Founded in 1810, it was originally a university-level institution with faculties for arts and medicine, as well as a school. It is now a voluntary grammar school situated on an 8 acre city-centre site where the first buildings were erected. These are fine buildings after the design of Sir John Soane. Many major additions have been made, most recently a technology and design centre, a sports hall and a new library and ICT centre. Academic standards are high and examination results good. Music and drama are strongly supported with outstanding performances. The main sports and games are rugby, hockey, cricket, lawn tennis, rowing and athletics. Many pupils have participated in sport at national and international level and the school is particularly successful at rugby. A large number of clubs and societies cater for most conceivable interests. There is a CCF contingent (with Army and RAF sections), a sizeable Scout troop (with Venture Scout section) and a community service group.
Pupils: Age range 11-19, 1050 day boys. Entrance: Main entry age 11. Entry through new NI common entrance assessment; for sixth form entry, 5 GCSEs at least grade B and positive report from current school. Majority of entrants from maintained schools; some from own prep school, Inchmarlo.
Fees are paid by the local Education & Library Board for residents of Northern Ireland, except for a charge for direct expenses (eg stationery).
Principal: Miss Janet Williamson, in post since 2007. Previously Principal of Antrim Grammar School, Vice-Principal of Wilsons Boys' Grammar School (Surrey) and Head of Sixth Form at Aylesbury Boys' Grammar School (Buckinghamshire). Teaching staff: 63 full time. 2 part time.
GCSE: 158 pupils in fifth: 90+% gained at least grade C in 7+ subjects. A-levels: 122 in upper sixth: 20% passed in 4+ subjects, 74% in 3 subjects, with an average final point score of 300.
97% of sixth form leavers go on to a degree course (10% after a gap year), 10% to Oxbridge. 15% take courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, 34% in science and engineering, 12% in law, 33% in humanities and social sciences, 3% in art and design, 2% in music. Others typically go on to art, drama or music colleges or to non-degree courses or on to careers.
GCSE, AS and A-levels. 20 GCSE subjects, 25 AS/A-level. Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level. Also non-examined enrichment courses and key skills programme. 40% took science A-levels; 25% arts/humanities; 35% both. Vocational: Work experience available. Languages: French, German, Latin and Spanish offered to GCSE and A-level; also Greek GCSE. Regular exchanges. ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum in all age groups. 240 computers for pupil use (8 hours a day), all networked and all with email and internet access; network has been extended over whole site. Most pupils take ICT as part of sixth form enrichment course.
Music: Up to 30% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Some 7 musical groups including orchestra, choir, jazz band, string, brass ensembles. Winners of various categories of Belfast Music Festival including Ulster TV Choir of the year. Drama: Drama offered. Many pupils are involved in school productions, eg Oklahoma. Art and design: On average, 32 take GCSE, 15 A-level. Winners of NI USPCA competition.
Sport: Options include rugby, hockey, cricket, rowing, athletics, tennis, badminton, golf, soccer, table-tennis, swimming, water polo, fencing. 47 pupils recently represented Northern Ireland and/or Ireland at various sports; in recent years all-Ireland hockey champions, regular winners Ulster schools' rugby, hockey, cricket, golf, swimming, water polo and tennis competitions. Activities: Pupils take silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Optional CCF and community service (very active group). Over 30 clubs, including chess, Christian Union, current affairs, debating, electronics, computing, media, foreign languages, classical, Young Enterprise.
Uniform: School uniform worn throughout. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses. Prefects/head boy, heads of houses and house prefects appointed by the Principal, following discussions with staff and a poll of the lower sixth. Religion: Non-denominational. Social: Drama and music with girls' schools; quizzes, debates, Christian Union with local schools. Trips abroad for skiing; community service in eg Romania and Zambia; scouting, music, World Challenge expedition every 2 years (eg Tanzania); sport tours eg Barcelona, Barbados, South Africa, Japan; German school exchange. Meals self-service. School shop.
Pupils failing to produce homework once might expect to be kept in or given detention; those involved with illegal drugs will be liable to suspension and further action by the Board of Governors.
Dawson Stelfox (Irish Everest Expedition 1993); Sir Brian Mawhinney, Lembit Opik (MPs); Michael Longley (poet); Lord Carswell of Killeen (Law Lord); Keith Crossan (most capped Irish rugby winger); Sammy Nelson (Arsenal Double winning team); Colonel Tim Collins (British Army).
|
