Prospectus 2015 Friends’ School Lisburn...Prospectus 2015 Friends’ School Lisburn “Excellence...

Prospectus 2015 Friends’ School Lisburn

“ E x c e l l e n c e w i t h i n a c a r i n g , s u p p o r t i v e c o m m u n i t y ”

2

The Board of Governors of

Friends’ School is made up of

ten representatives of Ulster

Friends, four nominees of the

Department of Education, two

elected parent governors and

two elected teacher governors.

The Chairman of the Board of

Governors and the Principal

report on the School to Ulster

Quarterly Meeting.

Today Friends’ is a day school, still standing on its original site on Prospect Hill, and welcomes pupils from the whole community in Lisburn and the surrounding area. Friends’ enjoys modern facilities to support pupils’ learning within and beyond the classroom. Building work to replace Harding House with a new classroom block for Music and Mathematics is due to begin in January 2015.

The School may have changed greatly from its beginnings as a boarding school for some 30 boys and girls in 1774, but its distinctive Quaker ethos remains, based on the worth of each individual.

History and Development

Friends’ School Lisburn

is one of the longest

established Quaker

Schools in the world,

having been founded

in 1774.

It is one of nine Quaker

Schools in Britain and

Ireland and enjoys links

with the other Quaker

schools across the

world, for example in

the United States, India

and Australia.

Friends’ School Lisburn | PROSPECTUS 2015

3WELCOME

Welcome to Friends’ School Lisburn

Thank you for your interest in Friends’

School. Our aim is ‘excellence within

a caring, supportive community’.

Each of those words is important. We believe that there is a strong sense of community at Friends’ and that effective pastoral care helps to provide an environment in which pupils can excel. Good relationships are very important and we actively encourage tolerance and respect for others so that all, from whatever culture or background, are welcome to attend Friends’ School.

We place a high value on academic excellence and on providing a wide range of curricular activities so that all of our pupils have the opportunity to discover and achieve their potential. We wish Friends’ to be a place where all pupils enjoy learning and where they feel encouraged to do their best in all they undertake. It is our aim also to prepare pupils for life beyond School and to equip them to make a contribution to the wider community.

This prospectus gives an introduction to school life at Friends’. You are very welcome to find out more by visiting School and speaking with pupils and members of staff.

Elizabeth Dickson (Principal)


4 FRIENDS’ SCHOOL VALUES AND AIMS

Friends’ School owes its continuity and stability

to its foundation by the Religious Society of

Friends. Therefore each individual is valued as of

equal standing before God and a sense of social

awareness is encouraged through service to others.

Our aim is to provide an environment in which pupils, staff and parents are committed to the idea of excellence within a caring, supportive community.

We seek:

› to enable all pupils to develop their academic potential and interests to the fullest extent.

› to provide a broad and balanced curriculum relevant to the needs of our pupils.

› to foster the self-esteem of pupils and staff.

› to encourage the moral and spiritual development of our pupils.

› to establish a partnership between the School, the parents and the local community.

› to prepare pupils for adult life.

Friends’ School Values and Aims


5PASTORAL CARE

Pastoral CareThe pastoral care of each pupil is at the heart

of everything that we do at Friends’ and we are

committed to creating a caring and supportive

community built on open, clear lines of

communication and positive relationships with staff,

pupils and parents.

It is very important to us that our pupils feel happy, safe and secure in School and that they feel able to express their views and concerns in the knowledge that those concerns will be received sympathetically and that appropriate action will be taken.

A climate of co-operation exists in School with all members of staff working together to support pupils in their learning, fostering positive attitudes, enjoyment, self-motivation, personal responsibility and independence. We encourage pupils to set high standards for themselves, both inside and beyond the classroom. High standards of behaviour are expected and staff strive to be fair and consistent in their approach. The achievements of pupils, both inside and out of School, are recognised and celebrated through whole school and year group assemblies, often led by pupils and addressing a variety of moral, social and personal issues. Pupils are given opportunities to take part in a wide range of curricular and extra-curricular activities and through such shared experiences, a real sense of belonging to our school community can develop. We place a high value on service to the wider community, offering our young people a variety of volunteering opportunities through which they can look beyond themselves and help others.

A Vice Principal is responsible for pastoral care and she works alongside two Heads of School and two Year Teachers and five Collect teachers for each year group. There is continuity of care from Year 8 to Year 14. Collect teachers meet with Collect groups of pupils each morning to enable strong and positive relationships to form and develop; and to monitor the progress and welfare of pupils in each Collect group.

They oversee the development and production of pupil Progress Files through which pupils’ contribution is also recognised and celebrated. We encourage and value regular communication with parents who can contact pastoral staff at any time to discuss pupil progress and other issues.

A Designated Teacher and Deputy Designated Teacher take responsibility for all Safeguarding issues and our Safeguarding Policy acknowledges the duty of care of each member of staff towards each young person in School.

A qualified Nurse works during school hours to provide medical care for all pupils, including those with specified and particular needs. In addition, two Counsellors, from external agencies, provide further support for pupils through sessions organised on a weekly basis.

School also endeavours to build and maintain positive relationships with professional support agencies outside School.

Special Educational Needs

Individual education plans, drawn up, monitored and evaluated by the trained Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator, in consultation with parents and members of staff, support pupils with special educational needs.

Classroom assistants work alongside subject teachers to provide individual support to a number of pupils. Disabled pupils have access to the full curriculum.

