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Excellence through Care Our Lady and St Patrick s College Knock PROSPECTUS
Welcome Our College is a very special place and our students staff and governors are exceptional people Our Lady and St Patrick s College Knock provides a strong dynamic education in which students are valued as individuals with a culture of celebrating achievement We are proud of and build upon a distinguished history combining innovation with the best traditions of Catholic education Our state of the art facilities are put to constant use through various events exhibitions drama performances orchestras sports debating and community involvement We are ambitious for our students From the day they join us they will experience an enrichment package enhanced by our solid links with top universities and established businesses For our students education the classroom is just the beginning Our prospectus and accompanying information booklet will give you a flavour of the established success of our school and the many ways that we maximise opportunities for our students with the aim that they become independent innovative life long learners Our pursuit of academic success is built on a solid foundation of excellent and supportive teaching We are dedicated to developing leadership and independence in each of our students important attributes that they will use and value throughout their lives We listen to and act upon our students views and they play an important role in shaping decisions within the College Deborah McLaughlin Principal 1 PROSPECTUS
College History and Tradition Our Lady and St Patrick s College Knock was founded as a Diocesan Co Educational Voluntary Catholic Grammar School in 1985 with the amalgamation of the Sacred Heart of Mary Grammar School Holywood Co Down and St Patrick s College Knock The College is situated in its own spacious 18 acre site in the Cherryvalley district of Belfast Students come to the College from a wide area covering South and East Belfast North Down and Ards The rural and urban catchment area has the advantage of allowing young people from diverse backgrounds to mix and make friendships As students of Our Lady and St Patrick s they are all assured access to a comprehensive and progressive curriculum with an extensive range of extra curricular activities Our Lady and St Patrick s College Knock We are very aware that young people have varied needs and gifts and our aim is to meet the former whilst helping them develop the latter They need personal support as well as a firm academic framework encouragement to enjoy their leisure and the worlds of art culture and sport as well as the challenge of intellectual discipline the opportunity not only to succeed themselves but also to serve and perhaps to lead 2 Our committed staff and range of facilities allow us to cater for almost all of our students interests be they popular or specialist The College s Pastoral Care system based on Tutor Groups helps each boy and girl grow towards maturity We are a vibrant school proud of what we have achieved and in this rapidly changing world we are constantly seeking better ways of preparing our students to meet its demands
Catholic Ethos As a Catholic Grammar School one of our aims is to build on the faith already laid down in the home The Religious Education Department of Our Lady and St Patrick s College Knock has as its primary objective the development of the student s spirituality in order to prepare him or her for life A comprehensive programme has been designed to meet all the needs of the young person This programme has a strong pastoral dimension including a Retreat experience The Religious Education Department also seeks to promote awareness sensitivity and respect for other sincerely held beliefs Community worship is at the heart of College life The College Oratory provides a place for meditation and worship We conduct liturgical services throughout the year Advent Prayer Services Lenten Penitential Services Tutor Group Masses The College has a Chaplin and Lay Chaplain who together with a Chaplaincy team of students lead a weekly Prayer Group and liturgies throughout the year and organise our fund raising campaigns As part of their curriculum all students study Religious Education and it is a core compulsory subject at GCSE 3 PROSPECTUS
Academic Excellence First and foremost we are proud of our strong academic record The fact that year after year our examination outcomes are significantly above national averages and that we add value to every young person s potential shows that we are a very successful school This success is nurtured by a relentless quest to improve what we do It is also built on our blend of academic rigour combined with a determination to challenge all groups of learners regardless of their starting points We have a high reputation for the quality of teaching and learning It is this ambition combined with care for the individual student that underpins the continued success of our students Our Lady and St Patrick s College Knock 4
