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Prospectus 2025
Dear prospective pupil We are so excited that you are considering St Cecilia s College as your next school We remember how daunting this decision can be so we want to let you know why we think that St Cecilia s College might just be the right school for you Everyone is so friendly and helpful As a new Year 8 the whole school will look after you and make you feel at home Our teachers are encouraging and our pupils will do their best to help you to settle in Our ethos ensures that we all aim to achieve our best We are encouraged to reach our full potential academically and we are also encouraged to try new subjects take on new opportunities and really immerse ourselves in the school community Pupil voice is very important in our school Our student council acts on our behalf and work with our teachers to bring about changes that we feel will be of benefit to our pupils As a result of this we were the first girls school to introduce trousers as part of our uniform Our success is celebrated Our community loves to celebrate our aspirations and achievements both inside and outside the classroom As well as academic opportunities we are given the tools to be creative to work with others to lead and to deepen our talents or develop new ones Whether this is on the sports field or in the creative arts there really is something for everyone in our unique school community The pupil centred vision focuses on the pupils hopes and ambitions for achieving their best celebrating their success and developing them to be life long learners ETI Inspection report June 2024 Mia McDaid Senior Head Girl Aimee Mallon Junior Head Girl
Welcome Dear Parent Carer In our Prospectus we give you a flavour of our school community which we hope you find interesting and informative as you decide your child s post primary school St Cecilia s College is a joyful caring school in which children flourish and achieve highly both inside and outside of the classroom As a result we endeavour to prepare them for their future choices in further and higher education or in the workplace For myself as Principal it is a privilege to serve the pupils staff and community based on the values of Aspire Endeavour Achieve As a Catholic school our core principle is to develop within each of our pupils the values of faith understanding self belief resilience and success We nurture relationships which are based on respect and positivity to ensure our pupils use their gifts and talents to achieve their best Our Pastoral Care permeates all aspects of school life and contributes to the creation of a supportive atmosphere in the school for both teachers and pupils At St Cecilia s College we have high expectations of all of our pupils Year in year out our outstanding results reflect these expectations of our pupils and we are delighted to perform consistently well above the Northern Ireland average for similar schools Our teachers are highly qualified enthusiastic and dedicated with a love of their subject that inspires the pupils in their care Our outstanding success has been recognised nationally with St Cecilia s achieving UK Secondary School of the Year 2020 a UK BSI award for Trust in 2021 and in 2022 an ISO standard for Inclusion and Diversity I hope you find our prospectus video and website helpful as you consider your options Should you wish to avail of any further advice or guidance please feel free to contact me or to visit our website Yours sincerely MJ O Carolan Mrs Principal
Celebrating Success St Cecilia s College continues to inspire through our ethos the highest possible achievements for all our pupils Delivering high quality teaching and learning is at the forefront of everything we do as a school community Approaches to assessment are consistent across the school with pupils progress rigorously monitored and reported on at four key points in the school year Pupils have access to academic and vocational pathways that are tailored to suit their individual abilities and interests St Cecilia s College is at the forefront of curriculum development working with business industry and other educational establishments to ensure we provide quality courses that meet the needs of a modern progressive society Pupils aspire to careers professions and occupations that are the result of quality provision and experiences St Cecilia s pupils are inspired to see endless possibilities for self development and they are always encouraged to be the very best that they can be
Outstanding Success in Examinations Our most recent examination season saw 94 4 of our year 12 students achieving 5 or more A C grades in their GCSEs While 75 of our Year 14 students achieved 3A C grade at A Level which was outstanding What is most pleasing is the very high percentage of students across the board in every subject and at every level who surpassed their personal target grades he pupils successes across and beyond the school are well embedded and celebrated creatively Education raining Inspectorate eport June
