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Principal:
Mrs J Ashenhurst, BEd (COM), PQH
Chairman of the Board of Governors: Mr W McCullough
INTRODUCTION
The school building is an impressive modern complex
comprising sports hall, media suite and recording
studio, gymnasium, fitness suite, library, music suite,
business studies, science laboratories, general subjects
rooms, remedial support centre, lecture theatre, drama
room, mathematics laboratory, art studios, technology
suite, workshops, networked computer, curriculum support
counselling and careers suites. It is situated on
a large open site including playing fields. The
school has a new field turf facility completed through
lottery funding, a new Home Economics block and a full
refurbishment of the games hall and admin block.
The majority of boys
continue their studies in our sixth form. The
school offers a wide range of courses for boys in the
age group 11-18 e.g. GCE 'A' level, GCSE,
non-examination courses and special remedial classes.
The post 16 courses are double award Science and Art,
Advanced level in Business, Engineering, P.E., Moving
Image Art, ICT, History, Geography, Leisure Studies,
Travel & Tourism, Music, Drama, Technology, R.E.,
English Literature.
All pupils follow the
Northern Ireland Curriculum and are assessed at the end
of Key Stage 3 (age 14) and Key Stage 4 (age 16).
On entry the boys are streamed into five groups.
The grouping continues for the first three years
although boys may be transferred from on group to
another at any time depending on their progress.
The organisation within the school ensures that each
pupil's academic progress and general well being are
continually monitored through a system of class
teachers, year teachers, heads of school and the school
counsellor. Pupils in year 8 receive Literacy
support from an additional teacher working alongside
their specialist teachers. They also receive
Reading support on an individual or small group basis.
Class teachers are in daily contact with their group and
year teachers regularly check classwork, homework,
progress and attendance and contact parents as required.
In addition to the reading programme we are offering
literacy support, dyslexia support, linguistic phonics
and the toe to toe programme. The full time
Counsellor sees pupils on an individual basis during the
year and is available to any pupils experiencing
difficulties.
At the end of year 10
pupils select appropriate courses to follow in years 11
+ 12 (i.e. GCSE or Vocational) which they will study for
GCSE. After consultation with parents, all boys
follow courses leading to appropriate external
examinations. In addition the the subjects from
the first 3 years the following subjects are available
in years 11 and 12:- Double Award Science (Chemistry,
Physics, Biology), English Literature, Health Education,
Home Economics, Careers, Business Studies, Media
Studies, information Systems and Office Applications,
French, R.E. and Learning for Life and Work. In
year 11 and 12 some boys may spend on day per week at a
local Further Education College on a vocational
education course. Close links with Ashfield Girls'
School ensures the widest possible range of courses.
A franchise arrangement exists between Ashfield Boys'
and BMC (Castlereagh).
The school operates an
After School Learning for Year 12 pupils sitting GCSE. A
grant has been received for an Academic Award System in
years 9 and 10.
Extra curricular activities
are believed to be of great value to pupils and so clubs
and societies including School Newspaper, Chess,
Science, Computers, Horticulture, Photography, Pottery,
Fitness, Craft/Model making, Sailing, Duke of Edinburgh
Award and Badminton meet at lunch time or after school.
The school, with Sports Development Officer for
University of Ulster, provides high quality sports
coaching to East Belfast Primary Schools. The
sporting aspect includes 6 soccer sides competing each
week. Regular Hockey, Basketball, Athletics and
Rugby sides also represent the school. The wider
interests of the boys are atered for by field trips,
educational trips to Brussels, Paris, New York / USA
(skiing). All Year 8 pupils are given the
opportunity to go on a residential trip to an outdoor
centre. Music tuition is available in school and
from visiting tutors. The school Orchestra plays
at school functions inside and outside school. The
school has a Drama Production with Ashfield Girls'.
Parents are encouraged to
visit the school and make contact with class teachers
and other staff involved with their children at any time
during a pupil's career. Arrangements are also
made for all parents to meet the Principal or senior
staff individually during September in a boy's first
term and again towards the end of his year 10 and 12.
Parents are kept in contact with boys' progress through
reports which are issued twice per year in junior
school, and up to four per year in the Senior school.
It has always been school policy that every parent is
given the opportunity each year to discuss their son's
school report with all his subject teachers at two
parents' evenings and afternoons.
Parents receive a homework
report every Friday. Emphasis is placed on careers
education and guidance. In years 11 and 12 all
boys and their parents are interviewed by school careers
staff and Training and Employment Agency Officers.
All pupils undertake a session of work experience.
The opportunity exists for pupils to experience the
world of work in Europe.
Pastoral care is given by a
group of experienced year teachers and counsellors and
there is a whole school Personal and Social Education
programme. The Year 14 'A' Level pupils go on
Media and Business Studies visit to New York each year.
All pupils must wear
full school uniform which consists of black blazer with
badge, grey or white shirt, school tie, dark grey
trousers and black shoes. A compulsory PE kit
can be purchased from the school. More information
can be obtained by either calling personally, phoning or
requesting a copy of the school prospectus for
prospective pupils and parents.
Parents are invited to
visit the Department of Education's web-site and view
our report of an inspection in 2008. |
