St. Patrick's College, Maghera Prospectus : simplebooklet.com

1. Main Site 25 Coleraine Road Telephone No. (028) 796 42451 (3 Lines) Oce Hours 8.30am – 4.30pm College Web Address: http://www.stpatricksmaghera.com E-mail Address: info@stpatricks.maghera.ni.sch.uk 2. Year 8 The St. Mary Building Tullyheron Road Telephone No. (028) 796 42464Oce Hours 9.00am – 4.30pm Principal Mrs K. Crilly Chair of the Board of Governors Mrs A McCorry Enrolment No. – 1355 Intake to Year 8 – 190N.B. 1. This Prospectus relates to the academic year 2023-24 and the contents are correct at the time of publication, but may be subject to change. 2. Parents may contact the College Reception at any time to obtain a copy of this Prospectus and any other information provided by the Education Authority, or by the College itself.Sites

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3 St. Patrick’s College, Maghera, Prospectus 2024In St Patrick’s we have the highest expectations and aspirations for every student, ensuring that they are supported and challenged to achieve their very best. Our motto “Every Child Matters” is at the core of everything we do, and our child centred sta share a strong sense of purpose, to ensure that every child can develop their unique talents and achieve their full potential.In St Patrick’s our priority is to ensure that your child is in a safe and nurturing environment that enables and empowers them to grow. We achieve this through our outstanding Pastoral Care system, that supports, nurtures, and guides every student so that they learn and achieve.We also provide high quality teaching and learning from teachers who go above and beyond to ensure the very best outcomes for all their students. We have a well-developed and adaptive curriculum designed to meet the needs of all learners.St Patrick’s is a College for all the family, a positive learning environment which will seek out and nurture individual talents. Together, we enable each child to rise to challenges successfully, be conﬁdent to take risks in learning, and achieve the highest level of success.Our school community is underpinned by our Catholic faith and values that inform every decision we make and guides us to ensure we have the very best provision in place for every student. We celebrate our students’ gifts andPrincipal’s Welcometalents, not only in our high academic outcomes for learners, but also in Sports, Music and Drama. We have an outstanding reputation not only in South Derry but across Ireland.We believe that St Patrick’s is not just a College, it is a way of life, equipping students with the skills, knowledge, understanding and faith values, which prepare them for adult life and work.I welcome you and your family to the College community. To achieve the best outcomes for our students’, it is vital that we work in partnership with our parents, guardians, and Parish communities, and we are grateful of the continued support we receive. A special thanks to our chaplain Father Paddy Doherty who generously gives of his time to support all members of our community. In St Patrick’s you can be assured that your child really does matter and that with great relationships built on respect and honesty we will “Achieve Excellence Together”.Mrs K Crilly Principal

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5 St. Patrick’s College, Maghera, Prospectus 2024All parents are welcome to visit the College on Open Day on Saturday 20th January from 9.30am to 1.00pm in the St Patrick Building. Details of the College’s Admissions Policy are contained in the relevant booklets, published by the Education Authority, copies of which may be obtained from the College (contact Reception). The College operational procedures and closures are made available to parents and pupils through the College literature, website, Facebook and/or Twitter and the SIMS Learning Gateway Parent App. Each Registration Group has a Class Tutor. Each Year Group has a Head of Year and Assistant Head of Year supported by the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), Vice Principals and Principal. Thus each pupil is known personally to a number of sta who takes a keen interest in their general welfare and progress and keeps the Principal informed. The College provides an opportunity, on an annual basis, for parents of all year groups to meet teachers through parents’ meetings to discuss the educational progress of their child. Heads of Year are available to discuss any issues or concerns that may arise throughout the academic year.CollegeInformation about the

