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THE ACADEMY PROSPECTUS 2021 ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE TOGETHER THE ACADEMY PROSPECTUS 2021 2 Contents Dear Parents 4 Pastoral Care 16 Sporting Life 28 A Rich and Varied Bigger and Better 18 Enriching the Curriculum 5 Curriculum 31 Dining Facilities 20 Achieving Music and Drama 33 Excellence Together 9 OnlineLearning the Opportunities Academy Way 22 Near and Far 36 Pathway to success 10 Parental Leadership and Past Pupils - Partnerships 24 Personal Development 37 where are they now? 13 State-of-the-art Religious Education Uniform 15 Facilities 25 and Spiritual Growth 38 THE ACADEMY PROSPECTUS 2021 3 THE ACADEMY PROSPECTUS 2021 4 Dear parents and P7 pupils I am delighted that you are considering curricular activities are permitted to re- transferring to St Patrick’s Academy start and we have every reason to expect in September 2021. The past that our new Year 8s in 2021 will be able few months have brought many to experience the best of Academy life. challenges for everyone and at the Academy we have worked together At the Academy we blend tradition to keep the school opened and to with progress. The fundamentals maintain continuity of learning. of the Catholic Ethos and Gaelic culture remain core values of the The ethos of the school comes to the school combined with enlightened fore in times of challenge – putting the attitudes to learning, outward looking children first and going the extra mile to ambitions and tolerance for diversity. meet their needs. So, on-line learning with live lessons accessed from home We are a school that never stands still; have become the norm when so many we are always striving to improve what pupils have been in isolation. The we do and to offer the best of everything. changes of the past year have brought I am confident that if you choose the some unexpected benefits and we are Academy you will not be disappointed. now working to integrate these into our daily structure for September 2021. We are all looking forward to the full richness of Academy life resuming when our sports, music, drama, debating and all of the other extra- Principal Fintan Donnelly THE ACADEMY PROSPECTUS 2021 5 A Rich and Varied Curriculum The Academy’s curriculum is broad and balanced. We want to ensure that all pupils, no matter their starting points, backgrounds, or individual needs, are afforded the same ambitious curriculum and an equal chance to succeed. Our provision goes beyond the requirements of the Northern Ireland Curriculum whilst, at the same time, maximising opportunities for the greatest number of students. We are able to accommodate the choices of the vast majority of pupils. You will be reassured to know that in an era of great change, we maintain a solid grammar school curriculum with a strong emphasis on English, Mathematics, the Sciences, Languages and Humanities, but we complement this with one of the widest ranges of new courses available locally. We embrace areas such as: IT, Business, Media, Performing Arts, Social Sciences, Health & Social Care, Environmental Technology and Engineering, so as to equip our young people for the future with the right blend of knowledge, understanding and skills. THE ACADEMY 6 PROSPECTUS 2021 A Rich and Varied Curriculum Subject options at KS4 are fully flexible, affording pupils the opportunity to take the subjects most suited to their needs and aspirations. This is supported by our extensive careers education programme which aims to support pupils in recognising their skills and qualities and matching them to the most suitable courses. We spend a lot of time with pupils discussing subject choice both at GCSE and A Level. Subject options at post-16 are designed (i) to ensure that the subject requirements of all third level courses are met (ii) to reflect pupil demand and (iii) to provide opportunities for each pupil to develop the skills and attributes needed to contribute fully to society in adult life. The majority of our pupils will take As a grammar school we continue to place a strong emphasis on academic rigour and on nine subjects to GCSE, but there preparing our pupils for quality university courses, yet we equally encourage pupils to consider are opportunities for students the new opportunities that are open to them such as apprenticeships and foundation degrees. to take ten or more subjects. THE ACADEMY PROSPECTUS 2021 7 KS3 GCSE A Level Art & Design Additional Mathematics Irish Accounting Information Technology Careers Education Art & Design Italian Applied Health and Social care Life & Health Science Drama Business Studies Journalism Art & Design Mathematics English Careers Education Learning for Life & Work Biology Media Studies French (not examined) Mathematics Business Studies Music Digital Technology – Multimedia Geography Media Studies Careers Education Nutrition and Food Science Digital Technology – History Music (not examined) Performing Arts Programming Chemistry Home Economics Physical Education Physical Education Double Award Science Digital Technology