BOARD OF GOVERNORS’ REPORT 2019-20 _______________________________________ Belfast High School November 2020 CONTENTS Chairman’s Foreword Board of Governors’ Discharge of Function in Relation to the School Membership of the Board of Governors 2019-20 Ethos and Vision of Belfast High School Enrolment, Admissions and Attendance School Activities/Pupil Achievements Results 2019-20 School Leavers’ Destinations 2019-20 Curriculum Pastoral Care, Safeguarding and SEN Security of Pupils, Staff and Premises Links with the Community Financial Statement School Development Days 2019-20 School Policies 2 Chairman’s Foreword It gives me great pleasure as Chair of the Board of Governors to introduce this annual report of Belfast High School for the academic year 2019-20. Last year in my introduction I commented that we lived in a world that is constantly changing, little did I know just how much our world would change in the last few months of the academic year and the impact the coronavirus pandemic would have in all areas of our lives and especially in the education of our children. The report shows some of the highlights of our pupils’ achievements over the past year in both academic results and a very wide range of extra-curricular activities and the Board thanks all staff members for their commitment to the school which allows our pupils to strive to achieve their full potential. We acknowledge the very strong academic performances by our pupils in a year when examinations did not take place for the first time in living memory. At A Level 97% of pupils achieved 3 A*-C grades and at GCSE 93% achieved a minimum of 7 passes at A*-C. We also recognise the key role that our teachers, parents and other family members play in supporting and encouraging the pupils in all of their endeavours. I would like to thank Mrs Weir for her leadership of the school, especially over the last few turbulent and challenging months of the academic year. I commend this report to you and I thank you for your interest in Belfast High School. Mr M Finlay Chairman 3 Board of Governors’ Discharge of Function in Relation to the School The Governors met regularly through various sub-committees and full Board meetings during the period September 2019 to June 2020 incorporating virtual meetings for the first time. Minutes were taken at all meetings and circulated to members. The Board Sub Committees are: Education Human Resources Health and Safety Grounds, Property and Development Finance Audit Admissions Appeals The Board of Governors ensured that the School fulfilled its curricular and pastoral care responsibilities and provided a range of co-curricular activities for all pupils. The Board and its Finance Committee ensured that the School made the most effective use of the financial resources available to it. Whilst the Board of Governors has overall responsibility for the management of the School, the Principal is delegated by the Board of Governors with the responsibility for the strategic leadership and management of the School, including the School’s finances. The Senior Leadership Team meets once per week and consists of the Principal, the Vice Principal, Bursar and four Senior Teachers. The team has a leading role in strategic planning and ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of how the School operates. All members of the Senior Leadership Team are familiar with the important day to day issues of school life and may be delegated significant responsibilities in the absence of either the Principal and/or the Vice Principal. Heads of Department meet with the Senior Leadership Team throughout the year to ensure coherence and consistency in their approach to the delivery of the curriculum. Heads of Year oversee the day to day pastoral issues within their year group and provide support and guidance to their Form Teachers. Heads of Year meet regularly with the Senior Leadership Team to ensure a consistent team approach. Other staff who hold additional teaching allowances are managed through a line management system. These allowances are required to address additional significant aspects of school life. 4 Board of Governors 2019-20 Member Governors: Mr M Finlay, BSSc (to May 2022) Mrs J McDermott, PG CIPD Strategic HR, CIPD TP and Cert Crim Law (to May 2021) Dr K McKnight BSc, MA (Cantab), BM BCh (Oxon), FRCP (to May 2022) Prof. R Millar, MA (Cantab), DPhil, CEng, FBCS, CITP, FHEA (to May 2021) Mr B Roden, BSc, FCA (to May 2021) Parent Governors: Mr K Swarbrick, BA, MA, FCA, MAPM (to December 2021) Mrs A Zacharopoulou, LLB, LLM, PGCUT, SFHEA (to December 2021) Teacher Governor: Dr J King, MA, PGCE, PhD (to December 2021) Department of Education Nominated Governors: