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Ballycastle Prospectus

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BALLYCASTLE HIGH SCHOOL AN ALL ROUND SCHOOL

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Welcome Dear Pupils and Parents Ballycastle High School was established on the present campus more than 60 years ago In that time we have been at the forefront of educational developments within our local community and beyond We are an allability non selective school welcoming pupils from all backgrounds and we believe the success of the school is due to a range of factors including an extensive and well resourced curriculum which meets the needs of a wide range of abilities in the 11 18 range The quality of pastoral care teachers and teaching and a comprehensive range of extra curricular activities are also key elements of this successful school A forwardlooking approach coupled with an attitude of continually seeking to improve our provision is a hallmark which ensures high standards and high expectations from both staff and pupils Our commitment to the successful collaborative arrangements with Coleraine Area Learning Partnership and Cross and Passion College and our excellent results at GCSE and A Level demonstrate our intention to be at the forefront of educational development for the benefit of our pupils and our community Ballycastle High School is a school with a long tradition of excellence and this remains a key focus for the future This prospectus will give you some insight into school life but do feel free to contact me here at the school for further information SCHOOL VISION Mr I Williamson Principal An All Round School Ballycastle High School was established more than 110 years ago and we are proud of our long tradition of academic success helping to develop the full potential of all our pupils In partnership with our parents and governors our vision is to provide the best possible education for every pupil within a caring and creative school community Our purpose To give the pupils the opportunity to develop a positive self image and the capacity to live as independent motivated adults who have the ability to function effectively as contributing members of society Our school crest displays the words Nil Sine Labore Nothing without Labour This reminds us that no matter our starting point or natural talents we all have the ability to achieve our true potential through hard work dedication and resilience Our school motto An All Round School succinctly describes our ethos we aim to educate our pupils in a supportive environment so that they become confident connected actively involved young people who will develop a lifelong love of learning and become effective members of society Page 2 Page 3

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Shared Education Ballycastle High School is a Controlled 11 18 School of around 400 pupils catering for both boys and girls The school provides an appropriate education for pupils from across the full range of ability Pupils in Years 11 to 14 enjoy the benefits of a very close collaborative arrangement with Cross and Passion College which enables both schools to offer a greater choice and a broad balanced curriculum This arrangement provides opportunities for pupils to study subjects from a wide range of specialisms catering for a broad spectrum of interests and aspirations The Purpose of Shared Education To enhance educational opportunities for all young people in post primary education in North Antrim enhancing choice promoting quality To improve outcomes for young people at Key Stages 4 and 5 Facilities To make the best use of educational resources available The school building provides a range of facilities for all subjects in the curriculum There has been a continuous programme aimed at developing these facilities in order that recent and current innovations in education can be implemented The school buildings are maintained to a very high standard in terms of decor and cleanliness Considerable effort has been made around the school to display pupils work photographic and other records of local and school history and items of artistic interest and merit Our picturesque grounds are well maintained and provide excellent recreational opportunities Our computer network has 2 complete computer suites supplemented by a range of portable devices and all classrooms have computers and interactive whiteboards To promote and nurture mutual respect and understanding as well as community cohesion To provide the local and wider community with young people who have the knowledge skills and attitudes to make valuable contributions to the economic and community life within the area Key Facts Each school in the partnership retains its own identity and ethos The commitment to sharing can be traced back as far as the 1960 s when pupils from Ballycastle High attended Latin lessons in Cross and Passion The partnership is now well established and is deeply embedded in the life of both schools In excess of 300 pupils from both schools share lessons on a day to day basis The schools share a significant portion of the curriculum at Key Stage 4 but pupils still have the option to attend classes only in their own school Pupils from both schools have a joint student council which meets regularly and represents the voice of pupils in making decisions about the partnership Planning is underway for a state of the art shared campus consisting of two new schools and a shared facility Page 4 Page 5

