 24 5 13 6 0 0 0 18 24 24 Technology % 20.8 54.2 25 0 0 0 75 100 100 Drama 13 4 6 3 0 0 0 10 13 13 % 30.8 46.2 23.1 0 0 0 77 100 100 English Language 153 29 73 45 6 0 0 102 147 153 % 19 47.7 29.4 3.9 0 0 66.7 96.1 100 English Literature 153 30 53 56 14 0 0 83 139 153 % 19.6 34.6 36.6 9.2 0 0 54.2 90.8 100 French 50 7 15 16 8 4 0 22 38 46 % 14 30 32 16 8 0 44 76 92 Geography 50 11 22 13 4 0 0 33 46 50 % 22 44 26 8 0 0 66 92 100 German 19 2 6 3 5 2 1 8 11 16 % 10.5 31.6 15.8 26.3 10.5 5.3 42.1 57.9 84.2 History 47 9 22 12 4 0 0 31 43 47 % 19.1 46.8 25.5 8.5 0 0 65.9 91.4 100 Home Economics: 14 1 2 9 1 1 0 3 12 13 Child Devt % 7.1 14.3 64.3 7.1 7.1 0 21.4 85.7 92.9 ICT 73 27 40 5 1 0 0 67 72 73 % 37 54.8 6.8 1.4 0 0 91.8 98.6 100 Irish 46 7 10 24 5 0 0 17 41 46 % 15.2 21.7 52.2 10.9 0 0 36.9 89.1 100 Mathematics Further 61 19 31 8 2 0 1 50 58 60 % 31.1 50.8 13.1 3.3 0 1.6 81.9 95 98.4 Mathematics 153 70 45 33 4 1 0 115 148 152 % 45.8 29.4 21.6 2.6 0.7 0 75.2 96.7 99.3 Music 6 2 1 3 0 0 0 3 6 6 % 33.3 16.7 50 0 0 0 50 100 100 Performing Arts 12 5 2 5 0 0 0 7 12 12 % 41.7 16.7 41.7 0 0 0 58.4 100 100 Religious Studies 153 29 45 51 19 6 2 74 125 144 % 19 29.4 33.3 12.4 3.9 1.3 48.4 81.7 94.1 Science Double Award 300 104 135 50 11 1 0 239 289 301 % 34.7 44.7 16.6 3.64 0.3 0 79.4 96 99.7 Spanish 38 5 8 15 6 3 1 13 28 34 % 13.2 21.1 39.5 15.8 7.9 2.6 34.3 73.8 89.5 Sport/PE Studies 39 16 16 7 0 0 0 32 39 39 % 41 41 17.9 0 0 0 82 100 100 GCSE TREND DATA 12/13 13/14 14/15

St. Mary’s NI Average DENI St. Mary’s NI Average DENI St. Mary’s NI DENI Benchmark Benchmark Benchmark Average Data Data Data % Achieving 100 97 95th 100 97 95th 100 97.8 95th 5+GCSEs at Percentile Percentile Percentile Grades A*-C % Achieving 99 94 Upper 99 93 Upper 99 93.6 Upper Quartile 7+GCSEs at Quartile Quartile Grades A*-C

APPENDIX 2 AS STATISTICS FOR ACADEMIC YEAR 2015-16 Subject Entries A B C D E A-B A-C Art & Design 3 3 0 0 0 0 3 3 St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 63 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 % 100 0 0 0 0 100 100 Biology 68 31 18 10 5 3 49 59 % 45.6 26.5 14.7 7.4 4.4 72.1 86.8 Business Studies 39 14 10 9 5 0 24 33 % 35.9 25.6 23.1 12.8 0 61.5 84.6 Chemistry 55 23 20 8 1 3 43 51 % 41.8 36.4 14.5 1.8 5.5 78.2 92.7 Design & Technology 9 9 0 0 0 0 9 9 % 100 0 0 0 0 100 100 Economics 9 5 2 0 0 1 7 7 % 55.6 22.2 0 0 11.1 77.8 77.8 English Literature 39 10 16 11 2 0 26 37 % 25.6 41 28.2 5.1 0 66.6 94.8 French 5 2 1 2 0 0 3 5 % 40 20 40 0 0 60 100 Geography 18 11 4 3 0 0 15 18 % 61.1 22.2 16.7 0 0 83.3 100 Health & Social Care 28 9 19 0 0 0 28 28 % 32.1 67.9 0 0 0 100 100 History 35 13 15 4 1 0 28 32 % 37.1 42.9 11.4 2.9 0 80 91.4 Home Economics 4 2 0 1 1 0 2 3 % 50 0 25 25 0 50 75 ICT 28 12 9 1 3 2 21 22 % 42.9 32.1 3.6 10.7 7.1 75 78.6 ICT (Applied) 8 5 3 0 0 0 8 8 % 62.5 37.5 0 0 0 100 100 Irish 7 5 2 0 0 0 7 7 % 71.4 28.6 0 0 0 100 100 Mathematics 66 29 17 10 6 3 46 56 % 43.9 25.8 15.2 9.1 4.5 69.7 84.9 Moving Image Art 3 2 1 0 0 0 3 3 % 66.7 33.3 0 0 0 100 100 Music 3 0 3 0 0 0 3 3 % 0 100 0 0 0 100 100 Physics 29 7 3 14 3 1 10 24 % 24.1 10.3 48.3 10.3 3.4 34.4 82.7 Religious Studies 29 12 17 0 0 0 29 29 % 41.4 58.6 0 0 0 100 100 Spanish 3 0 1 1 1 0 1 2 % 0 33.3 33.3 33.3 0 33.3 66.6 Sport / PE Studies 17 12 5 0 0 0 17 17 % 70.6 29.4 0 0 0 100 100