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6 St. Patrick’s College, Maghera, Prospectus 2024The Board of Governors, through the work of the College, aims to provide a curriculum to meet the needs of all pupils and to equip pupils for the demands of employment and life. The curriculum is planned to be wide ranging and reﬂective of the Entitlement Framework. All pupils in Key Stage 3 are oered the same curriculum. At the end of Key Stage 3 pupils choose subjects from choice blocks, which are drawn up in consultation with the pupils. The College endeavours to satisfy the choices made by pupils. At the end of Key Stage 4 pupils choose GCE/vocational subjects from choice lines which are reviewed annually. Every eort is made to satisfy pupil subject choice. However, where class sizes are not viable or subjects are on conﬂicting choice lines this may not be possible.Courses oered:1. G.C.S.E. or equivalent in -Agriculture Art & DesignBiology BTEC Level 2 ICT Double Award Business CommunicationsBusiness Studies Chemistry Child DevelopmentConstructionDramaEnglish English Literature FrenchFurther MathematicsGeographyHistoryHome Economics: Food and NutritionICT MultimediaICT ProgrammingIrish MathematicsMotor Vehicle and Road User StudiesMoving Image ArtMusic Occupational StudiesOCN Carbon FootprintOCN Certiﬁcate in Information TechnologyOCN Certiﬁcate in Personal Success and Well BeingOCN Certiﬁcate in Skills for EmploymentOCN Certiﬁcate in Vocational SkillsOCN Religious StudiesOCN SciencePhysical EducationPhysicsPreparation for Adult LifePrince’s TrustProduct Design: Resistant Material Religious StudiesScience: Double AwardScience: Single AwardSpanish The College currently oers Applied GCSEs in Business, Construction, and ICT. Other subjects include the non-examinationelement of the curriculum ‘Learning for Life and Work’.Learning Support pupils are oered Level 2 Home Cooking Skills, Level 1 Personal Money Management, Essential Skills in Communication and Numeracy and Level 1 Employability Skills.Curriculum

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7 St. Patrick’s College, Maghera, Prospectus 20242. Advanced Level GCE (AS and A2)Art and DesignBiologyBusiness StudiesChemistryDigital Technology (IT)English LiteratureFrench (MRLP)GeographyIrishMathematicsMusicPhysical EducationPhysicsProduct DesignReligious Studies Software DevelopmentSpanishSt Patrick’s College plays a key role in the Magherafelt and Rural Learning Partnership (MRLP). As well as enabling the sharing of sta development good practice, the Partnership allows the College to work with the other schools in the Partnership to enhance the curricular provision in the College. The College oers Music, Performing Arts and History A Level to schools who attend the College for lessons. St Patrick’s pupils can choose to attend Partnership schools for A Level French. 3. Applied GCECurrently the College oers a choice of Applied ‘A’ Levels in:• Double Award and Single Award Health and Social Care • Single Award only Information and Communication Technology Applied Business4. BTEC Currently the College oers a choice of BTEC inNational Diploma in Sports Development and Fitness (equivalent to 2 ‘A’ Levels)National Diploma in Applied Science (equivalent to 2 ‘A’ Levels)National Subsidiary Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment (equivalent to 1 ‘A’ Level)National Extended Certiﬁcate in Engineering (equivalent to 1 ‘A’ Level)National Subsidiary Diploma in Travel and Tourism (equivalent to 1 ‘A’ Level)Please note:The College’s curriculum is arranged in such a way to enable each pupil to receive a broad and balanced education and to reach their potential.

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8 St. Patrick’s College, Maghera, Prospectus 2024CurriculumThe Northern Ireland The Northern Ireland Curriculum will:-• provide a more joined-up and holistic approach to learning• have greater emphasis on real work skills, and the speciﬁc element of Learning for Life and Work • provide greater ﬂexibility that will enable pupils to access the wider range of opportunities envisaged in the Curriculum Entitlement FrameworkThe Northern Ireland Curriculum operates in the College in Key Stage 3. Pupils are currently assessed in cross curricular skills in Communication and Using Mathematics. Key Stage 4 pupils are assessed by external examinations.Concerns regarding the curriculum should be put in writing to the Principal of the College.As advised by the Department of Education the College reserves the right to determine the viability of subjects oered. External ExaminationsPupils are entered for GCSE, GCE ‘A’ Level and AS Level examinations oered by all of the major examination boards.