“the quality of pastoral care is also outstanding.”

Inspection Report ETI, February 2014


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Mentoring is a very important area of pupil support

at Friends’. This year some ninety Sixth Form

pupils have volunteered to work with younger

pupils, helping them with homework, personal

organisation and work in particular subjects.

Mentors meet with pupils on a regular basis outside class time, usually after School, in small groups or individually. We value the supportive and positive relationships that develop between the senior and junior pupils as a result.

Additionally, in Year 8, three Mentors are assigned to each Collect group at the beginning of the year and they assist with Year 8’s induction to School, working alongside the Collect Teachers and two Heads of Year. The Year 8 Mentors stay with the Collect all year, getting to know their group of pupils very well.

In Years 9 and 10, Mentors assist Collect Teachers once a week in Extended Collects and provide another layer of support for junior school pupils.

Mentoring recognises that all pupils have something valuable to offer and helps to create a school community in which pupils are encouraged to take responsibility for each other. Experiences can be shared and senior pupils can gain practical experience working with younger pupils and develop their own self confidence and interpersonal skills.

Mentoring

MENTORING


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School Council

The School Council is chaired by the Head Boy and Head Girl. Through the Council, pupils have the opportunity to make their views heard, be listened to and discuss matters that are important to them. The Council gives pupils a key part in consultation and decision making in School; and also in the formation of policy. It also gives pupils the opportunity for leadership in their year groups and for working alongside staff and other pupils.

We believe that the Council promotes communication and co-operation between staff and pupils and also among pupils themselves. It also cultivates a sense of belonging to School through shared responsibility.

Council members are elected annually and each year group elects three representatives. School Council sub-committees have addressed issues such as food, facilities, uniform and behaviour at past meetings and all policies in School are passed through the School Council for consultation. In this way, we hope that pupils are represented in key decisions made in School.

House System

The four Houses are Aughrim, Collin, Croob and Divis. The House System brings together pupils from across all year groups in House activities.

The members of staff who are House Leaders work closely with the senior pupils appointed as House Captains. Regular House Assemblies promote a sense of belonging and foster good relationships across the year groups.

There is an annual competition for the

Inter-House Shield, drawing together points awarded for House competitions which include

music, sport, quizzes and

charity collections. Pupils are also awarded

House points for their involvement in and contribution to the life of School.

School Council and House System

SCHOOL COUNCIL AND HOUSE SYSTEM


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An important part of School life is service to others. In keeping

with our Quaker ethos, we wish our pupils to make a positive

contribution to the local and wider community, both when they

are at Friends’ and after they leave School and take their place in

society.

In the Sixth Form, around 70 Year 14 pupils take part community service each week, volunteering in three local residential homes, eleven primary schools and special schools, youth groups and with charities such as the British Heart Foundation, all in the Lisburn area.

For the past two years, Year 13 pupils have been working with Habitat for Humanity, learning about the charity’s work and getting involved in renovating housing run by the Simon Community in Belfast. We are planning to take pupils to Eastern Europe next year to work with Habitat on a building project. Pupils in Year 13 also work with the National Trust as part of their volunteering programme to aid in the renovation of Terrace Hill Garden at Minnowburn.

Friends’ is a member of the Millennium Volunteers Scheme, allowing us to recognise all the service pupils give to others, within and beyond School. As part of this scheme each year a number of our pupils achieve awards for giving over 200 hours of service.

We value our links with the local organisation Quaker Service and Sixth Formers volunteer each summer at Quaker Cottage. The Charity Committee, run by Year 13 pupils, co-ordinates a range of fundraising events in School. Members of the Committee raise awareness of the charities supported through holding whole School Assemblies. Pupils volunteer to assist local charities, such as Lisburn HomeStart, to be of practical help in our local community. This year not only has the whole School taken part in the annual collection for Christmas hampers of food for the families helped by Quaker Cottage but they have also extended this provision by raising funds to buy the children of seven families Christmas presents.

Community Service

COMMUNITY SERVICE


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Eco Committee

Our ECO Committee is a pupil led team which organises whole school activities and leads campaigns to improve the quality of our School environment. In October 2013 Friends’ gained the ECO Schools Green Flag Award. The ECO Committee co-ordinated and led all the projects, but the Award could not have been achieved without the support and enthusiasm of the whole School community in promoting our ECO slogan: ‘Don’t Just Wear Green – Be Green!’

Members of the Eco-Committee raise whole school awareness of environmental issues through leading assemblies, highlighting to pupils how their work fits with the Quaker values of the School and our collective responsibility to promote sustainable living. The Eco Committee has drawn up an environmental policy for the School, now a feature of the homework planner.

Each cycle of applying for the Green Flag Award requires the school to undertake an environmental review and formulate an action plan. Members of the committee are currently interested in resource management – specifically the reduction in printing, photocopying, food waste and energy consumption. Whilst this is the main focus, events such as the ‘Big Pedal’ are now an annual fixture. Senior members of the Eco committee have also been afforded the opportunity to enhance the school grounds by undertaking horticulture as an enrichment course. Their work will support the goals of the committee. Friends’ Eco committee aims to facilitate each pupil’s sense of responsibility towards the environment

and gives pupils valuable opportunities to assume leadership and organisational roles within the school community. Global Awareness

Friends’ has twice been awarded the International School Award in recognition of work carried out in the School to bring the world into the classroom and we are applying this summer to gain the award for the third time. We continue to develop and consolidate links with schools across the globe through new projects each year which broaden awareness of the world around us. That may be a project on food with a school in Zaragoza, Spain, joint work on a class novel with pupils in a Quaker school in Maryland, USA, or simply sharing experiences of school life with our partner school in Aix-en-Provence.