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Post 16 Those pupils who wish to remain at school and have reached the required standard pass into the Sixth Form where normally three courses are chosen for study Key Stage 5 Years 13 and 14 Post 16 Art and Design Biology Business Studies Chemistry English Literature French Geography Health and Social Care History Life and Health Sciences Mathematics Music Nutrition and Food Science Physical Education Performing Arts Psychology Religious Education Technology and Design Organisation of the Curriculum At Ballycastle High School we are committed to providing a broad balanced and relevant curriculum based on the individual needs of our pupils Pupils follow a curriculum that successfully combines both the traditional academic and vocational curricula We believe that all pupils can thrive and our tracking system enables us to intervene quickly and provide bespoke support for individual pupils Key Stage 3 In Years 8 9 and 10 pupils study subjects in line with the Northern Ireland Curriculum Our dedicated staff create learning conditions that seek to inspire and challenge ensuring that our young people have the skills to succeed in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world Vocational BTEC Agriculture CTEC Business BTEC CPLD Children s Play Learning and development BTEC Construction BTEC Creative Media CTEC IT BTEC Science BTEC Sport Single and Double Award BTEC Travel and Tourism It is our intention that pupils in Ballycastle High School can follow courses which suit their own needs and abilities The curricular provision for pupils is outstanding ETI Key Stage 3 Art and Design English and Literacy French Geography History ICT Learning for Life and Work Home Economics Mathematics and Numeracy Music Physical Education Religious Education Science Technology and Design Key Stage 4 GCSE In Years 11 and 12 the following subjects are delivered Agriculture Art and Design Business Studies Child Development Computer Science Construction Digital Technology Drama English Language English Literature Food and Nutrition French Geography History Health and Social Care Hospitality Learning for Life and Work Mathematics Motor Vehicle and Road User Studies Music Physical Education Religious Education Science Double Award Technology and Design Vocational BTEC Creative Media BTEC Sport BTEC Travel and Tourism Occupational Studies OCN Applied Science OCN Religious Studies All pupils also have timetabled classes for PE and Careers Education While the courses in Religious Studies are non denominational in character parents who on grounds of religious conscience wish to have their children excused may do so having made prior written application to the Principal Page 6 Page 7

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Sporting Activities We believe that sport has a central role to play in the holistic development of a pupil s education hence the wide range of sporting activities we endeavour to offer In addition to timetabled lessons we offer an extensive range of after school activities There are teams and activities to suit all age groups with a broad range of interests being catered for While provision can vary from year to year examples include Aerobics Athletics Badminton Basketball Dance Football Fitness Gymnastics Hockey Netball Rugby Trampolining Page 8 Page 9

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Pastoral Care The role of our pastoral system is to provide the support and guidance that is essential to ensure that all pupils feel safe and valued in and become successful learners At the heart of our pastoral system are the Form Teachers They continually monitor the well being of every pupil The Form Teacher will be the first and most important point of contact between school and home Form classes meet each day for registration and once per fortnight for Form Period where a personal development programme is followed appropriate for their age range This will cover issues such as e safety health and well being self esteem and study skills Pupils are also supported via whole school and year group assemblies Each year group in school has a senior member of staff Head of Year who is responsible for the individual and collective needs of pupils in that year group The experience and expertise of these teachers is a central feature of the carefully planned counselling and advice service which is available to all pupils throughout their school career In the event of problems or difficulties pupils should consult immediately with the most relevant member of staff i e Subject Teacher Form Teacher or Head of Year The Principal and Vice Principal are also readily available for consultation and assistance The pastoral work of the Ballycastle High School staff is complemented by that of the FamilyWorks counsellor This is a service funded by the Education Authority and is used by most schools to ensure that pupils have a different person who they can talk to in school and upon whose expertise we can draw Safeguarding and Child Protection Partnership with parents The basis of our pastoral system is strong relationships at all levels Developing strong and meaningful relationships with our parents has always been and will continue to be a key aspect of our work Every effort is made to maintain close contact with parents through the following channels We seek provide a caring supportive and safe environment valuing individuals for their unique talents and abilities and a place in which all our young people can experience quality education allowing them to learn and develop to their full potential Ballycastle High School is committed to the safeguarding of all its students staff and visitors The suite of policies that relate to Child Protection and Pastoral Care can be viewed on our website or a copy can be made available from our School Office SIMs Parent App Pupil Planner Text Message School Website Anti bullying Pupil Progress Meetings Ballycastle High School is completely opposed to bullying and will not tolerate any form of bullying behaviour It is entirely contrary to our values and ethos as a caring community and is unequivocally rejected by all members of our staff Our Anti Bullying policy alongside our Promoting Positive Behaviour policy is integral to our Pastoral Care system Information meetings Parent Governors As a School we have been recognised as a Take 5 School due to the steps that we are taking to promote wellbeing for all in our School community To helps us follow our 5 steps to wellbeing we have developed a Take 5 pledge for our school It is as follows Parents should not hesitate to get in touch with the Principal on any matter affecting the welfare progress or development of their children The pupils respond well to the caring and inclusive ethos which is focused clearly on learning achievement and mutual respect There are very good working relationships between the pupils and the staff and the pupils behaviour in the classes observed was always excellent ETI I pledge to look after my mental wellbeing by finding ways to Connect with the people around me Be Active in a way I enjoy Take Notice of my surroundings Keep Learning new skills Give what I can The pupils are respectful courteous and friendly They take great pride in their school and engage fully with the learning process responding confidently to the high expectations of their teachers ETI Page 10 Page 11

