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2023 Prospectus - Omagh Academy

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PROSPECTUS Omagh Academy Inspire Empower Achieve Since 1903

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Inspire Welcome 4 Who we are 6 Our School Our Ethos 7 Empower In the Classroom 10 Careers Guidance 12 Beyond the Classroom 14 Music 16 Sport 18 Nurturing Potential 20 Inspire Empower Achieve Achieve Celebrating Success 24 Creating Community 26 Looking to the future 28 Stop Press 31 2 omaghacademy com InspireEmpowerAchieve 3

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Inspire Empower Achieve Welcome to Omagh Academy Since its foundation in 1903 Omagh Academy has been closely identified with the town however our pupils also come from a wide geographical area and from all religious and ethnic backgrounds The school community aims for excellence combining technological advances and innovative approaches to learning and teaching with the best traditional values and standards of behaviour We take pride in the many achievements of present and past pupils Our pupils are among the highest achievers in public examinations in Northern Ireland and are successful in gaining admission to the top universities Former pupils of Omagh Academy can be found playing important roles in many countries and settings and making significant and valuable contributions to their communities 4 omaghacademy com Pupils flourish when they are happy and well motivated and it is important for each boy and girl to have the freedom to develop as an individual We therefore ensure that pastoral care has a high priority and our pupils enjoy learning in a friendly caring and responsive social environment We value our relationships with parents and strive to develop a sense of partnership within and beyond the school community Special emphasis is placed on fostering a sense of responsibility among pupils and on cultivating leadership skills in combination with an attitude of service to others We also value the links that we have developed with other schools locally nationally and especially internationally Our commitment to the development of the young person as a well rounded individual is reflected in the numerous cultural and sporting activities that continue outside the classroom and beyond the normal school day Omagh Academy provides a modern curriculum and a rich educational experience that extends beyond traditional academic subjects to include a range of more practically based courses and excellent extracurricular provision We feel that pupils leave our school with a head start in life I hope that you find the snapshot of life at Omagh Academy offered in this prospectus interesting and informative and I look forward to welcoming you to our school Mrs Ruth Maxwell Principal InspireEmpowerAchieve 5

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Inspire Empower Achieve Omagh Academy is a coeducational controlled grammar school It is open to all and welcomes applications from boys and girls throughout the Omagh area and beyond Our School Our Ethos Established in 1903 the school building occupies a central location in the town Our distinctive navy and gold uniforms are easily recognised throughout Omagh and Northern Ireland We continue to promote the values of integrity resilience and confidence encouraging the young people entrusted to our care to develop their gifts and talents and to achieve the highest academic standards according to their ability Our Crest Our crest carries the motto Veritas Vincet and we believe that its meaning truth prevails is still relevant for 21st Century education We believe that the interests of our school community are fostered and developed by a balanced education based on Christian values and mutual respect We promote excellence in all our endeavours acknowledging that growth and potential are experienced when we work together To find out more about our ethos scan this code or visit omaghacademy com our ethos 6 omaghacademy com InspireEmpowerAchieve 7

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Inspire Empower Achieve In the classroom Omagh Academy is proud of our talented and dedicated staff who deliver a diverse and varied range of subjects We want our pupils to aspire to achieve great things and we encourage them to work in partnership with staff and take responsibility for their learning The subjects we offer at different stages of school life are To find out more about subjects at Omagh Academy scan this code or visit omaghacademy com departments 10 omaghacademy com Key Stage 3 Years 8 10 Key Stage 4 Years 11 12 Sixth Form Years 13 14 Art Design Drama English French Geography History Home Economics ICT Learning for Life Work Mathematics Music Physical Education Religious Education Science Spanish Technology Design Agriculture Land Use Art Design Business Studies Digital Technology Multimedia Digital Technology Programming English Language English Literature Food Nutrition French Further Mathematics Geography History Mathematics Music Performing Arts Physical Education Religious Studies Science Double Award Spanish Triple Award Biology Triple Award Chemistry Triple Award Physics Technology Design Agriculture Applied Science Art Design Biology Business Studies Chemistry Digital Technology English Literature French Geography Health Social Care History Hospitality Management Mathematics Media Games Music Nutrition Food Science Physics Politics Psychology Religious Studies Spanish Sports Studies Technology Design InspireEmpowerAchieve 11