The School’s international work includes a wide range of educational visits and exchanges. We have partner schools in France and Germany as well as a long established Home Stay programme in Spain. Following an exchange between two pupils we have embarked on a Citizenship project with St John’s College, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Eco Committee and Global Awareness

ECO COMMITTEE AND GLOBAL AWARENESS


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KEY STAGE 3 - (YEARS 8 - 10)

Pupils in Years 8, 9 & 10 follow a broad common curriculum, developing knowledge and skills across a wide range of subjects. Teaching seeks to encourage pupils to enjoy learning and to be curious to find out more.

In Year 8 pupils study Art and Design, Drama, English, French, Geography, History, Home Economics, Information Technology, Junior Science, Mathematics, Music, Religious Education, Physical Education and Games. There are also classes in Learning for Life and Work which include courses in Citizenship, Employability and Personal Development.

In Years 9 and 10, alongside French, pupils study a second language, either German or Spanish. Junior Science is divided into separate classes for the three sciences: Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

Across all subjects pupils are given opportunities for challenge in their learning through participation in competitions for individuals and teams. Visits to School from local artists, writers and musicians help inspire pupils’ enjoyment of the Arts, as do the performances from the French, German and Spanish theatre companies that visit School each year. Junior Programming and Animation clubs give pupils further opportunities to develop their ICT skills.

The School Curriculum - Key Stage 3At Friends’ we seek to provide a curriculum that gives pupils a rich learning experience and combines the

acquisition of skills with a solid foundation of knowledge and understanding.

THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM - KEY STAGE 3


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Sample Timetable

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Period 1

09.15 – 09.50English ICT English PE Games

Period 2

09.50 – 10.25English ICT Geography PE Games

10.25 – 10.40 Break Break Break Break Break

Period 3

10.40 – 11.15History Mathematics Mathematics Music Mathematics

Period 4

11.15 – 11.50History PSE Mathematics Music Geography

Period 5

11.50 – 12.25Geography French French Drama French

12.25 – 13.10 Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch

Period 7

13.10 – 13.45Mathematics Technology Science English

Home

Economics

Period 8

13.45 – 14.20Mathematics Technology Science English

Home Economics

Period 9

14.20 – 14.55French English History Art Science

Period 10

14.55 – 15.30French

Religious Education

Religious Education

Art Science

SAMPLE TIMETABLE


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We appreciate that it can be daunting making

the move from primary school into Year 8 and, at

Friends’, we aim to make sure that all settle in as

quickly as possible.

We make appointments for individual meetings with parents of all incoming pupils in early June to give an opportunity to talk over all aspects of school life at Friends’. This is followed by an evening for our new Year 8 pupils and their parents in the middle of June. On this evening pupils can meet others in their Collect or registration groups and find out a little about Friends’. The PTA also hold a BBQ and Treasure Hunt for our new pupils and their families at the end of June.

At the start of the autumn term we put on a number of activities in School to allow our new Year 8 pupils to get to know each other, their teachers and, importantly, to become familiar with School. Our new Year 8 pupils come into School before the other pupils for a morning in late August to meet up again with others in their Collect, their Collect and Year Teachers and their Sixth Form Mentors. In September we build in other days to enable pupils to mix with others in their year outside timetabled classes with sessions on study skills and on the transition to ‘Big School’. We also take all our Year 8 pupils to Castlewellan for an activity day which allows them to build new friendships in a different setting.

Settling into Year 8

SETTLING INTO YEAR 8


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KEY STAGE 4 - (YEARS 11 AND 12)

In Key Stage 4 pupils take 10 or 11 subjects at GCSE level, choosing from a wide range of options.

All study a common core of English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Science (one, two or three of Biology, Chemistry and Physics or Double Award Science), at least one modern language (from French, German and Spanish) and Religious Studies.

Pupils choose the remainder of their subjects from: Art & Design, Business Studies, Economics, Further Mathematics, Geography, History, Home Economics, ICT, Journalism, Moving Image Arts, Music, Physical Education and Technology and Design.

Additional GCSE courses in Engineering and Photography, as well as a BTEC in Performing Arts, are offered to pupils in collaboration with the other schools in the Lisburn Area Learning Community. These courses are taken in twilight sessions after school one day a week and are in addition to the ten GCSE subjects taken in School.

Non GCSE Subjects taken by all pupils are Physical Education, Games and Learning for Life and Work, which includes modules in Employability, Citizenship and Personal Development.

In Key Stage 4, pupils’ learning continues to be enriched by fieldwork, by links with industry, visits from outside agencies, attendance at subject specific workshops and conferences. Pupils are also encouraged to improve their language skills through Exchange or Home Stay visits to France, Germany and Spain.

The School Curriculum - Key Stage 4

THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM - KEY STAGE 4


14 SIXTH FORM

The Sixth Form gives pupils the opportunity to pursue their main academic interests and to deepen their understanding and knowledge of the three or four subjects they most enjoy.