A Child Centred school St Cecilia s College is a dynamic and vibrant learning community Our Catholic ethos permeates all aspects of school life making St Cecilia s a focused caring and happy community in which all of our pupils can flourish We value every member of our community recognising the dignity and unique nature of each individual In this way the presence of Christ is celebrated St Cecilia s is also a kind and caring environment for young people Respect for others underpins all our dealings with one another Our aim is to create an environment where everyone aspires to achieve Our pupils get opportunities to stretch and challenge themselves in a safe stimulating way We understand that this looks and feels different for every child and that s why our child centred inclusive approach is so successful At St Cecilia s we believe that every pupil should have the best possible learning opportunities and we therefore promote inclusive practice We recognise that all of our pupils are different and have individual needs We take strategic action to support and encourage our pupils within a nurturing environment
Every child is unique and so is the way we work Our Learning Support Coordinator and his team work closely with staff pupils and parents to provide additional support where it is needed We enable all pupils to participate fully in a varied curriculum which responds to a wide range of individual talents We work closely with parents and other agencies to monitor pupil progress carefully providing effective additional support to meet our pupils needs All of our pupils are screened for dyslexia in Year 8 Pupils identified with dyslexic tendencies are offered bespoke one to one support with one of our qualified Dyslexic Tutors Our homework club operates four afternoons per week The homework club affords pupils the opportunity to complete homework access school resources attempt assignments and revise for exams Dyslexia Friendly
A Child Centred school We pride ourselves on being a caring school St Cecilia s is a happy place where respect for others underpins all our dealings with one another Our aim is to create an environment where every child feels safe and where everyone can succeed The welfare of our students is our highest priority Form Teacher You and your child will develop close links with their Form Teacher You can rely on the dedicated and caring support of your child s Form Teacher to comfort challenge and motivate them through their life at St Cecilia s The Head of Year The Head of Year s main role is to ensure the welfare of the children within their year group They will guide the academic social and emotional progress of all the students in their care Designated Teachers Every pupil s safety is paramount at St Cecilia s You and your child will be made aware of the role of the Child Protection Officer the deputies and how they can be contacted for support Counsellor We have a professional counselling service available one day a week for pupils in need of extra support Pupils can refer themselves or be referred by a parent or member of staff We benefit from having a full time fully qualified CBT practitioner on our staff Guardian Angel Our Guardian Angel team play their part in ensuring a smooth transition from primary to secondary school for our Year 8 pupils Each Year 8 pupil has their own Guardian Angel This is a 6th Year pupil committed to helping their little St Cecilia s sister settle in and find their feet in our new school Addressing Bullying Type Behaviours in School At St Cecilia s we have a comprehensive policy for dealing with bullying type behaviours This has been recently updated after consultation with pupils parents staff and the Education Authority Reports of bullying type behaviour are dealt with quickly sensitively and in a professional and caring way Community One of the most important relationships the school has is with parents and carers A parent s aspirations for their child will have a significant impact on their success This means encouraging full attendance communicating with the school and working with us to ensure the best outcomes possible We best educate our young people as a community and we value the strong partnerships we have with our families and local organisations
Aligning with the School s vision of Aspire Endeavour Achieve the pupils holistic development including their emotional health and wellbeing is supported well in an inclusive supportive and stimulating learning environment Education raining Inspectorate eport June