APPENDIX 3 A2 STATISTICS FOR ACADEMIC YEAR 2015-16 Subject Entries A* A B C D E A*-A A*-B A*-C Applied Business 8 1 2 5 0 0 0 3 8 8 % 12.5 25 62.5 0 0 0 37.5 100 100 Art & Design 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 % 0 100 0 0 0 0 100 100 100 Biology 55 8 15 17 13 2 0 23 40 53 % 14.5 27.3 30.9 23.6 3.6 0 41.8 72.7 96.3 St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 64 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 Business Studies 14 0 3 11 0 0 0 3 14 14 % 0 21.4 78.6 0 0 0 21.4 100 100 Chemistry 37 8 10 12 4 3 0 18 30 34 % 21.6 27 32.4 10.8 8.1 0 48.6 81 91.8 Design & 9 0 4 5 0 0 0 4 9 9 Technology % 0 44.4 55.6 0 0 0 44.4 100 100 Drama 9 0 3 4 2 0 0 3 7 9 % 0 33.4 44.4 22.2 0 0 33.4 77.8 100 Economics 12 0 3 7 2 0 0 3 10 12 % 0 25 58.3 16.7 0 0 25 83.3 100 English Literature 27 4 7 7 8 1 0 11 18 26 % 14.8 25.9 25.9 29.6 3.7 0 40.7 66.6 96.2 French 5 0 0 3 1 1 0 0 3 4 % 0 0 60 20 20 0 0 60 80 Geography 13 1 4 4 4 0 0 5 9 13 % 7.6 30.8 30.8 30.8 0 0 38.5 69.3 100 Health & Social 18 1 6 10 1 0 0 7 17 18 Care % 5.6 33.3 55.6 5.6 0 0 38.9 94.5 100 History 16 3 4 7 2 0 0 7 14 16 % 18.7 25 43.8 12.5 0 0 43.7 87.5 100 Home Economics 10 0 2 2 6 0 0 2 4 10 % 0 20 20 60 0 0 20 40 100 ICT 35 2 5 13 9 5 1 7 20 29 % 5.7 14.3 37.1 25.7 14.3 2.9 20 57.1 82.8 Irish 8 0 7 1 0 0 0 7 8 8 % 0 87.5 12.5 0 0 0 87.5 100 100 Moving Image Art 5 0 0 3 2 0 0 0 3 5 % 0 0 60 40 0 0 0 60 100 Mathematics 66 15 17 21 11 2 0 32 53 64 % 22.7 25.8 31.8 16.7 3 0 48.5 80.3 97 Music 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 2 % 0 0 100 0 0 0 0 100 100 Physics 29 2 7 11 7 1 1 9 20 27 % 6.9 24.1 37.9 24.1 3.4 3.4 31 68.9 93 Politics 3 0 1 0 2 0 0 1 1 3 % 0 33.3 0 66.7 0 0 33.3 33.3 100 Religious Studies 9 1 2 3 2 1 0 3 6 8 % 11.1 22.2 33.3 22.2 11.1 0 33.3 66.6 88.8 Sport/PE Studies 17 2 4 8 3 0 0 6 14 17 % 11.8 23.5 47.1 17.6 0 0 35.3 82.4 100 12/13 13/14 14/15 St. Mary’s NI Average DENI St. Mary’s NI Average DENI St. Mary’s NI DENI GCE TREND Benchmark Benchmark Average Benchma DATA Average Average rk Average % Achieving 89 77 95 89 76 95 88 77 95 3+GCEs at Grades A-C %Achieving 100 99 95 100 100 95 100 99.7 95 2+GCEs at Grades A-E

APPENDIX 4

YEAR 14 HIGHER EDUCATION DESTINATIONS 2016

University No. of Students % NI University & Colleges

Queen’s University, Belfast 47 35.6%

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 65 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 University of Ulster 42 31.8%