Pupils choose their AS and A level subjects from a broad range of subject options: Applied ICT, Art and Design, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Economics, Electronics*, English Literature, French, Geography, German, Government and Politics, Health & Social Care*, History, Home Economics, Mathematics and Further Mathematics, Moving Image Arts*, Music, Physical Education, Physics, Religious Studies, Spanish and Technology and Design and Travel and Tourism*. Software Systems Development is being introduced as an A level subject from September 2015.

*Subjects taught in collaboration with The Wallace High School the South Eastern Regional College or Belfast Metropolitan College.

Pupils have many opportunities to extend their subject knowledge through activities beyond the classroom. For example, Sentinus engineering and App development projects involve a number of pupils working alongside those in industry. Pupils studying Business Studies are encouraged to become involved in the Young Enterprise Scheme which gives experience of setting up and running a mini-company. In October pupils studying Religious Studies went to London on a visit that linked with their studies and involved a visit to All Souls Homeless Shelter and, in November, Travel and Tourism pupils organised a visit to Paris as part of their course. Pupils taking Health and Social Care have organised work experience for themselves in primary schools and residential care homes across the Lisburn area.

Pupils also have the opportunity to widen their interests through our General Studies programme and benefit also from taking a leading role in clubs and societies.

Sixth Form


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Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) extends throughout the School and aims to assist pupils in exploring their interests, aptitudes and strengths as well as allowing them to find out about the many opportunities that lie beyond School. In our recent inspection report the ETI commented that the careers provision at Friends’ is flexible, forward-looking and responsive to the individual needs, interests and aspirations of our pupils.

Careers Education starts in Year 8 through the Employability strand of the Learning for Life and Work programme when pupils begin to examine their own skills and qualities, consider local and global employment opportunities, learn about the changing world of work and investigate aspects of enterprise and entrepreneurship.

The Careers Department plays an important role in Personal Career Planning at key transition points: at the end of Key Stage 3, when pupils make their GCSE choices; at the end of Key Stage 4, when AS and A level choices are made and in the Sixth Form when pupils look beyond school. In Year 10, pupils take part in a Careers workshop along with pupils from the other schools in the Lisburn Area Learning Community. In Year 12, pupils attend a Careers Convention organised by the Lisburn Business Education Partnership and in Year 13, pupils plan and undertake a week of Work Experience Most of our pupils take up placements locally but each year we arrange for a number to travel further afield, building on links we have made with companies in Europe.

Pupils studying languages have the opportunity to complete a week’s work experience in France at Euro Disney where they work with the Sales and Marketing teams, in CSC, a Computing company in the centre of Paris and in a Primary school in Lyon. Last summer two pupils enjoyed a week with the Quaker Council for European Affairs in Brussels.

The majority of our pupils go on to university after Sixth Form so the focus in Years 13 and 14 is on preparation for university applications, with visits from admissions tutors from universities across the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland and Holland. We also arrange advice sessions on FE applications and the opportunities offered by Higher Apprenticeships in areas such as finance and software engineering. The Careers Department organises a programme of visiting speakers, many of them former pupils, whose aim is to inform and enthuse our Sixth Formers about a whole range of career opportunities and the many different pathways that can be taken. Our links with the local community are very important and we value the contribution of outside specialists who give each of our Year 14 pupils a formal mock interview in November.

Careers

CAREERS


16 SPORT

Friends’ School Lisburn has a proud tradition of sporting excellence with pupils achieving success in a wide range of sports at Ulster and Irish level. The school prides itself on its student participation levels and offers a broad and balanced curriculum which attempts to enthuse every pupil in the school regardless of their individual talents and skills. Extra-curricular and Saturday sports fixtures play an integral part of life at Friends’ and Year 8 pupils are encouraged to attend practices on Saturday mornings and represent School on one of the many teams in their year group.

Curricular and extra-curricular sports available to pupils over the course of the academic year are: athletics*, badminton*, basketball, cross-country*, dance, golf*, gymnastics, HRPE, hockey*, netball*, rugby*, equestrian*, softball, swimming* and tennis* (*teams entered for interschool competitions). There are regular tours for rugby, girls’ and boys’ hockey teams and for netball.

The School has an excellent sports complex which enables all pupils to have the best possible learning environment. The gymnasium is supplemented by a purpose built sports hall, including a fitness suite, which overlooks our sports grounds. On site are three rugby pitches, two cricket pitches and two new floodlit astroturf hockey pitches. Our five astroturf tennis courts provide additional winter training facilities and a new outdoor fitness and conditioning area is expected to be completed early in 2015. Off-site, the School uses Lisburn Leisureplex, Lisburn Racquets Club and, for athletics, Thiepval Army Barracks.

Sport


17SPORT


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Clubs and Societies

Pupils at Friends’ are encouraged to take advantage of the wide range of opportunities available to them in School clubs and societies. Participation in junior Maths and Science Clubs, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, Debating Clubs, Drama, Model United Nations, Scripture Union, The Eco

Committee, Young Enterprise and the Charity Committee allows

pupils to forge friendships and develop their

interests outside the classroom.

In addition, pupils can enter creative writing competitions through the English

Department, or test their skills in

competitions like the Maths Team Challenges,

the Chemistry Olympiad or even the Young Translators

event run by the Languages Department.

Music

As you approach the Music Department in school, it is impossible to ignore the exciting array of musical talent and the wide variety of opportunities available to pupils. There is an endless range of musical styles, with everything from Jazz, Irish traditional, Rock, African and Samba drumming.