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Inspire Empower Achieve Careers Guidance We have a dedicated team of staff who prepare our students for the world of work Many of our students continue to third level education courses and many also follow vocational pathways and choose to complete apprenticeships It is very encouraging as we observe our students throughout their time at Omagh Academy we watch with pride as they develop skills and attributes which shape their future careers 12 omaghacademy com To find out more about the Careers Department at Omagh Academy scan this code or visit omaghacademy com careers department To see more of life at Omagh Academy scan this code or visit omaghacademy com gallery InspireEmpowerAchieve 13

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Inspire Empower Achieve Beyond the classroom We believe that involvement in activities beyond the classroom is very important and that it contributes to an enriching and satisfying time at school Not only are new skills discovered but new friendships are made We believe that balancing academic life with extracurricular involvement is essential for creating good wellbeing habits We offer a wide variety of clubs and societies which meet weekly Byte This AILO Club ICT Club Science Club Blast from Senior Choir the Past History Club Senior Scripture Union Brass Band Omagh Junior Drama Academy Players Junior Choir Junior Scripture Community Eco Schools Duke of Union To find out more about extra curricular activities at Omagh Academy scan this code or visit omaghacademy com extra curricular Care Edinburgh Award Scheme Games Club GrassRoots Agriculture Club Mandarin Psychology Society Young Classes Enterprise Netball Equestrian Club 14 omaghacademy com InspireEmpowerAchieve 15

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Inspire Empower Achieve Music The Music Department is a busy place and offers so many opportunities to our students A team of instrumental tutors visits the school every week offering expert tuition in a range of instruments Pupils can avail of lessons even if they have not begun lessons in primary school It s never too late to learn an instrument Please speak to a member of the Music Department to find out more To find out more about musical opportunities scan this code or visit omaghacademy com musi extra 16 omaghacademy com Tuition is available in We enjoy fantastic community support and love to see our pupils involved in a variety of performance opportunities covering a range of musical styles There really is something for everyone Piano Oboe Singing Bassoon Guitar Cornet Snare Drum Trumpet Bagpipes Tenor Horn Our pupils have been on stage as members of Violin French Horn Viola Baritone Senior Choir Cello Euphonium Flute Trombone Clarinet Tuba Pupils are encouraged to develop their gifts and talents in Music by joining one of the many ensembles A highlight of the school calendar is the annual Spring Concert which takes place in the Strule Arts Centre In fact this event is so popular that tickets are sold out weeks in advance Junior Choir Orchestra Brass Band Guitar Ensemble Woodwind Ensemble String Orchestra Samba Band We love to follow the success of our past musicians and see how they have performed on the stages of many prestigious concert halls The opportunities are endless Djembe Drumming Circle Ukulele Orchestra Pipes Drums Musical Theatre Ensemble Rock Band Percussion Ensemble InspireEmpowerAchieve 17

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Inspire Empower Achieve Sport Aerobics Hockey Athletics Netball Badminton Rounders softball Basketball Cricket Cross country Fitness training Football Golf Gymnastics Rugby Swimming Tag Rugby Table Tennis Tennis Volleyball To find out more about sporting activities scan this code or visit omaghacademy com sport extra 18 omaghacademy com Aside from weekly lessons in PE and Games our students are offered an unrivalled range of sporting opportunities The sports pitches at Campsie are busy every day after school and it is fantastic to see junior and senior pupils participating in sport Our on site fitness centre offers state of the art training facilities to all our senior pupils and they also enjoy the facilities at Omagh Leisure Centre We wish to see our students involved in sport whether as a beginner or a proficient athlete and know that health and wellbeing are enhanced by these opportunities We compete in Rugby and Hockey tournaments fielding as many as 10 teams each week for fixtures with schools across the province Our Football teams play in the Schools Cup competitions and we also have much success in Athletics in the summer season with pupils competing and winning medals at Ulster and Ireland events InspireEmpowerAchieve 19

