BBMS Prospectus 2025 : simplebooklet.com

ContentsPrincipal’s Welcome 4Principal’s Welcome 4The Curriculum 6The Curriculum 6Enrichment 10Enrichment 10Careers Education, Information, Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance 12Advice and Guidance 12Independent Learning 13Independent Learning 13New Experiences 16New Experiences 16Pupil Leadership 17Pupil Leadership 17Pupil Wellbeing 18Pupil Wellbeing 18Positive Relationships 21Positive Relationships 21Extra-Curricular - Beyond The Classroom 22Extra-Curricular - Beyond The Classroom 22Facilities 24Facilities 24School Details 27School Details 27Belfast Boys’ Model School | 3

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Welcome to Belfast Boys’ Model School. The school was founded in 1857 as a ‘Model’ of good practice and as such has a long history of providing quality education to boys in the Greater Belfast area. For over 150 years, we have had a tradition of academic and sporting success.We want pupils to feel happy and safe, have a sense of belonging and purpose. We believe in the importance of building character, raising aspiration and success through relational learning, collaboration, and community. We aim to meet the individual needs of pupils with a responsive and enriching curriculum offer and agile pastoral care. Our vision is that a committed and highly skilled staff empower pupils to discover and achieve their potential, making progress in a new, technologically sophisticated world.Our vision is that our core values of respect, integrity and commitment permeate all that we do.A highly committed and expert staff ensures that the school remains in the forefront of educational initiatives and developments. We have had, for many years, a very successful consortium with Belfast Model School for Girls and, more recently, pupils beneﬁt from a highly effective Shared Education Partnership with Mercy College. These partnerships along with strong links with community, employers and institutes of Further and Higher Education ensure that we provide an enriching and varied educational experience, which caters for the needs, interests and aspirations of our pupils. We aim to bring out the best in our boys. We strive to ensure all pupils achieve their academic potential. Our GCSE and A Level results are excellent, with large numbers of boys progressing to University, Higher Apprenticeships and employment.We are also committed to the development of the whole child, encouraging participation in enriching activities which include music, travel, drama, leadership opportunities and of course, competitive sport. Whatever your son’s ambition, Belfast Boys’ Model School will help him achieve it and, perhaps more importantly, be happy along his journey to success.Having worked in the school since 1993, I greatly value the links we forge with parents. I very much look forward to welcoming you and your son to Belfast Boys’ Model School.M MontgomeryPrincipal’s Welcome4 | Belfast Boys’ Model School

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6 | Belfast Boys’ Model SchoolThe CurriculumThe CurriculumOur curriculum is designed to support your child while learning, achieving and succeeding.Key Stage 3 - Areas of LearningKey Stage 4 - General & Applied subjects on oerKey Stage 5 - The Senior SchoolEnrichment CoursesEnglish- Media Education- Drama- Literacy- English Language - English Literature- Media Studies- English Literature- Media Studies- Moving Image Arts - Coding and App Building- Youth Work Programmes- Community Work in Mental Health- Sports Awards & Coaching- Personal Fitness and Games- IFA Football Academy- Social Football- Leadership and Mentoring- Independent Living & Hospitality- Photography- Music Performance and Technology- First Aid- Art- Barista Training- Young Enterprise- LEGO Robotics- Duke of Edinburgh- DramaMathematics- Financial Capability- Numeracy- Mathematics- Further Mathematics- Statistics- MathematicsScience & Technology - Science- Design & Technology- Information and Communication Technology- Double Award Science- Single Award Science- Design & Technology- Digital Technology- Business Studies- Applied Science- Biology- Chemistry- Physics- Technology & Design- Life and Health Science- Health & Social Care - IT- Business StudiesThe Arts- Art & Design- Music- Art and Design- Certiﬁcate in Music Technology (Music Performance)- Art & Design- Music- Performing ArtsEnvironment & Society- History- Geography- Geography- History - Sociology- Travel & Tourism- Geography - History- Government & Politics- Sociology- Travel & TourismModern Languages - Spanish - SpanishLearning for Life & Work- Employability- Citizenship- Personal Development - Home Economics - Learning for Life and Work- Public Services- Hospitality - Prince’s Trust Achieve Award- Public Services- Health & Social Care- HospitalityPhysical Education - Sports Studies - Sports StudiesReligious Education - Religious Studies - Religious Studies- Occupational StudiesAll pupils have provision in:- Careers Education, Information Advice and Guidance - Physical Education and GamesGCSE & Vocational Studies - 1 Year course:MathematicsEnglish LanguageInformation Technology HospitalityEmployabilityAll pupils have provision in:- Careers, Education, Information, Advice and Guidance - Physical Education and GamesWe work together to build every child’s conﬁdence to develop skills that enable them to study and learn effectively. During Key Stage 3, pupils build on their skills to develop persistence, focus and intellectual curiosity. A range of both academic and vocational options provide KS4 and Post-16 curriculums which are designed to suit all needs and have proven to open pathways to Further and Higher Education and employment.