ICT Religious Education (not examined) Drama Economics* Physics Irish Single Award Science Engineering Engineering (BTEC) Psychology Mathematics Spanish English Language English Literature Religious Studies Music Technology and Design English Literature Environmental Technology Sociology Physical Education Triple Award Science Food and Nutrition French Software Systems Development Personal Development French & Citizenship Further Mathematics Spanish* Further Maths Religious Education General RE (not examined) Sports Studies Geography Science Geography Technology and Design History Technology Government & Politics History Irish *Subject available through ALC THE ACADEMY PROSPECTUS 2021 8 THE ART OF SUCCESS THE ACADEMY 9 PROSPECTUS 2021 Achieving Excellence Together The Academy has a long tradition produce excellent results year on year. in producing academic excellence While the rigour of traditional A’ Level and we pride ourselves in subjects has undoubtedly increased, maintaining that tradition. it is pleasing to see so many of our pupils still performing at a high level We achieve it by nurturing relationships and gaining access to the most and creating an environment where competitive university courses and children are happy. We know that when apprenticeship degree programs. children are happy, they thrive. With supportive teaching and innovative While examination results are not approaches, we develop a culture of everything, we all know that good In 2020, 100% of our GCSE pupils achieved A*- C in English and Maths. learning that produces outstanding results greatly improve a young person’s At A ‘Level we continue to have great success with results year after year. We work hard life chances, so academic excellence is 96% of all grades in the A*- C band. to raise the standards for every child something that we will not compromise regardless of his or her particular on. At the same time, we are conscious strengths and we work to add value that life chances are enhanced through to the performance of every pupil. We the development of wider skills in are always responding to changing teamwork, communication, decision economic conditions as the skills and making, interpersonal relations and qualifications needed for the 2020s and personal presentation. We invest in all beyond are very different from those of these for our pupils and any young that were needed a generation ago. person coming out of the Academy will have the academic achievement We strive to maintain high standards of but will also have the skills and performance and our pupils continue to qualities needed to succeed in life. THE ACADEMY PROSPECTUS 2021 10 Pathway to success We believe that it takes more than good grades to achieve success in life and we believe that through our tailored careers programme, we can help students develop the knowledge, skills, qualities and attitudes which give them a strong foundation for lifelong learning and work in a rapidly changing economic environment. The school has strong and ever-widening links with both universities and local business and offers work- related learning opportunities through a range of industry visits and in-school talks and events. A school- based work experience programme is in place for all Year 13 pupils. Job applications and interview skills play a prominent role in careers lessons from year 12 onwards and our own mock interview programme has been hugely successful in helping our students secure places in the most competitive university courses including those in Oxford and Cambridge, where a number of our past pupils are currently studying. Past pupil and Ryanair pilot Niall Colgan made the perfect landing in the Academy to give our students a superb presentation on what it takes to make it in the aviation industry. THE ACADEMY PROSPECTUS 2021 11 Pathway to success STEM MEGA Unifrog At St Patrick’s Academy, we continue A portfolio of innovative and This year, the school is delighted to be In keeping with our commitment to to invest in the workforce of the exciting programmes and activities taking part in the MEGA Ambassador provide students with tailored careers future; raising young people’s skills, are organised to enthuse and programme. Manufacturing & guidance and support when choosing aspirations and knowledge of STEM. engage our students in STEM; Engineering Growth & Advancement their next step after school, we are (MEGA) has been established to ensure using Unifrog; an award-winning, online It is envisaged that as the world Career mornings the manufacturing and engineering careers platform. All students in Years becomes more dependent on industry in Mid-Ulster has a continuous 10, 12, 13 and 14 now have access to ALMAC student placements technology that the range of businesses skilled talent pipeline and that our young this highly valuable website. Unifrog and industries involving science, W5 Analysing DNA workshop people are aware of the range of careers makes it easy for students to compare technology, engineering, and maths RSC/QUB ‘Chemistry in a Suitcase’ in this field.