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11 St. Patrick’s College, Maghera, Prospectus 2024AssessmentAt St Patrick’s we believe the main purpose of Assessment is to enable each student to develop their full potential by knowing where they are in their learning and what they have to do in order to continue to make good progress. Assessment is a fundamental part of learning and teaching and therefore all students are entitled to Assessment which is used eectively in managing and supporting their learning in all subjects throughout all the key stages.At the start of Key Stages 3 and 4, all students sit a baseline test. The results of these tests and student’s prior attainment enable the College to set a target grade for the students. At Key Stage 5, target grades are based on average performance at GCSE. These targets allow the students to be tracked across all subjects to see if they are making ‘good’ or expected progress. The target grade is the grade which should be expected from the student’s performance. The primary objective of the student will be to meet the target and then try to exceed it.There are 3 tracks throughout the academic year and all tracks are shared with students and parents to ensure that they, along with all sta, are clear on how an individual student is likely to perform.At Key Stage 3, 4 and 5, a system of ‘ﬁne grading’ has been adopted. This adds a level of accuracy to the broad grade and allows sta to focus on speciﬁc intervention and support strategies for each student. Students are aware of their targets and projected grades and are therefore encouraged to push on and secure a grade or to move up a grade. Alongside the student tracking the College recognises and encourages assessment which:• Promotes and supports learning• Informs teaching• Is both formative and summative• Uses appropriate and diverse strategies• Recognises ALL student progress and achievement• Develops the capacity for self-assessment• Fosters a shared involvement and responsibility between school and home

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12 St. Patrick’s College, Maghera, Prospectus 2024Learning Support Centre and Autism Support CentreIn St. Patrick’s we pride ourselves on the inclusive nature of our school; everyone is welcomed, everyone is valued, every child matters. The sta in St. Patrick’s recognise and respond to the dierent abilities, aptitudes, interests and diverse needs of the pupils in our school. We continually strive to improve outcomes for all of our pupils. In doing so we recognise that some pupils require very particular supports. i.e. provision additional to or dierent from that generally made for other children of the same age.All sta in St. Patrick’s take responsibility for and care about children with additional needs. Supporting children with SEND is an integral part of whole school planning and it is part and parcel of the role of the classroom teacher. Our sta pride themselves on being adaptive, ﬂexible and most importantly caring in their approach to children on the SEND register. These teachers work alongside an energetic and innovative team of over 50 classroom assistants who bring a wide range of skills and experiences to the school community. The LSC team prioritise pupil welfare and positive home school links. These six teachers in the ASC/LSC have speciﬁc responsibilities, all teachers support pupils with additional needs.

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15 St. Patrick’s College, Maghera, Prospectus 2024Sixth FormPupils are interviewed for admission to Sixth Form studies on an individual basis.The following criteria are applied:1. To meet the College’s minimum academic requirements for entry to Sixth Form.2. To meet the College’s minimum requirements for the particular course of study proposed.3. To have a good record of diligence, conduct and attendance as evidenced by recent school reports (i.e. covering KS4 career).4. To be willing to accept the policies and standards of the College.The Principal has the right to exercise their discretion in any given case.Sixth Formers have the opportunity to apply for posts of responsibility such as Prefect orPeer Mentor. Each post has speciﬁc duties attached providing opportunities for personaldevelopment.Sixth Form Well Being HubOur new well-being lead, along with MD Educational Foundation, is on a mission to prioritise the well-being of our Year 13 & 14 pupils.Our vision is a world in which every student has access to the well-being support they need, without delay.Our mission is for all post-16 students to feel supported in every aspect of their well-being, helping them on their journey to a brighter future. Our values are to educate, empower, and enlighten along the way. We will do so through one-to-one sessions, drop-in sessions, yoga, meditation, and mindfulness.Our well-being lead will deliver well-being curriculums to those that need it the most, proactively shaping the future for our young people.

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16 St. Patrick’s College, Maghera, Prospectus 2024The pastoral care system is based on the aims of the College, designed to be caring and child centred. Consequently every member of sta has a responsibility for the well being of the individual pupil and for the creation of an atmosphere in which the personal development of the pupil is strongly informed by their Christian belief. As a child-centred College, we strive to meet the needs of pupils in a professional, caring manner. The College operates a Head of Year and Class tutor system for each year group and class, facilitating a strong individual support network for pupils. Heads of Year keep close contact with parents. A Vice Principal and Senior Teacher (Care and Guidance) has a lead responsibility for Pastoral Pastoral CareCare, ensuring that pupils’ needs aremet and opportunities for development are Pastoral Care optimised. In addition the College chaplain, the Student Support Ocer and the Adviser of Studies co-ordinate their eorts to ensure that pupils receive appropriate support and encouragement during their life in the College. Parents also have an important part to play in support of the pastoral care system. Parents are strongly encouraged to take an active interest in the progress and development of their child. Guidance is available to parents as to how they can best support pupils. Parents are always made welcome in the College and are expected to give positive support to the aims and objectives of the College. We ﬁrmly believe “every child matters”.