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10 | Belfast Boys’ Model SchoolEnrichmentEnrichment Pupils beneﬁt from exciting opportunities to build their employability skills from a wide choice of Enrichment experiences. Pupils develop leadership, problem solving, critical thinking, resilience, initiative, communication and digital skills, all vital for employment, Further and Higher Education, as well as Higher Level Apprenticeships. Pupils have a wide menu of choices including the exciting IFA Football Academy, First Aid, Art, Barista Training, Drama, Duke of Edinburgh, Sports Coaching, Hospitality, Coding and App Building partnered by Young Enterprise, Music Performance, Photography, Youth and Community Work, Addressing-Bullying and Mental Health training and Mentoring.

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12 | Belfast Boys’ Model SchoolPreparation for life beyond Belfast Boys’ Model School begins from the moment your son walks through our door. Pupils have dedicated Careers sessions from Year 8 to allow them to explore a vast and varied range of career pathways and raise aspirations. Early identiﬁcation of this allows Careers staff to tailor individual Careers advice for each pupil.Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) is central to the work of Belfast Boys’ Model School in effectively preparing pupils to progress to successful futures. We work in partnership with a wide range of organisations, including employers, Universities and Further Education Colleges to ensure the delivery of high quality, up-to-date Careers provision across the school. This ensures that pupils are well prepared to make informed choices about their future education, training and employment. Whichever pathway pupils choose, they receive guidance from a dedicated team of Careers Advisors, Form Teachers and representatives from the world of work. Alongside this, there are opportunities to experience the work environment, develop employability skills and meet employers from a wide range of industries. This ensures that pupils can progress condently to the next chapter of their education, training or employment.Preparation for Life Beyond Preparation for Life Beyond Belfast Boys’ Model SchoolBelfast Boys’ Model School Pupils who leave Belfast Boys’ Model School continue to study a wide range of degree subjects and higher level qualiﬁcations at institutions across the UK and further aﬁeld. The vast majority of our senior pupils aspire to go on to study at university. Many are offered and accept places at universities including Queen’s University, Ulster University, Stranmillis College and Liverpool John Moore’s University. Popular courses include: Law, Criminology, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Animation, International Hospitality Management and Sports Science.We also maintain strong partnerships with Belfast Metropolitan and Northern Regional colleges, with leavers progressing to study HND and Foundation degree courses in a wide range of subjects including: Architectural Technology, Accounting, Business Management, Web Design and Electrical Engineering.Careers Education, Information, Careers Education, Information, Advice and GuidanceAdvice and Guidance

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Belfast Boys’ Model School | 13Independent Learning Independent Learning Our aim is to encourage and support every boy to achieve his academic and personal potential. We pride ourselves on providing a supportive learning environment which meets the needs of all learners, including those with additional needs.As part of our ‘Independent Learning’ initiative, our teachers will introduce pupils to retrieval strategies and resources that will enable them to ‘Think Hard’. These will enable them to embrace challenges to their learning so that they can conﬁdently overcome them within the school/classroom setting, but also, and importantly outside of the classroom as they engage in meaningful study that complements their learning in class.

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16 | Belfast Boys’ Model SchoolNew Experiences A wide range of exciting and engaging opportunities are provided to allow pupils to develop key skills essential for adult life. There is an extensive extra-curricular programme which runs throughout lunchtimes and after school. TravelPupils beneﬁt from a variety of opportunities to travel, including the annual Ski trip, History visits to Dublin, Travel and Tourism trips, Duke of Edinburgh Expeditions, Sports Visits and British Council Projects. Senior School pupils have the opportunity to travel abroad in collaborative projects with other schools as part of the British Council’s Turing Project. Recent trips have included visits to Norway and Germany, with this year’s group going to Czechia. These mobilities provide a unique insight into different cultures and enable pupils to gain a global perspective on pertinent issues impacting young people.These include:• African Drums• Army Cadets• Art Club• Badminton Club• Basketball• Board Games Club• Choir• Coding and App Building• Cookery Club• Cricket Club• Chess• Drama Club• Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme• Futsal• Football• FIT Project• Games Club• Golf Club• History Club• Homework Club• Hockey• Health & Fitness• Languages Club• LEGO Robotics• Lego Club• Minecraft• Rugby Club• Running Club• Rock Band• Scripture Union• Ski Club• Soccer Club• Table Tennis Club• Turing

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Belfast Boys’ Model School | 17Pupil Leadership The Student Council functions as a platform where pupils can voice their opinions and contribute to school decisions. By participating, pupils gain essential leadership and collaboration skills. They are encouraged to take responsibility for their decisions and develop a deeper understanding of teamwork. The Student Council is instrumental in organising various school events, which helps build a sense of community and encourages participation in extra-curricular activities. Additionally, the Student Council plays a signiﬁcant role in enhancing school spirit by coordinating events that unite pupils, ultimately improving the overall atmosphere of the school. This involvement fosters a stronger sense of belonging and motivates pupils to actively engage with the school environment. The Pupil Senior Leadership Team empowers pupils by providing them with opportunities to express their thoughts on school-related issues. As part of this team, pupils develop key decision-making and cooperative skills while contributing positively to the school community. These roles provide pupils with a chance to grow personally, enhancing their educational experience. The leadership team act as a bridge between the pupil body and the staff ensuring that students’ voices are heard. Their contributions lead to a more dynamic and enriched school environment, promoting both personal development and a strengthened sense of school community.“Pupils beneﬁt signiﬁcantly from an extensive range of sporting, cultural and tailored community activities, which develop their personal and social skills”ETI