Our instrumental tutors allow pupils to develop their individual talents that then transfer into our ensemble groups, including the Orchestra, Brass Group, Wind Band, Flute Ensemble, Folk Group and Jazz Band. Lessons are offered in brass, woodwind, strings, guitar, piano and singing. Pupils practise before and after school in preparation for concerts, competitions and events in the local community.

Choral singing continues to go from strength to strength, with a popular new Chamber Choir, the Friends’ Singers and the lively Junior Choir.

Extra Curricular Activities

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES


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The large numbers of pupils on stage, in the

orchestra and behind the scenes will never

forget their involvement in our School Musical in

November 2014.

Playing to packed houses every night during the week following half term, Friends’ pupils enthralled their audiences with their interpretation of Evita, building on the success of previous musicals such as West Side Story and My Fair Lady. Our juniors are looking forward to their production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory later in the year.

The creativity of our pupils can be seen not only in the pictures and installations in the Art rooms, but also in the artwork on the walls throughout School. The Art Department organises visits and workshops with local artists, designers, craftspeople and film-makers, allowing pupils to develop their skills. Junior and senior pupils enjoy success in local and national competitions in a range of media. The Animation club encourages budding Year 8 film makers to create stop motion animated projects using various software

packages and techniques, building their own props and scenery, making their own characters, adding sound and editing their own work in the dedicated Mac suite.

Pupils also have opportunities to take part in public speaking and debating, both in English and in other languages. Juniors and seniors enter debating and public speaking competitions and delegates from School attend Model United Nations conferences in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

This year, Year 10 pupils took part for the first time in the All-Ireland poetry reading competition, ‘Poetry Aloud’, organised by the National Library, Ireland, whilst a team of junior pupils enters the Kids’ Lit quiz each year. Visiting authors, book displays, theatre and cinema trips all encourage an enjoyment of the arts.

The Arts

THE ARTS


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There are many trips and visits organised through

School. The Modern Languages Department has

partner schools in France and Germany and a

home stay programme in Spain.

In the autumn term 2014 pupils visited our partner school, the Lycée Paul Cézanne, in Aix-en-Provence. They stayed with French families and experienced French family life and culture. Our French exchange partners will spend a week with us in Northern Ireland in February.

In June 2015, 67 Year 9 pupils will visit Paris and Normandy to further explore their interest and knowledge of Languages.

The Geography Department organises a highly enjoyable visit to Iceland where pupils witness the awesome tectonic processes that have helped shape Earth.

Pupils studying A level Travel and Tourism organise visits for other pupils and already this year have led successful trips to Paris and Dublin.

The History and Politics Department regularly takes senior school pupils to New York, Philadelphia and Washington and last year took pupils to Berlin for the first time. We have built links with Quaker schools in the United States through staff and pupil visits and pupils from Sandy Spring Friends School have visited us in Lisburn.

In September 2014 the Religious Studies Department visited London, visiting sites such as St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Meeting and also gave practical assistance in a homeless shelter.

There is also a long established and highly popular annual Ski Trip. Junior School

and Senior School Ski Trips run in alternate years. In February 2015 about 90 Senior Skiers will be visiting the slopes of Ehrwald, Austria.

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

In School we offer the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme at Silver and Gold levels. We start the scheme in Year 11, registering 35 pupils. The award involves pursuing a skill, maintaining a physical activity, getting involved in voluntary work and completing an expedition. We do most of our training and walking in the Mourne Mountains but for the Gold level we go to Scotland for our practice and then to the Lake District for the qualifying expedition. Former pupils who ended up climbing Everest and trekking in the Himalayas had their appetites whetted by first doing the ‘Duke of Edinburgh’ in School.

Trips and visits

TRIPS AND VISITS


21PUBLIC EXAMINATION RESULTS 2013 - 2014

Public Examination Results 2013-2014GCSENumber of pupils in Year 12 143Number of those with a Statement of Special Educational Needs 2Percentage entered for 7 or more subjects 100Percentage achieving 7 or more passes at Grades A* - C 99Percentage entered for 5 or more subjects 100Percentage achieving 5 or more passes at Grades A* - C 99

GCSE Level June 2014 ANALYSIS OF RESULTS (% achieving each grade)

No. Entered A*(%) A(%) B(%) C(%) D(%) E(%) F(%) G(%) U(%)Art & Design 19 42.11 31.58 21.05 5.26 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Biology 41 31.71 36.59 14.63 17.07 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Business Studies 20 20.00 40.00 40.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Chemistry 41 21.95 46.34 21.95 9.76 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Chinese 1 100.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Economics 18 11.11 16.67 44.44 27.78 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Engineering 6 50.00 33.33 16.67 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00English 143 23.78 44.06 31.47 0.70 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00English Literature 139 29.50 38.13 29.50 2.88 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00French 90 30.00 28.89 31.11 8.89 0.00 1.11 0.00 0.00 0.00Geography 81 19.75 30.86 38.27 9.88 0.00 1.23 0.00 0.00 0.00German 36 22.22 27.78 30.56 2.78 8.33 8.33 0.00 0.00 0.00History 56 21.43 23.21 37.50 16.07 1.79 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Home Economics 17 5.88 11.76 82.35 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Information Technology 39 41.03 51.28 5.13 0.00 2.56 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Journalism 9 11.11 22.22 55.56 11.11 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Mathematics 143 46.85 35.66 14.69 1.40 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Mathematics (Further) 55 50.91 34.55 9.09 5.45 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00MIA 3 0.00 0.00 0.00 66.67 0.00 0.00 33.33 0.00 0.00Music 10 40.00 20.00 30.00 10.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Photography 6 16.67 50.00 33.33 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Physical Education 22 27.27 40.91 22.73 9.09 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Physics 44 29.55 45.45 15.91 9.09 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Religious Studies 142 26.76 33.80 28.87 9.15 1.41 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Science (Double Award) 180 15.56 41.11 34.44 7.78 1.11 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Spanish 41 60.98 24.39 7.32 7.32 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Technology 25 12.00 36.00 40.00 12.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Totals 1425 28.70 35.93 27.58 6.74 0.63 0.35 0.07 0.00 0.00Cumulative % 28.70 64.63 92.21 98.95 99.58 99.93 100.00 100.00 100.00