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Inspire Empower Achieve Pastoral Care Nurturing Potential High standards of Pastoral Care pervade all areas of Omagh Academy life We view our students progress holistically not merely content with strong academic scores but desire that each student feels safe is cared for and that their emotional needs are supported The Pastoral Team led by Vice Principal Miss Faris exists to ensure that a warm caring and safe environment exists within our school Each class has a Form Teacher who meets with his her class every morning This daily contact allows for detailed knowledge of the academic and wellbeing needs of the pupils and provides guidance and encouragement with opportunities to build good relationships The Year Head has overall responsibility for the year group monitoring attendance behaviour and academic progress and is the first point of contact 20 omaghacademy com between school and home The Year Head continues to give pastoral support to their assigned year group throughout their time at Omagh Academy Safeguarding Omagh Academy treats safeguarding seriously We have a suite of pastoral policies which regulate practice and a team of Designated Teachers for Child Protection who work with external agencies on various matters relating to safeguarding The School Counsellor is present in school every week and is available for any pupil who wishes to make an appointment To find out more about pastoral care scan this code or visit omaghacademy com pastoral Support Pupil Leadership We want our pupils to thrive and we seek to provide support to ensure that they reach their potential The community of students is led by the Head Girl and Head Boy and a team of Senior Prefects We value their support and creative input into the running of the school week The school s Learning Support Coordinator works in collaboration with pupils staff parents and professionals to identify and assess the special needs of pupils Effective intervention strategies to aid learning are then devised agreed and shared through the pupil s Individual Educational Plan IEP These IEPs are regularly reviewed in order to monitor both the pupil s progress and improve the effectiveness of the support provided To promote good learning habits and understanding we provide Literacy and Numeracy Support Senior pupils are also involved in a mentoring scheme where they work alongside younger pupils and provide mathematics support We also ensure that every pupil receives key stage appropriate training in study skills and approaches to revision School Council also provides opportunities for pupil input into the life of the school The Council meets once a month and is made up of representatives from all twenty eight form classes across the school Members play an important role in shaping new policies plus building relationships with Staff and Governors Council also takes the lead in sharing good practice with classes about important topics including AntiBullying and using Social Media safely Representatives from the School Council are also members of the Strule Shared Education Student Council which meets termly InspireEmpowerAchieve 21

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Inspire Empower Achieve 22 omaghacademy com InspireEmpowerAchieve 23

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Inspire Empower Achieve Celebrating Success We celebrate success in the everyday events as well as in the extraordinary opportunities which our pupils enjoy Working well in class Submitting a great homework Achieving a high test score Promoting the school Taking part in events Showing kindness to others 24 omaghacademy com We recognise that these academic and pastoral achievements are important and contribute to making our pupils resilient empathetic and forward thinkers We share successes in Assemblies through our social media pages and in the printed press We reward success too Certificates merit trips vouchers and special presentations are just some of the ways we acknowledge our students At GCSE and A Level stages it seems that the stakes are higher but good foundations have been created and our pupils are confident and prepared for all possibilities Our annual Prize Day in September is a special event where we reward achievements Omagh Academy is measured against educational benchmarks and we enjoy a strong reputation throughout Northern Ireland but we measure the success of the individual celebrating the gifts and talents which makes each student unique and highly valued We are so proud of the achievements of our pupils and staff and we celebrate all their endeavours To find out more about how we celebrate our students and staff scan this code or visit omaghacademy com celebration of achievement InspireEmpowerAchieve 25