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ENRICHING LEARNING Pupils are given the opportunity to take part in a wide range of extra and co curricular activities to extend their learning to develop new skills and to create memories that last a lifetime While activities on offer can vary from year to year the following clubs and societies are commonly offered Athletics Club Dance Club The Duke of Edinburgh s Award Football Club Trampoline Club Charity Committee Girls Hockey Club Boys Hockey Club Netball Club Coding Club Ukulele Club Gamers Club Rugby Club Science Club Cookery Club Choir Gardening Club Dodgeball Club Drama Society Environmental Society Friday Club Young Enterprise Scripture Union String Group Politics Society Table Tennis Club Pupils are also encouraged to apply for courses scholarships and competitions e g Rotary Youth Leadership Ireland Scholar Athletics Games North East School of Sport Outdoor Pursuits Courses Soroptimist International Public Speaking Competition In addition the school offers a wide range of educational experiences including theatre visits fieldwork and workshops as well as input from many visiting speakers A number of extended trips are on offer for pupils to broaden their experiences understand different cultures and mature as young people Recent trips have included Leadership opportunities and student voice Sixth Form trip to Krakow The role of the pupils in the life of the school is vital in supporting an ethos of strong community and innovation It is essential that the entire pupil body have an opportunity to contribute to the well being and development of the school and the wider community at all stages of their school career There are a wide range of these opportunities to successfully support the leadership potential of all Technology and Design trip to Disneyland Paris Pupils can grow in character and practise leadership skills through for example adopting the following roles History trip to Berlin Class Monitor Instrumental tuition is available from tutors provided by the Education Authority for pupils who show musical aptitude House Captain Youth Club Peer Mentor Pastoral Subject Mentor Prefect Senior Leadership Team Member School Council Representative Sixth Form Joint School Council Representative in collaboration with Cross and Passion College Well being Champion The school Youth Club operates on Wednesday and Friday evenings Its activities are mainly recreational and social It is organised by a school Youth Worker assisted by a group of fully trained staff It adds a most useful dimension to school life in the opportunity for involvement in activities related to both the local and more distant communities of young people There are many other school activities through which pupils can develop leadership skills including the Charity Committee Young Enterprise the Duke of Edinburgh s Award Scheme coaching junior sports teams and many more School Council The school councils play an important role within the school community democratically representing the views of all the pupils Both councils meet regularly and make recommendations to the Principal and Senior Leadership Team on the school environment school rules and Healthy Schools initiative Page 12 Page 13

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Developing the Individual Pupils arrive at Ballycastle High School with a range of abilities skills and attributes and we recognise these differences We know that all of our pupils are unique that they learn in different ways and that they require the correct blend of support and challenge Special Educational Needs A member of staff has been appointed as the Special Educational Needs Co ordinator to oversee the special needs provision in the school This teacher will arrange in class support and or group tuition depending upon the need of the pupil and availability of resources The school aims to provide an environment within which pupils with special needs will feel valued encouraged and challenged to show progress not only in basic literacy and numeracy but in subjects across the entire curriculum Careers Guidance Ballycastle High School provides a comprehensive and high quality programme of Careers Education information and guidance for all pupils from Year 8 to 14 Although Careers Education is an integral element to Learning for Life and Work it is not limited to these classes Links to the world of work are actively identified by subject teachers Explaining to pupils how the skills and knowledge they develop at school will help them in their careers is an important element in motivating them to achieve their full potential In Year 10 pupils will have a Careers related interview by a Senior Teacher to enable them to make choices about their selected GCSE courses based on their progress aptitude and career plans At Key Stage 4 pupils have timetabled Careers lessons focusing on plans for post GCSE Pupils learn how to prepare CVs fill in application forms and present themselves effectively at interviews In Sixth Form our work experience programme is an important dimension of Careers Education as it allows pupils to practise a range of employability skills whilst helping them to make informed education and training choices Pupils also attend university open days and receive guidance in making application to universities within the UCAS system Page 14 Year 8 Induction and Effective Transition Changing schools is a major undertaking The foundations that your child will lay in Year 8 are those on which they will continue to build throughout their school career Pupils joining Ballycastle High School are supported right through this important process We have a designated Head of Year 8 who works each year with a team of specialist Form Teachers These members of staff have a wealth of expertise and are fully aware of the issues facing new pupils and how best to support them Over the first couple of days new pupils spend a lot of time with their Form Teacher who can make sure that all of the pupils know everything they need to know about their new school There are also several induction activities that take place so that everyone can get to know each other We will make sure that new pupils don t feel like just another face in the crowd We are conscious of the value of developing strong relationships with parents new to the school and a range of events are organised to support parents through this anxious time These include an induction event in June and the Pupil Progress meeting Parents are also encouraged to contact the school at any time should they have any queries or concerns Page 15