A Catholic School A school of faith St Cecilia s College is a caring inclusive school rooted in local parish communities We are committed to the development of the whole person and believe personal relationships help establish an aspiring community of pupils with confidence which stems from self belief a Catholic conviction and personal success Our College 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 pupils to play an active and responsible role in society and to use their talents for the service of others The primary aims of St Cecilia s College are to develop the whole person as a follower of Christ to exist as an extension of the Catholic Home to create a believing community committed to the Christian Way of Life to promote justice in all areas of College Life to prepare the individual to live in a changing social political cultural and technological environment Our faith and worship are an essential part of daily life within the college Our day begins with morning prayer at assembly Significant events are marked with communal prayer and events such as our annual Carol Service which is enjoyed by our whole community We celebrate the start of our academic year with a mass attended by the whole school We finish our school year with a celebratory Mass for both our Year 12 and Year 14 pupils and parents Here we pray for their future success and well being regardless of the pathway they choose Our leavers mass is a highlight of the school year for many
Continuous Improvement At St Cecilia s College we are continually striving to programme culminates with a graduation ceremony improve all aspects of provision for our pupils giving our S pupils the chance to experience Our Learning and eaching team regularly review university life our curricular provision to ensure maximum We place great importance on arget Setting allowing opportunities for success pupils to track their progress set personal goals Gifted and talented pupils are stretched in school and provided other opportunities for challenge With the continued success of our Brilliant Club our junior school pupils work on projects with PHD students from ueen s niversity Belfast he and take responsibility for their learning pathways All pupils record and monitor their assessment achievements creating a culture of aspiration throughout the school his helps pupils make the important connection between hard work and success Aspire Endeavour Achieve
he school s proactive development of a community of learning is improving the pupils outcomes through empowering sta as learning leaders Education raining Inspectorate eport June ADDRESSING BULLYING TYPE BEHAVIOUR IN SCHOOLS TRAUMA INFORMED PRACTICE DYSLEXIA AWARENESS RAISING STANDARDS FOR ALL THROUGH ADAPTIVE LEARNING
OUR HOUSE SYSTEM together we make a difference
Creating Community The aim of the House System is to further build on the effective relationships across the school and to have each pupil be part of a House Family Yo u did not pick the names of local townlands or of colours Instead you picked Faith Courage Peace Grace and Hope at speaks of the values and ideals that the school wants to hand on to its young people In a world of very agile heroes you in ite them to dream of doing beautiful things with their lives and you o er them the ocabulary which will support them in that Bishop Donal McKeown Every pupil is placed with their Form Teacher in one of five Houses Courage Faith Grace Hope and Peace Houses are identifiable by their ties and each house competes each term to collect the most house points to win a treat for the entire house Treats could include a house breakfast or a movie afternoon Points are awarded for kindness good deeds manners participation in after school activities and for representing the school
Confidence outside the Classroom We prepare our pupils for life beyond the classroom and extracurricular activities are a vital aspect of the St Cecilia s experience We have a range of lunchtime and after school clubs to try your new talent is waiting to be discovered All pupils also receive their own Target Setting book to allow them to record and track their assessment achievements We encourage pupils to take responsibility for their own learning pathways and improvement By doing so they begin to make the all important connections between hard work and success At St Cecilia s College we provide a wide range of activities and services during and beyond the school day to help meet the needs of our pupils their families and the wider community Free transport home is provided for pupils who attend after school programmes St Cecilia s pupils learn and achieve so much outside the classroom They learn to compete win well accept defeat follow rules treat others fairly and respect decisions made by officials All pupils in St Cecilia s have the opportunity to improve their level of fitness and skill in a range of activities including Netball Cross Country Athletics Swimming Aquathon Soccer and Cheerleading Pupils develop resilience through sport Here are some of the opportunities normally available at St Cecilia s College Art Athletics Camogie Cheer Club Choir Coding Club Creative Writing Crochet Club Cross Country Dance Club Drama Drumming Enterprise Club Environmental Club Football Gaelic Football Guitar Lego Club Maths Netball Orchestra Peer Mentoring Piano Public Speaking Reading Club School Magazine School of Rock Science Singing lessons SistersIN Student Council Sewing Club Soul Sisters Street Dance Study Centre Technology Textiles Traditional Irish Music Triathlon Ukelele Young Enterprise
Creative School St Cecilia s was named after the patron saint of music and creativity is in our blood All of our teachers love to be creative This is evident in the delivery of their subject content and also in the work they do to support pupils holistically We know that happy pupils are more likely to work hard and achieve success