St. Mary’s University College 6 4.5%

Belfast Metropolitan College 6 4.5%

South West Regional College 1 0.75%

Deloitte 2 1.5%

Gap Year 14 11%

Republic of Ireland Universities

Trinity College Dublin 1 1.5%

University College Dublin 1

English and Welsh Universities

University of Surrey 1

University of Liverpool 3

1 University of Gloucestershire 6.8% Edge Hill University 1

Liverpool John Moore’s University 2

Kings College, University of London 1

Scottish Universities

University of Dundee 1 2% University of Edinburgh 2

TOTAL 132

APPENDIX 5 RESULTS OF GRADED EXAMINATIONS 2015-16 ABRSM - December Name Year Instrument Grade Category Allana Campbell 9 Clarinet 1 Merit Hannah Scullion 9 Violin 4 Merit Caoimhe O’Kane 10 Violin 4 Merit Philip Baine 10 Violin 5 Pass Eva Hirst 10 Violin 5 Merit

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 66 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 Kate Henry 10 Violin 5 Pass Declan Murray 10 Violin 5 Merit Anna McKee 10 Theory 5 Merit Mary Lagan 11 Theory 5 Merit Aoife Mulvenna 11 Theory 5 Merit Molly McAllister 11 Theory 5 Pass ABRSM – March Name Year Instrument Grade Category Emma McAuley 8 Violin 1 Merit Orla McCarney 8 Piano 1 Pass Erin O’Kane 8 Violin 1 Pass Beth Dixon 9 Piano 2 Pass Cáraerinín Keenan 8 Violin 2 Pass Erin O’Connor 8 Violin 2 Pass Kate Lavery 10 Violin 3 Pass Lorcan McKeating 9 Cello 3 Pass Helen McPeake 9 Flute 4 Pass Anna McGale 9 Clarinet 4 Merit Molly McAllister 11 Violin 5 Pass Ruth Dace 12 Violin 6 Pass Mary Lagan 11 Flute 6 Distinction Sinead McCann 13 Violin 6 Pass Aidan McKeever 12 Double Bass 6 Pass Caoimhe McKillop 12 Violin 6 Pass Lucy Quinn 13 Violin 6 Pass Aoife McErlane 14 Violin 8 Pass Molly McAllister 11 Theory 5 Pass Anna McKee 10 Theory 5 Merit Aoife Mulvenna 11 Theory 5 Merit Mary Lagan 11 Theory 5 Merit ABRSM - June Name Year Instrument Grade Category Grace Gavigan 8 Violin 3 Distinction Eimear Harkin 8 Violin 3 Merit Shea Heaney 8 Violin 1 Merit Matthew O'Neill 8 Violin 1 Pass Aine Young 8 Violin 1 Merit Molly Dixon 10 Piano 3 Pass

London College of Music - June Name Year Instrument Grade Category Colleen Crawford 8 Musical Theatre 2 Merit Therese Diamond 8 Musical Theatre 2 Distinction Hannah Donnelly 8 Musical Theatre 2 Distinction Declan McFerran 8 Musical Theatre 2 Distinction Aoife McKenna 8 Musical Theatre 2 Merit Clodagh Gillen 9 Musical Theatre 3 Distinction Amy Graffin 8 Musical Theatre 3 Merit

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 67 Annual Board of Governors’ Report 2015-16 Mya Graffin 8 Musical Theatre 3 Distinction Frances McAteer 9 Musical Theatre 3 Merit Jessica O’Neill 9 Musical Theatre 3 Merit Grace Rafferty 8 Musical Theatre 3 Distinction Sophie Shields 8 Musical Theatre 3 Distinction Rachel Tohill 9 Musical Theatre 3 Distinction Nayana Chauhan 8 Musical Theatre 4 Merit Ciara Kelly 8 Musical Theatre 4 Merit Ella McCloskey 10 Musical Theatre 4 Distinction Catherine Mulholland 9 Musical Theatre 4 Distinction Erin Forbes 9 Musical Theatre 5 Distinction Lile Keenan 9 Musical Theatre 5 Distinction Kate Lavery 10 Musical Theatre 5 Merit Tara Lynch 11 Musical Theatre 5 Pass Eimear McCann 9 Musical Theatre 5 Distinction Eimear McKernan 11 Musical Theatre 5 Merit Sinead Rocks 11 Musical Theatre 5 Distinction Catherine Skelly 10 Musical Theatre 5 Distinction Anna McCloskey 11 Musical Theatre 6 Distinction Daniel McNamee 11 Musical Theatre 6 Distinction Aoife Mulvenna 11 Musical Theatre 6 Merit Roise Pelan 11 Musical Theatre 6 Distinction Brid McGee 12 Musical Theatre 7 Merit Eimear O’Kane 13 Musical Theatre 8 Distinction Ethlinn Walls 13 Musical Theatre DipLCM Approved Faoiltiarna Burke 13 Musical Theatre DipLCM Approved Laura Delaney 13 Musical Theatre DipLCM Approved Trinity - Guildhall – November Name Year Instrument Grade Category Lauren Hughes 8 Piano 3 Merit Emma Dace 10 Trumpet 5 Merit Aidan McCloskey 10 Trumpet 5 Merit Trinity - Guildhall – February Name Year Instrument Grade Category Alanna Beattie 8 Trombone 4 Merit Trinity - Guildhall – June Name Year Instrument Grade Category Eva Madden 8 Trombone 4 Merit

St. Mary’s Grammar School Page 68