Transition The College is separated into three phases enabling us to tailor all aspects of our curriculum and enrichment Junior School Key Stage 3 Years 8 9 and 10 Senior School Key Stage 4 Years 11 and 12 and Upper School Sixth Form Years 13 and 14 Transition from Primary School to Grammar School is extremely important in Our Lady and St Patrick s College Knock It is such a fundamental aspect of making students successful independent learners throughout their school life We pay particular attention to how students settle in and enjoy their transition period between Years 7 and 8 Students have their own Tutor who takes them through our Induction and Personal Development programmes Junior School students have their own lunch time and our Sixth Form students provide leadership to our younger students through a very successful peer mentoring structure engaging styles supported by robust tracking and monitoring We run extensive programmes for study support Homework Club revision classes and individual student support sessions The curriculum offer is balanced and challenging and is taught in a number of interactive and My experience at Knock has been great Our teachers are very helpful and our Year 13 Mentors have really made us feel part of the school Making friends has been easy and there is something for everyone Sarah Year 9 5 PROSPECTUS
Enrichment We have a strong emphasis on enrichment and educating the whole child and it is our expectation that students get involved in extra curricular activities We host wonderful plays musicals and concerts with our orchestras and various ensembles and bands for our own students and the wider school community We celebrate the creativity of our students through Drama and Art exhibitions The Duke of Edinburgh Award John Paul II Award Bar Mock Trial and Pramerica Community service scheme are established successes here and our haul of trophies from regional and national sporting events is a real testament to our strong sporting tradition Departments are encouraged to organise activities which include an annual ski trip educational and sports visits to USA China and Europe OLSPCK is a great school whether you like sports arts or the academic side of school The sports facilities here are amazing the library has a wide variety of books and the classrooms are a great place to study Our Lady and St Patrick s College Knock 6 Lucy Year 10
Sixth Form The Upper School Sixth Form at Our Lady and St Patrick s College Knock is an exciting place to study We offer our students academic rigour and challenge as well as providing them with the grounding and opportunity to be the leaders of the future Students have a wide range of choices with over twenty five A Level courses on offer as well as enrichment classes in Mandarin Work in the Upper School is demanding and student achievement and attainment are high Most students study four AS Levels taking three through to full A Level The majority of our students progress on to Higher Education many of which attend Russell Group universities We have a comprehensive Careers and work experience programme to support their ongoing education and ensure their future study and career success We offer a wide variety of enrichment activities including academic visits voluntary work clubs and talks from guest speakers Students can build up their enrichment hours through volunteering in the school community and have leadership opportunities to be Prefects and Peer Mentors supporting younger students through their studies They have dedicated study areas and a common room in which to socialise 7 PROSPECTUS
Inspiring Confidence The learning environment is a visual statement to parents staff and students of the high expectations that the College sets for the whole of its community Our purpose is to try and go beyond what we believe to be possible by embracing modern technology and using space creatively to maximise learning opportunities Our school building and facilities are the third teacher after parents and our staff OLSPCK is a safe and nurturing environment for our children where they can learn and grow in confidence with opportunities to develop their social and sporting interests while achieving academically Year 13 Parent Our Lady and St Patrick s College Knock 8
Inspiring Success Success means different things to different people and every student is encouraged to be successful in his or her own way For us success starts with providing an atmosphere where the emotional needs of every person are met and where everyone is given a wide range of opportunities to develop existing talents or discover new ones At Our Lady and St Patrick s College Knock we find a way to reward young people whether in academic performance sporting triumph artistic and musical accomplishment or in any of the activities we provide However we think our greatest success lies in our ability to help produce resilient balanced rounded individuals who are equipped to deal with the wider world and can contribute to the common good Gifted and Talented We recognise and nurture the talents of all our students A wide range of enrichment and extension activities are built into our everyday lessons and the personalisation and target setting arrangements in individual subjects ensure that we cater for gifted and talented students Our programmes of subject learning accelerated classes sports and music as well as our leadership activities and university visits offer our gifted and talented students a wide variety of opportunities 9 PROSPECTUS