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Transition A comprehensive and effective transition programme which stretches across Primary 7 and Year 8 ensures a smooth and successful move to ‘Big School’ for Belfast Boys’ Model School pupils. We work closely with our partner primary schools and our Senior Pupils deliver a Mentoring programme in the ﬁnal term of P7. This initiative is designed to prepare the P7 boys for post-primary education. Our Pastoral Support Team offers a home visit to every incoming pupil during the summer months. This affords pupils and their families the opportunity to have their questions answered.Pastoral CareWe pride ourselves in taking a proactive approach to pupil wellbeing. Our ground breaking ‘Wellbeing’ team of Senior pupils is dedicated to the promotion of positive mental health with their peers. They also work closely with our Year Teams to ensure that all pupils have access to support, if required. Addressing Bullying Ambassadors - We are proud of our team of pupils who are Addressing Bullying Ambassadors. These young men facilitate peer workshops during Addressing Bullying Week and offer ongoing support to individual and groups of pupils, throughout the school year.An excellent Pastoral programme is in place to address the key issues facing young people and assist in the development of resilience and emotional intelligence.We have recently introduced a Wellbeing class into our curriculum. This focuses on developing the physical, social and emotional wellbeing of our pupils.“Pupils are courteous & respectful”ETIBelfast Boys’ Model School | 19

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Positive Relationships BBMS is a Full Service Extended School (FSES)This project seeks to:-• address the wider needs of the child and his family• raise expectations and aspirations for success in young people• help identify and remove barriers to learningThe FSES provision includes:-• strategies to promote pupil engagement in learning• programmes to strengthen self-esteem and conﬁdence• strategies to encourage healthy lifestyles• availability of help and advice to parents• opportunities for parents to become more involved in the life of the school• support systems for boys who are experiencing difﬁculties in their lives e.g. specialist counselling and mentoring“A range of support mechanisms (exist) forged from strong, highly developed partnerships with an extensive range of external agencies”ETIBelfast Boys’ Model School | 21

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24 | Belfast Boys’ Model SchoolSchool Facilities• General classrooms, all with IT facilities• 4 Art Studios• Ceramics Area• Sixth Form Art Studio• 12 room Music Suite• Recording Studios• Keyboard Studio• Specialist Geography classrooms• Specialist History classrooms• Specialist Travel and Tourism Suite• Media Studies suite with editing facilities• Performing Arts Theatre• School Library incorporating a Careers Library• Careers Suite with guidance interview room• Conference facilities• 5 room Home Economics Suite• 7 Science Laboratories• Greenhouse • Outside Learning Area • School Gardens• Extensive Learning Support Suite• Youth Centre• Health & Community Suite• Youth Club FacilitiesTechnology and Engineering Facilities• 5 Manufacturing rooms• 5 Planning roomsICT Facilities• 12 ICT Suites with the latest technology and software• Interactive whiteboards or digital screens in every classroom• All classrooms have use of computers and laptops• Wide range of PCs, Apple Mac computers, laptops and tablet devices in use throughout the school• Wi-Fi throughout the schoolSixth Form Facilities• Extensive supervised study area with computer suite• Recreation area with kitchen facilities• Wi-Fi access• LockersSports Facilities• 6 court Sports Hall• Gymnasium• Fully equipped high spec Fitness Suite• Extensive changing facilities• Floodlit 3G Football Pitch• 2G Football Pitch• Astro-turf Hockey Pitch• Rugby Pitch• Athletics arena with 400m Tartan Running Track• Sports PavilionFacilities

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26 | Belfast Boys’ Model SchoolMiss Farquhar, Curriculum Vice-PrincipalMiss Farquhar, Curriculum Vice Principal, will ensure that pupils beneﬁt from quality teaching and learning and that pupils are supported in their subjects to adjust to the Post Primary curriculum, which offers exciting new subjects. Pupils will have opportunities to develop their skills in, across and beyond the curriculum with varied and enriching opportunities.Mrs McCracken, Pastoral Vice-Principal Mrs McCracken, Pastoral Vice-Principal, will have already met a number of P7 pupils as part of her transition work with our partner primary schools. Mrs McCracken will ensure that pupils and parents are supported throughout their Post Primary school journey. If a pupil faces challenges, in school or at home there will be a team of skilled pastoral staff ready to provide help and guidance.Mr McClelland, Assistant PrincipalMr McClelland, Assistant Principal, will ensure that your son has a caring and supportive transition into life at the Model. Mr McClelland will work closely with the Year 8 Pastoral team to help your son settle into the next stage of their education and get the most out of their time at Belfast Boys’ Model School.

BBMS Prospectus 2025

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