Mr G Gray, BSc, PGCE, CSci(teach) (to December 2021) Mr L Johnston, BEd, DASE, Adv Dip Ed (to December 2021) Ms D Kiley, LLB, CPLS (to December 2021) Mr K Kilpatrick, BA, PG Dip Comp Sci, MEd, PG Cert Management (to December 2021) Mr WK Mo, BA, ILM (to December 2021) Mr G Wills, BSc, MArch, ARB, RIBA (to December 2021) Principal Mrs C Weir, BA, MSc, PGCE, PQH Secretary to the Board of Governors Mrs M McCaughey, BSSc, PGCE, PGDip, FinAcc (School Bursar) Miss E Hull BSc, PGDip, FCA (School Bursar) Office Bearers Chairman Mr M Finlay Vice Chairman Prof R Millar Convenor of Education Committee Prof R Millar Convenor of Human Resources Committee Ms D Kiley Convenor of Finance Committee Mr K Swarbrick Convenor of Health and Safety Committee TBC Convenor of Grounds, Property and Development Committee Mr G Wills Convenor of Audit Committee Prof R Millar Convenor of Admissions Committee Mr M Finlay Convenor of Appeals Committee Mr M Finlay 5 Ethos and Aims of Belfast High School Belfast High School is a co-educational voluntary grammar school, controlled by a Board of Governors. It was founded in 1854 by John Pyper on a site near Carlisle Circus in Belfast. The School moved to its present location in Jordanstown in 1963 and now occupies a 32-acre site on the north shore of Belfast Lough. It is a school which is forward-looking and innovative while retaining the values and tradition of its founders and has a reputation as one of the leading grammar schools in the country. Ethos To develop each person to be the best that he or she can be in an atmosphere of civilised tolerance. Aims To provide a broad, balanced and coherent curriculum which suits the needs of all pupils in a changing society and which encourages each pupil in his or her intellectual, cultural, aesthetic and physical development. To instil in each pupil the determination to strive in all activities, academic and otherwise to achieve his or her own level of excellence. To encourage in pupils a respect for religious and moral values. To create a caring environment in which the needs of each pupil are considered. To foster social attitudes which will enable each pupil to take his or her place as a responsible member of the community. To value and respect everyone, recognise their strengths and differences, encourage them to develop their skills and abilities and have a positive attitude to each and every member of our community. To develop the three-way partnership (parent-pupil-school) to enable our pupils to attain their full potential. To prepare our pupils for the challenges and opportunities of the fast-paced C21st world. 6 Enrolment, Admissions and Attendance Enrolment The enrolment for 2019-20 was 935 pupils (DENI census 2019). Admissions The admissions number for Year 8 was 136. The table below shows the number who applied and who were admitted over the past 3 years: Admissions Total Applications Appeals Total Year Number All Preferences Upheld Admissions 2018-19 136 194 0 136 2019-20 136 170 0 136 2020-21 136 211 2 142* *includes 4 pupils with a statement of special educational needs Attendance The Annual Attendance Rate for 2019-20, calculated in the manner set down by the Department of Education was 96%. 7 School Activities and Achievements The Board of Governors of Belfast High School is pleased to present the Annual Report for the period May 2019 to June 2020. The Report begins with a review of the public examination results which were published in August 2020. There has been a lot of commentary around the ‘examination’ arrangements this year but for Belfast High School pupils their level of achievement was, once again, of an outstanding standard. At A Level 35 pupils, almost one third of the year group, achieved at least 3 x A grades (58 x A* and 53 x A in total). Our top 3 performers at A Level, Rose Dykes, Andrew Huey and Talula Reid were each awarded 4 x A* grades. St John’s College Oxford is the next destination for all 3 pupils, where they will read Chemistry, Engineering Science and European and Middle Eastern Languages respectively. Congratulations also go to Josh Scott who will read Law at Oriel College, Oxford. Our A Level pupils achieved a 100% pass rate in 3 or more subjects with 99% of all entries resulting in an A*-C grade. At AS level we are delighted with the results overall and they give an indicator of a very strong performance at A Level in 2021 with the top performing 31 pupils each achieving at least 3 x A grades (100 x A grades in total). At GCSE level 97.5% of all entries resulted in a C grade or better, matching the results achieved by our pupils in 2019. Thirty-five pupils achieved at least 9 x A grades (190 x A* and 143 x A grades in total).