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18 St. Patrick’s College, Maghera, Prospectus 2024The Sta and Governors of St Patrick’s College believe that children are entitled to an education of the highest quality which is relevant and challenging; set in a safe, secure, nurturing environment. We aim to promote positive behaviour and early intervention.At St. Patrick’s we have three simple rules ‘Ready, Respectful, Safe’. We ask that our students are ‘Ready’ to learn and participate in school life.We encourage our students to be ‘Respectful’ of the individual dierences, opinions and values of other learners and adults in school. We insist that our students are ‘Safe’ in their actions and behaviours towards others and themselves.These three core values of ‘Ready, Respectful, Safe’ drive everything we do at the College and help shape the positive culture we want to see for our young people. This management approach is essential for eective teaching and learning. In focusing on these three core values, we will ensure and enable our students to be the best that they can be.Ready, Respectful, Safe

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19 St. Patrick’s College, Maghera, Prospectus 2024 At any time I can talk to the local Children’s Services Gateway Team 03001234333 or the PSNI Central Referral Unit at 028 9025 9299If I am still concerned I can contact the NI Public Services Ombudsman Tel: 0800 343 424If I am still concerned I can talk or write to the Chairperson of the Board of Governors – Mrs A Mc CorryIf I am still concerned I can talk to the Designated Teacher for Safeguarding – Mrs J Young Tel: (028 79642451) OR I can talk to the Principal – Mrs K Crilly OR Mrs G Carville (Board of Governors)How to Report a ConcernI can talk to the Head of Year - Tel: (028 79642451)I have a concern about my child’s or any child’s safety

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20 St. Patrick’s College, Maghera, Prospectus 2024Pupils may avail of a whole range of extracurricular activities such as Music, Drama, Public Speaking, Art, Science and Quiz competitions: Feiseanna, Business Enterprise and Language Societies. The College has a choir, which has competed successfully throughout the province. Traditional music and cultural activities are also oered. Many pupils attend the Gaeltacht and compete in competitions.SportSport plays a signiﬁcant role in the life of the College. It gives opportunities to develop a variety of skills such as teamwork, self-discipline and commitment. In addition to the programmes of study in the National Curriculum for Physical Education, the College oers Gaelic Football, Hurling, Camogie and Athletics. These are oered at competition level.Aims:(i) To encourage each pupil to discover and develop his/her talents which will be recognised and valued. These will include physical, personal and social qualities.(ii) To encourage the widest possible participation in a range of activities through both timetabled Physical Education and extra-curricular sports programmes which contribute signiﬁcantly to pupils’ personal development.(iii) To liaise and co-operate as fully as possible with local communities to encouragepupils’ awareness of and participation in parish and community life.Extra-Curricular Activities The College facilities include a Sports Hall, 2 gymnasia, a ﬁtness suite, 5 grass football pitches, an all-weather court, a tarmac play area and tennis courts/outdoor basketball courts. Use is also made of the following o-site facilities:(i) Local Recreation Centre facilities which comprise hall, cardiovascular ﬁtness room,ﬁtness suite, Omni turf court, soccer pitch and golf driving range.(ii) Local G.A.A. pitches.Pupils can participate in:Athletics Badminton BasketballCamogieChessCoding clubCross-country Dance Gaelic footballGymnasticsHealth-ﬁtness HurlingLego clubMovie club Netball RoundersSoccer Table-tennis Tennis UnihocVolleyball WalkingZumbaFurther details can be obtained from the College.St. Patrick’s College has a proud record in all of these areas and hopes to continue thetradition of aiming for high achievement in all aspects of College life and pursuits.