Celebrating Success Our Aspire Endeavour and Achieve Awards allow each pupil in the school community to experience success on a monthly basis In addition to acknowledging our pupils creativity and sporting achievments we also celebrate their academic success in external examinations every year through our annual prizegiving ceremony
Criteria for admissions 2024 25 During the admissions procedure when applying the criteria punctual applications will be considered before late applications are considered The application procedure opens on 28 January 2025 at 12 noon GMT and an application submitted by the closing date of 20 February 2025 at 12 noon GMT will be treated as a punctual application An application received after 12 noon GMT on 20 February 2025 and up to 4pm on 25 February 2025 will be treated as a late application As currently required by the law priority will be given to applicants normally resident in Northern Ireland before applicants who normally reside elsewhere In the event of over subscription the following criteria which was drawn up by the Board of Governors of St Cecilia s College will be applied in the order set down to select applicants for Year 8 entry in 2025 26 1 Applicants whose sister s half sister s step sister s or foster sister s are presently or were formerly enrolled at the school and who have chosen St Cecilia s College as their first preference school Please note that for criterion 1 you are required to provide in the Admissions Criteria Notes section of your online written application the full name and date of birth of the sister s or equivalent as defined above whether referring to a present or past Applicant s If the sister s or equivalent is currently at St Cecilia s College you are asked to indicate yes at the Sister at School option 2 Applicants who presently reside in the following parishes in no particular order who have chosen St Cecilia s College as their first preference school Ardmore Claudy Culmore Faughanvale and Lower Cumber Glendermott Waterside St Columb s Chapel Road Immaculate Conception Trench Road St Mary s Newbuildings Holy Family Ballymagroarty Our Lady of Lourdes Steelstown St Mary s Creggan Strathfoyle StrathFoyle Enagh Lough Templemore St Eugene s St Columba s Long Tower Three Patrons St Patrick s Pennyburn St Brigid s Carnhill St Joseph s Galliagh Please note that for criterion 2 you are required to provide in Admissions Criteria Notes Section of your online application the name of the parish that the applicant resides in from the list provided above 3 Applicants presently resident in the above named parishes in no particular order who have chosen St Cecilia s College as their first preference nonselective school Please note that for criterion 3 you are required to provide in the Admissions Criteria Notes section of your online written application the name s of the selective grammar school s chosen ahead of St Cecilia s College to validate your eligibility for this criterion Please also provide the name of the parish the applicant resides in
4 Applicants presently resident in the above named parishes in no particular order and who have placed at least one non selective school ahead of St Cecilia s College Please note that for criterion 4 you are required to provide in the Admissions Criteria Notes section of your online written application the name s of the non selective school s chosen ahead of St Cecilia s College to validate your eligibility for this criterion Please also provide the name of the parish the applicant resides in 5 Applicants who are presently resident in other parishes in Northern Ireland Please note that for criterion 5 you are required to provide in the Admissions Criteria Notes section of your online written application the name of the parish the applicant resides in The permitted admission number for Year 8 as determined by the Department of Education for the academic year 2025 26 is 129 In the event that the school would exceed its permitted admission number by accepting all applicants qualifying for selection using the final criterion so required then selection for all places remaining in this category will be on the basis of initial letter of the surname as appears on the birth certificate in the order set out below J T Y U S F V I R B Z E X D N O K L Q A W G P N MAC M MC O C H The order was determined by a random selection of letters witnessed by the Board of Governors In the event of surnames beginning with the same initial letter the subsequent letters of the surnames will be used in alphabetical order In the event of 2 identical surnames the alphabetical order of the initials of the forenames will be used
A School For You
School Prayer Almighty God we ask your blessing on the pupils and teachers and all who work in this school May it be a centre where knowledge and goodness will flourish and where peace will reign We ask this through your divine Son his blessed Mother Mary and our patron saints St Patrick St Columba and St Cecilia
Bligh s Lane Derry Northern Ireland BT48 9PJ 028 7128 1800 office stceciliascollege stceciliascollegederry StCeciliasDerry www stceciliascollege com