Community By developing their sense of community cultural awareness respect and tolerance of differences we help our students to take their place in society Students participate enthusiastically in the development of the school fund raising for charitable causes and are active in the local community building their self belief self esteem leadership skills and community spirit We have been helping older people in our community it is lovely to hear their stories about when they were young Denis Year 13 Our Lady and St Patrick s College Knock 10
Pastoral Care at Knock is outstanding The members of the Pastoral Team who have supported our family have demonstrated judgement commitment and great warmth Year 11 Parent Values The College works with parents to develop these values in students Determination Resilience Self control Curiosity Finish tasks pay attention ask questions remain calm be positive be eager to explore and value hard work Optimism Enthusiasm Gratitude Creativity Confidence Actively participate show enthusiasm and confidence appreciate others appreciate opportunities pursue goals and develop new ideas Humility Respect Sensitivity Respect the feelings of others include others be polite be loyal be tolerant volunteer find solutions during conflict and contribute to society locally and internationally Aspire Achieve Be proud of personal achievements set high standards make best use of talents and resources and produce work of the highest quality Emotional Intelligence Excellence 11 PROSPECTUS
Exploring Possibilities Our Lady and St Patrick s College Knock cares for young people in a way that encourages them to develop to their full potential within a supportive Christian community We seek to prepare our students to play an active and responsible role in society and to use their talents for the service of others This Mission Statement guides us in the task of enabling our students to realise their full potential It stresses the importance of relationships Students are to be cared for and their talents developed in a harmonious manner They are to be encouraged to use these talents for the benefit of others Our Lady and St Patrick s College Knock 12
Beyond the Classroom Athletics Badminton Bar Mock Trial Competition Basketball Camogie Chamber Choir Chaplaincy Group Coding Club Community Service Group Cookery Club Cross country Debating Deutscher Klub Drama Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme Dungeons and Dragons Club Flute Ensemble Folk Group Gaelic Football boys and girls Geography Club Golf Homework Club Hurling John Paul II Award Junior and Senior Choirs Junior and Senior Orchestras Justice Group Lego Club Life Group Musical Theatre Club Netball Outdoor Pursuits Prayer Group Rugby School Magazine Soccer boys and girls School Productions Ski Club St Vincent de Paul STEM Club String Quartet Traditional Music Group Tr caire Ulster Project Young Enterprise Young Apprentice I will always be grateful for the opportunities that Our Lady and St Patrick s College Knock gave me Peter former student 13 PROSPECTUS
Parents and the College Regular contact with parents and carers is maintained throughout a student s time at the College Written reports are sent to parents annually and meetings are held to discuss the academic and social development of all students If at any time parents are concerned about their son or daughter they are encouraged to contact the College immediately A calendar of events is listed in the Student Planner which is given to each student at the beginning of the academic year The Student Planner contains details of all parent teacher meetings advice on the amount of time to be spent doing homework dates of examinations deadlines for the coursework components of GCSE and A Level examinations dates of field trips and when the terms begin and end Parents of Year 10 and 12 students have the opportunity to meet Careers staff Tutors subject teachers and Heads of Department on Options Days as these students prepare to choose their GCSE and A Level subjects Communiqu a twice yearly newsletter keeps parents informed about the life of the College A regular e bulletin to parents and our text message service are used to maintain links between school and home Parents are urged Our Lady and St Patrick s College Knock 14 to ensure that they receive and read the newsletters Parents can consult the College website at www knock co uk for details of admissions criteria school events calendars policies and procedures Parents are encouraged to support and play an active part in our Parent Teacher Association which organises a number of events each year with the aim of furthering the positive relationship between home and school
The College has simply exceeded our expectations from day one Our children are challenged to do their best in every field of endeavour 15 Year 10 Parent PROSPECTUS
College and Management Information Our Lady and St Patrick s College Knock is an 11 19 Catholic Voluntary Co Educational Grammar School under the trusteeship of the Down and Connor Diocese Postal Address 120 Gilnahirk Road Belfast Co Down BT5 7DL Chairperson of the Board of Governors Mr Leo O Reilly Telephone 028 9040 1184 College Enrolment 1330 students Principal Miss Deborah McLaughlin Email Year 8 Admissions info knock co uk 190 students Website www knock co uk College Colours Blue Black and White School Times School opens 8 00 am Morning Registration 9 20 am Classes begin 9 30 am Morning Break 11 05 am 11 20 am Junior Lunch 12 50 pm 1 25 pm Senior Lunch 1 25 pm 2 00 pm Classes end Our Lady and St Patrick s College Knock 16 3 34 pm
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www knoc k co uk