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24 St. Patrick’s College, Maghera, Prospectus 2024House SystemAs part of our pastoral support, we encourage pupils to support one another across the year groups as part of the College House system. This is a way of creating a sense of family between pupils of all ages, with a common purpose to focus on success, achievement and to celebrate the contribution everyone makes to the school. Each House is led by a Head of House and Assistant Head of House who motivate and engage pupils to work together to gain House points and to ﬁnd opportunities to celebrate successes from across the House. There are House assemblies when pupils from every year group come GrillaghHead of House: E DigneyAssistant Head of House: P O’CarrollMoyolaHead of House: N O’KaneAssistant Head of House: M TaggartBannHead of House: M McLooneAssistant Head of House: E Mc LaughlinAgiveyHead of House: K McGurkAssistant Head of House: N HannaRoeHead of House: P TonerAssistant Head of House: A GormleyMaineHead of House: A DuddyAssistant Head of House: E McKaytogether as one family to recognise the accomplishments of membersfrom Year 8 to Year 10 and there are fun days which help Houses gain points.Senior pupils are encouraged to motivate and mentor younger pupilsin their House to celebrate their gifts and talents.Where pupils represent the school or have signiﬁcant success in or out of school, the House celebrate them and Heads of House see that points are awarded for this eort bringing further success to the House as a whole. Like any family, the House celebrate together and work together to win rewards for the House.AGIVEYAGIVEYMAINEMAINE

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25 St. Patrick’s College, Maghera, Prospectus 2024Conﬁdentiality and Record KeepingNo promise of conﬁdentiality can or will ever be made to a child or anyone else giving information about possible child abuse. The information received will be shared only with those professionals who need to know and within the appropriate professional context.SafeguardingSta in St. Patrick’s have a primary responsibility for the care, welfare and safety of the pupils a duty which is carried out through implementation of the Pastoral Care Policy, which aims to provide a caring, supportive and safe environment, valuing individuals for their unique talents and abilities. In such an environment, the young people can learn and develop to their full potential. Pupils are taught about the signs and risks of abuse, in order to help them to recognise unwelcome behaviour from others and to acquire the conﬁdence and skills they need to keep themselves safe.HomeworkAll pupils are expected to set time aside each evening for homework, which is based on what is covered in each subject in class, to reinforce learning and consolidate knowledge and understanding. Teachers and pupils use software called SIMS Engagement to set and view homework. SIMS Parent and SIMS Student Apps software is readily available to parents and pupils online and as an app for mobile phones. Pupils can view their homework on the student app. Parents can also log on and check that homework has been completed. We use the SIMS Parent App to share all information electronically with parents/guardians, this includes attendance, behaviour and academic progress as well as all other relevant information.UniformUniform is compulsory. Details are available from the College on request.Parent BulletinWe communicate weekly with parents through our bulletin, posted each Friday on SIMS App. It is important that parents use the SIMS App frequently to be fully updated with school business.School ClosuresThe College operates statutory closures as set out by the Department of Education. Details of all closures are published through the College literature and website. All pupils are expected to observe these arrangements.

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26 St. Patrick’s College, Maghera, Prospectus 2024The College provides a wide variety of opportunities for pupils to develop their talents beyond the requirements of the National Curriculum. Some of these have to be funded privately. To assist the College with resources, transport costs, pupils’ rewards, extra-curricular activities and educational visits the College asks for a School Fund. This charge is kept to a minimum and is adjusted to take account of the number of children from the same family. Otherwise the regulations laid down in the Education Order (NI) 1989 are observed. This is a voluntary contribution and parents are asked to support it. No pupil has been, or will be penalised because of failure to support this fund.Additional CostsOther expenses may be incurred by individual pupils.These are: -(1) Individual or group music tuition. Parents will be asked, in advance, to agree to the arrangement and the proposed fee. This refers to tuition not associated with the Northern Ireland Curriculum. (2) Entry fees for examinations paid by the College for which the pupil failed to sit.Charges and Remissions(3) Ingredients and materials needed for courses in practical subjects oered by the College, where the pupil receives the ﬁnished product.(4) Residential trips(5) Cost for the replacement of books or equipment belonging to the College, which the pupil has lost or damaged. Damages to College property, e.g. glass, will be charged to the person who caused the damage. Malicious damage will be considered as a criminal oence and treated accordingly. Pupils will be charged for repair of damage.The College reserves the right to cancel any activity arranged under the terms of the above agreement.

St. Patrick's College, Maghera Prospectus

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