Examination Performance - Trend Data

GCSE 2011 2012 2013 2014Percentage of Year 12 pupils gaining 5 or more GCSEs at Grades A* - C 100 100 99 99Northern Ireland Grammar School Average 5 or more GCSEs at Grades A*- C 97 97 97 n/aPercentage of Year 12 Pupils gaining 7 or more GCSEs at Grades A* - C(including English and Mathematics)

99 99 99 99

Northern Ireland Grammar School Average 7 or more GCSES at Grades A*- C(including English and Mathematics)

90 90 92 n/a


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ADVANCED LEVELNumber of pupils in Year 14 132Number of those with a Statement of Special Educational Needs 2Percentage achieving 3 or more passes at Grades A – C 87Percentage achieving 2 or more passes at Grades A – E 100

Advanced Level June 2014 ANALYSIS OF RESULTS (% achieving each grade)

No. Entered A*(%) A(%) B(%) C(%) D(%) E(%) U(%)Art 7 57.14 0.00 28.57 14.29 0.00 0.00 0.00Biology 52 11.54 32.69 46.15 9.62 0.00 0.00 0.00Business Studies 37 13.51 29.73 40.54 13.51 2.70 0.00 0.00Chemistry 34 17.65 26.47 38.24 17.65 0.00 0.00 0.00Applied ICT 6 0.00 33.33 33.33 16.67 16.67 0.00 0.00Economics 11 0.00 27.27 45.45 0.00 18.18 9.09 0.00Electronics 11 9.09 27.27 9.09 36.36 18.18 0.00 0.00English Literature 25 12.00 36.00 24.00 28.00 0.00 0.00 0.00French 21 23.81 23.81 14.29 23.81 9.52 4.76 0.00Further Maths 2 50.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 50.00Geography 30 3.33 40.00 40.00 16.67 0.00 0.00 0.00German 7 0.00 14.29 42.86 42.86 0.00 0.00 0.00History 24 4.17 29.17 37.50 20.83 4.17 0.00 4.17Home Economics 11 0.00 18.18 54.55 18.18 9.09 0.00 0.00Mathematics 50 12.00 40.00 26.00 14.00 6.00 2.00 0.00Moving Image Art 3 0.00 33.33 66.67 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Music 5 0.00 60.00 40.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Physical Education 6 0.00 0.00 33.33 33.33 16.67 16.67 0.00Physics 14 7.14 21.43 35.71 28.57 7.14 0.00 0.00Politics 10 0.00 40.00 50.00 0.00 10.00 0.00 0.00Religious Studies 19 10.53 21.05 52.63 10.53 5.26 0.00 0.00Spanish 17 17.65 23.53 23.53 29.41 5.88 0.00 0.00Technology 6 16.67 16.67 50.00 16.67 0.00 0.00 0.00Travel & Tourism 7 0.00 14.29 42.86 42.86 0.00 0.00 0.00Totals 415 11.08 29.40 36.14 17.59 4.34 0.96 0.48Cumulative % 11.08 40.48 76.63 94.22 98.55 99.52 100.00

Examination Performance - Trend Data

GCSE 2011 2012 2013 2014

Percentage of Year 14 pupils gaining 2 or more A Levels at Grades A - E 100 100 100 100

Northern Ireland Grammar School Average 2 or more A Levels at Grades A - E 99 99 100 n/a

Percentage of Year 14 Pupils gaining 3 or more A Levels at Grades A - C 87 94 91 87

Northern Ireland Grammar School Average 3 or more A Levels Grades A - C 76 77 77 n/a

PUBLIC EXAMINATION RESULTS 2013 - 2014


23KEY STAGE 3 (YEAR 10) LEVELS OF PROGRESSION 2014

KEY STAGE 3 (YEAR 10) LEVELS OF PROGRESSION 2014

Level 5 and above Level 6 and above Level 7

2013 2014 2013 2014 2013 2014

Communication Level 100 100 99 94 67 49

Using Mathematics Level 100 100 97 99 65 70

Year 14 School Leavers’ Destinations 2013-2014

Higher Education Further Education Employment Unknown

94.0% 5.2% 0.7% -

Annual Attendance Rate 2013 – 2014: 96.6%

The School Development Plan, 2014-2017, and School Policies are available to view on our website: www.friendsschoollisburn.org.uk

Our Appearance Code sets out our expectations regarding the wearing of school uniform and is also available to view on our website.