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School Uniform All pupils are expected to take pride in their appearance and all must attend the school in full correct uniform We believe that wearing school uniform helps pupils to take pride in themselves and in their school A school uniform also gives all pupils a sense of belonging For these reasons we ask for the full support of parents in sending their children to school in full school uniform A scheme for assistance in the purchase of school uniform games and physical education clothing is operated by the Education Authority Further details are available directly from the EA or the Principal will advise if required All school uniform and P E uniform will be supplied by S T Moore 28 Railway Road Coleraine S T Moore Sperrin Business Park Ballycastle Road Coleraine R H Gault Church Street Ballymoney Heart and Home 10 Lower Captain Street Coleraine Heart and Home 11 High Street Ballymoney Boys Uniform Black Blazer with school badge Black trousers White shirt School tie Grey Jumper compulsory Black socks Black shoes Girls Uniform Black Blazer with school badge Grey knee length skirt with four 6 inch pleats or grey school trousers Turquoise blouse revere collar and short sleeves Royal blue V neck jumper Plain black tights or grey knee length socks Black shoes low heel Optional Girls P E Uniform Black school outdoor coat with fleece lining and school badge to be worn over blazer School Scarf no other scarf may be worn Both items are available from school suppliers Girls school PE shirt School skort Black socks Trainers rubber sole Shin guards Optional Plain black leggings are also permitted outdoors only Black and white half zip tops with the school crest may also be worn in both PE lessons and sporting extra curricular activities Boys P E Uniform Boys school PE shirt School shorts Black Socks Trainers rubber sole Shin guards Optional Plain black tracksuit bottoms may be worn outdoors only Black and white half zip tops with the school crest may also be worn in both PE lessons and sporting extra curricular activities Sixth form girls wear a white shirt and sixth form tie Sixth form boys wear a sixth form tie Ties are only available from the school office Page 16 Page 17 Please refer to our Uniform Policy for full details This can be found on the school website

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General Information School Meals The school canteen operates on a cafeteria system and breakfasts snacks and lunches are served daily to all pupils who require them Pupils who wish to bring packed lunches may do so Only pupils who go to their own home for lunch are permitted out of school during the lunch period The provision of free meals is made by the Education Authority to which application should be made School Hours and Holidays School commences at 8 55 a m and ends at 3 25 p m each day The school operates on a two week timetable with the school day being divided into twelve teaching periods averaging 26 minutes each Morning break is from 10 53 11 12 a m and lunch break is from 12 55 1 40 p m A record of school closures holidays and important events is published on the SIMs Parent App at the beginning of each academic year Fees and Charges All parents will be asked annually to contribute a sum towards the school s extra curricular activities This sum is a voluntary contribution arising from the school s Charges and Remissions Policy A sum of 10 00 per family has currently been set by the Board of Governors The full Charges and Remissions policy can be viewed on the school website Transport Pupils whose homes are outside statutory walking distance from Ballycastle High School i e more than 3 miles by the nearest available route receive transport assistance from the Education Authority provided there is no other non selective post primary school within that distance The Education Authority should be informed of the boarding stage of each pupil for transport and passes are issued by the school to pupils on behalf of the EA in September Pupils may not use their passes at any time other than on their scheduled bus All pupils must board and disembark from the buses at the school No responsibility will be accepted for pupils who do not conform to this rule Parents are reminded that it is their responsibility to ensure that children are instructed to behave in a fitting manner on public transport Details of bus routes are available from Translink Policies School policies can be found on the school website Alternatively hard copies are available from the school office on request Page 18 Page 19 Photography Design by www coolforschoolcreative com

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BALLYCASTLE HIGH SCHOOL 33 Rathlin Road Ballycastle Co Antrim BT54 6LD Telephone 028 2076 2254 Fax 028 2076 3688 E mail info ballycastlehigh ballycastle ni sch Office Hours Mon Thursday 8 30am 4 30pm Friday 8 30am 4 15pm stcolumbanus org uk www ballycastlehigh org uk

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