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Inspire Empower Achieve Creating Community An important aspect of Omagh Academy s success is found in the strong links which exist between school home and our local community We create community by valuing the strong foundations and excellence of the past whilst looking forward with enthusiasm to what our school can achieve in the future Connecting with the Community Connecting with our Alumni Recent examples include Perhaps you are a past pupil of Omagh Academy or know a past pupil We want to reconnect with you Click on our website to find out more Pen Pal initiative with residents in local Nursing Homes Providing Christmas Hampers for foodbanks in Omagh We value Connecting with Home Leading Music workshops at feeder Primary Schools Partnerships with families as we seek to nurture and guide our young people to be the best that they can be We keep in touch with our families in various ways Young Enterprise company visiting trade fairs Parent App School Gateway is a quick and easy way of sending messages emails reports and updates Teaching Modern Languages to Primary School pupils Social Media daily posts are added to our Facebook and Instagram channels Participating in workshops within our Shared Education Partnerships Website the hub for all information relating to our school Spring Concerts at Strule Arts Centre Connections made with local businesses schools churches and community organisations throughout Tyrone and beyond Links with former pupils discovering where their career path has led them and the impact they have made around the world Newsletters Magazines providing a record of school life throughout the term Carol Services at St Columba s Church Connecting with Charities Omagh Academy firmly believes in the importance of supporting the work of local charities We wish to instil in our pupils the necessity of reaching out to others and gaining awareness of support which is offered to all Fun Days non uniform days weekly collections quizzes sporting events and musical performances are some of the ways in which we ve recently raised money for a variety of worthy causes Air Ambulance NI Care for Cancer MS Society NSPCC Phone calls Parent Meetings providing a personal and focused approach to ensuring the potential of each one of our students is realised 26 omaghacademy com InspireEmpowerAchieve 27

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Inspire Empower Achieve Looking to the Future Joining Omagh Academy as a Year 8 pupil It is always an exciting time when we meet the new cohort of students who are beginning their post primary education at Omagh Academy We know that the move to big school is exciting but can also be a little daunting We aim to provide a smooth transition from primary school and we are committed to supporting pupils and their families through this process Omagh Academy has a dedicated pastoral team which focuses on Year 8 Led by the Year Head Mr Bingham and a team of form teachers we are grateful for the work and impact of the Year 8 Prefects who provide peer support to our new students 28 omaghacademy com We organise several events throughout the year which help to familiarise new pupils with the school setting We believe that these events are key to developing strong and supportive relationships which will last throughout their Omagh Academy journey Feeder Primary school visits Open Evening January February Year 8 Induction Evening June Year 8 Games Night August Year 8 Trip September Parent Teacher meetings first term Tracking Reports three times a year Study Skills Event We can t wait to meet you and look forward to you joining us and making your mark in the history of our school Joining Omagh Academy after Year 8 If you wish to join our school community at a later stage of your school career then why not contact our Principal Mrs Maxwell to consider your options and find out more We can arrange a tour of the school and opportunities to speak to staff who can provide curriculum and pastoral guidance to ensure your queries are answered Contact Us If you are interested in becoming a student at Omagh Academy then please do get in touch Come along to our Open Evening for Year 6 7 pupils Thursday 2nd February 2023 at 6 30pm The traditions established in past are important to us but we are excited for the future as we continue to provide first class education opportunities for the pupils in our locality 2023 is a significant year for Omagh Academy as we celebrate our 120th birthday Will you join us We look forward to meeting you Consider your options for Sixth Form and come to our Post 16 Subjects Evening Monday 13th February at 5 30pm InspireEmpowerAchieve 29

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STOP PRESS The Sunday Times 2023 Parent Power Schools Guide published on 11th December 2022 revealed that Omagh Academy is ranked in 11th place in Northern Ireland As a fantastic affirmation of the partnership between pupils staff and families and the success of the 2022 public examinations series Omagh Academy is ranked as 11th school in Northern Ireland and 83rd in the UK We are proud to be Omagh Academy Inspire Empower Achieve InspireEmpowerAchieve 31

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Omagh Academy Omagh Academy 21 23 Dublin Road Omagh Co Tyrone BT78 1HF 028 8224 2688 www omaghacademy com Keep in touch omaghacademy

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