Friends’ School was inspected in February 2014 and the Inspection Report, published in April 2014, is available to view on our website or on the ETI website: www.etini.gov.uk

The overall findings were as follows:

Overall Performance Level: Outstanding

Achievements and Standards: Outstanding

Provision: Outstanding

Leadership and Management: Outstanding

The quality of pastoral care in School was also judged to be ‘outstanding’.


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SEPTEMBER 2015 :: YEAR 8 ADMISSIONS NUMBER: 140

The School will initially consider at Transfer stage those pupils who have taken the Common Entrance Assessment (CEA) provided by the Association for Quality Education (AQE) and who have been awarded a mark in the form of a standardised score or have been assigned to a band of scores after determination of an application for special circumstances or special provision. Information on the CEA is available from the School or on the AQE website (www.aqe.org.uk).

It should be noted that children resident in Northern Ireland at the time of their proposed admission must be admitted before children who are not resident.

The process for admissions, should the school have more applications than places available, is as set out below. The information to be provided in the event of a claim that special circumstances exist or that Special Provision should apply is detailed in Appendix 1.

It should be noted that the Board of Governors will not take into account the position of preference given to the school by the applicant on the Transfer Form. For example, an application received from a pupil who has placed Friends’ second in order of preference on the Transfer Form and who has not been offered a place by the school placed first in order of preference, will be considered in the same way as all first preference applicants to Friends’ School.

When considering which children should be selected for admission, the Board of Governors will only take into account information detailed on or attached to the Transfer Form. Please note therefore that it is the responsibility of the parents of the applicant to ensure that all

information relevant to the criteria is provided on the Parents’ Remarks section of the Transfer Form, or attached to the Form.

NB: Throughout the admissions criteria, ‘the score’ refers to the standardised score as awarded by AQE

ENTRANCE TESTS RESULTS Please note that the original notification of the score received from AQE should be attached to the Transfer Form.

ADMISSIONS The Board of Governors will consider initially those pupils who have taken the AQE Common Entrance Assessment and who have been awarded a score or have been assigned to a band of scores after determination of an application for special circumstances or special provision.

Applicants claiming that Special Circumstances and/or Special Provision apply will be considered first. Once a decision has been made for each pupil for these special cases, the applicant will be considered along with all pupils of the same scoring band for the purposes of applying the admissions criteria.

The scores of all applicants in the AQE Common Entrance Assessment will be placed in rank order and banded within ranges of 5 marks. Higher scores will precede lower scores. In order to determine which pupils will be accepted into Year 8 the following criteria will be applied.

Preference will be given to those in Band 1 before Band 2, Band 2 before Band 3, Band 3 before Band 4 and so on.

If the School is oversubscribed, there will come a point where a band contains more applicants than there are places available.

Within that Band, the remaining places will be allocated in accordance with the following sub-criteria.

a) applicants who are children of Members or Attenders of the Religious Society of Friends;

b) applicants who are in attendance in the Preparatory Department of Friends’ School, Lisburn;

c) applicants who have a brother or sister enrolled, or formerly enrolled, at Friends’ School, Lisburn at, or prior to, the date of transfer; this includes applicants who have a twin, or triplet, sibling already admitted.

d) applicants who are transferring from schools which have contributed pupils to Friends’ School, Lisburn within the last 5 years (a list of these is below); and who are the eldest, elder or only child in the family.

e) applicants whose mothers or fathers are past pupils of Friends’ School, Lisburn;

f) applicants who are entitled to Free School Meals;*

g) other applicants who are transferring from schools which have contributed pupils to Friends’ School, Lisburn within the last five years (a list of these is below);

h) applicants to whom (a) to (g) above do not apply.

If, following the application of the above sub-criteria in order, there comes a point where there are more pupils who meet a particular criterion than there are places available then the Board of Governors shall decide which of these pupils are to be admitted on the basis of computerised random selection.

* “entitled to Free School Meals” will mean applicants who are listed on the Education and Library Boards/ESA register as entitled to Free School Meals at the date on which their parent or guardian has signed their post-primary Transfer Form, or at any date up to and including 15th May 2015.

Admissions Criteria for Pupils at the normal transfer stage (Year 8)

ADMISSIONS CRITERIA


25APPENDIX 1

Special Circumstances The Board of Governors will consider medical or other circumstances which may have affected a child’s performance in the Common Entrance Assessment which are supported by contemporaneous documentary evidence of a medical or other appropriate nature. The Board of Governors will then decide whether the score awarded in the CEA should be adjusted.

It should be noted that if a claim for the consideration of Special Circumstances is made in respect of matters for which Special Access arrangements were granted for a pupil, the School will take into account the fact that the pupil was granted Special Access arrangements for those matters.

Application for Special Circumstances Parents who wish to apply to the School under Special Circumstances must complete Form SC14 obtainable from the school or AQE and attach it with appropriate documentary evidence, as detailed below, to the Transfer Form.

Medical Evidence When it is claimed that an applicant’s performance in the CEA has been affected by medical or other problems, independent evidence of the existence of the problem MUST be provided with the claim. Where the problem is a medical one of short term duration, the Board of Governors will require the production of evidence that the applicant was examined contemporaneously by a medical practitioner in relation to the illness. Where the difficulty or problem is of longer term duration, the Board of Governors will still require medical evidence. In both cases the medical practitioner providing the evidence must be independent ie. not related to the applicant.

