Board of Governors' Report 2018
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BOARD OF GOVERNORS’ REPORT 2018-19 _______________________________________ Belfast High School November 2019 CONTENTS Chairman’s Foreword Board of Governors’ Discharge of Function in Relation to the School Membership of the Board of Governors 2018-19 Ethos and Vision of Belfast High School Enrolment, Admissions and Attendance School Activities/Pupil Achievements Examination Results 2018-19 School Leavers’ Destinations 2018-19 Curriculum Pastoral Care, Safeguarding and SEN Security of Pupils, Staff and Premises Links with the Community Financial Statement School Development Days 2018-19 School Policies 2 Chairman’s Foreword As Chairperson of the Board of Governors of Belfast High School, it is my pleasure and privilege to introduce the school’s annual report for the academic year 2018-19. We live in a world that is constantly changing – when will Brexit happen, will Brexit happen, and what will the consequences be. Most of us use technology that even a few years ago would have seemed beyond our imagination and if we stop to think for a moment what the world will look like in 2026 when our current Year 8 pupils finish their time in Belfast High School it can become a little frightening. It is therefore more important than ever that we continue to provide our pupils with the best possible education both in the classroom and through the many and varied extra-curricular activities which Belfast High School provides, and I hope as you read this report you will be inspired as we celebrate many of the achievements of our pupils over the past year. As well as constant change all schools continue to operate under severe financial pressure and we would like to thank all the staff for their commitment to the school in these challenging times and their continuing desire to provide our pupils with the best possible opportunity for them to reach their full potential and their aspiration to instil in each pupil the determination to strive in all activities, academic and otherwise, to achieve his or her own level of excellence. We acknowledge the very strong examination performances by our pupils; at A Level the 78% 3xA*-C passes places us in line with the NI Grammar School Average and at GCSE the 94% 7xA*- C passes including English and Maths places us above the NI Grammar School Average. 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. Finally, we would like to thank Mrs Weir for her leadership of the school and offer our warm congratulations on a very successful first year as full time Principal and we look forward to seeing Belfast High continue to go from strength to strength. 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 2018 to June 2019. Minutes were taken at all meetings and circulated to members. The Board Sub Committees are: Education Human Resources 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 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 2018-19 Member Governors: Mr M Finlay, BSSc (to May 2022) Mrs J McDermott, PG CIPD Strategic HR, CIPD TP and Cert Crim Law (to December 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) 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 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 2018-19 was 914 pupils (DENI census 2018). 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 2017-18 136 187 0 138* 2018-19 136 194 0 136 2019-20 136 170 0 136 *includes 2 pupils with a statement of special educational needs Attendance The Annual Attendance Rate for 2018-19, calculated in the manner set down by the Department of Education was 95.5% 7 School Activities and Achievements The Board of Governors of Belfast High School is pleased to present the Annual Report for the academic year 2018-2019. The Report begins with a review of the public examination results which were published in August 2019. The class of 2019 left us with another very strong set of results for the school with 92% of all entries awarded at grades A*-C, 70% of entries A*-B and 39% of all entries an A or A*. In a year group of 100 pupils, our top 20 pupils achieved 23 A* and 40 A grades between them. Special congratulations go to our 2 top performing pupils - Dieon Karikunnel who achieved 4A* grades and Adam Crilly who achieved 3A* and 1 A grade. Our pupils have gone on to an ever more diverse range of destinations: some have continued their studies at universities across the UK and Ireland, have taken up apprenticeships with organisations as diverse as PWC and the Scripture Union, gone to teach English in Chile and Senegal through Project Trust or taken up a scholarship in the United States.