Where the problem is of a non-medical nature, the parents of the applicant must also set out with the claim precise details of the problem and append appropriate contemporaneous evidence to corroborate its existence.

Educational Evidence** It is the responsibility of the parent to provide the educational evidence as detailed in Form SC14. This should include (where they exist):

• The original notification from AQE of the score achieved in the Common Entrance Assessment.

• Objective documentary evidence including, where they exist, the results for the pupil of any standardised tests conducted in Year 5, Year 6 and Year 7, eg NFER assessments and the results in any end of year assessments in English and Mathematics.

• Additional comparative information in respect of standardised test scores relating to the other pupils in the applicant’s Primary 7 class from the Primary School as set out in Form SC14.

Special Provision It is expected that all those seeking admission should sit the AQE CEA, with the exception of those pupils who take up residence in Northern Ireland after the 12th September 2014.

Special Provision will apply for:

1. Children whose parents wish them to transfer to Grammar Schools from Schools outside Northern Ireland.

2. Children who have received more than half their Primary education outside Northern Ireland.

3. Children who, because of medical or other problems which are supported by appropriate documentary evidence, were unable to take the CEA Assessment.

It should be noted that if a claim for the consideration of Special Provision is made in respect of matters for which Special Access arrangements were granted for a pupil, the School will take into account the fact that the pupil was granted Special Access arrangements for those matters.

Application for Special Provision Parents who wish to apply to the School under Special Provision should complete Form SC14 obtainable from the School or AQE, and attach it with appropriate documentary evidence, as detailed below, to the Transfer Form.

Parents must provide the precise reason why they believe the pupil is eligible for consideration under Special Provision and append educational evidence as detailed below. Educational Evidence** It is the responsibility of the parent to provide the educational evidence as detailed in Form SC14. This should include (where they exist):

• The original notification from AQE of the score achieved in the Common Entrance Assessment (if applicable).

• Objective documentary evidence including, where they exist, the results for the pupil of any standardised tests conducted in Year 5, Year 6, and Year 7, eg. NFER assessments, the results in any end of year assessments in English and mathematics, and end of year reports for P5 and P6.

• Additional comparative information in respect of standardised test scores relating to the other pupils in the applicants Primary 7 class from the Primary School as set out in Form SC14.

** Educational Evidence The Information Commissioner’s Office website www.ico.gov.uk

Appendix 1


26

contains guidance for parents to access information held by schools in relation to their child Duty to verify The Board of Governors reserves the right to require such supplementary

evidence as it may determine to support or verify information on any application form/Transfer Form.

Please note that Department of Education guidance states ‘the provision of false or incorrect information or the failure to provide

information within the deadlines set by post-primary schools can result in the withdrawal of a place and the inability to offer a place on the part of any school nominated on the applicant’s Transfer Form’.

CONTRIBUTORY PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS

Academy Anahilt Ballinderry Ballycarrickmaddy

Ballymacash Ballymacrickett Ballymacward Ballynahinch

Belvoir Park Ben Madigan Prep Braniel Brownlee

Christ the Redeemer Cedar Integrated Donacloney Down High Prep

Downshire Dromara Dromore Central Dunmurry

Fair Hill Finaghy Forthill Integrated Friends’ Prep

Harmony Hill Killowen King’s Park Knockmore

Largymore Lisburn Central Lough View Integrated Maghaberry

Maralin Village McKinney Meadowbridge Millenium Integrated

Moira Oakwood Integrated Old Warren Pond Park

Portadown Inegrated Riverdale Rowandale Integrated St Aloysius

St Anne’s St Colman’s, Lambeg St Francis St Joseph’s, Crumlin

St Joseph’s Lisburn St Patrick’s, Maralin Straidhavern Stranmillis

Tannaghmore Tonagh Wallace High Prep Waringstown

APPLICATIONS AND ADMISSIONS

Applications Admissions

2012 2013 2014 2012 2013 2014

313 257 263 140 141 140

ADMISSIONS SEPTEMBER 2014 - AQE SCORES

In September 2014, Friends’ School accepted pupils into Year 8 with scores in the AQE test ranging from 106 to 128. The band in which we were oversubscribed with applicants in 2014 was the Band 106 - 110. Within that band we used our sub-criteria (a) to (h) above to select pupils up to the 140th place in Year 8. In 2010 and 2011 Friends’ School was oversubscribed in the Band 101 - 105 and in 2012 and 2013 in the Band 106 – 110.

WAITING LIST POLICY AND ADMISSIONS CRITERIA AFTER THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE SCHOOL YEAR 2015/2016

Should vacancies arise within the admissions number for the year 2015/2016, the admissions criteria above will also apply to those applicants who have previously been refused a place in the School during the Transfer Procedure and who are on our Waiting List when the place becomes available. Please note that a written application needs to be made for a pupil to be placed on our waiting list.


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School Grounds

SCHOOL GROUNDS

1. Assembly Hall

2. West Wing

3. Sports Hall

4. Gym

5. Lecture Theatre

6. Main Building

7. Dining Hall

8. Harding House

9. Technology

10. Prep. Dept.


Friends’ School Lisburn

6 Magheralave Road, Lisburn, BT28 3BH.

Tel: 028 92 662 156

Fax: 028 92 672134

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.friendsschoollisburn.org.uk

@ FSLnews

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