Schools from Donaghadee to Newry and Castlewellan to Ballykinlar in County Down are among those that are top of the class this year says Education Minister John O’Dowd.
More than 100 schools and pre-schools across the north have achieved very good or outstanding inspection reports from the Education and Training Inspectorate and were awarded certificates at an event in Stormont today to mark their achievement.
[caption id="attachment_56888" align="alignleft" width="390"]
Education MInister John O’Down has praised the top schools who excelled in their school inpsections.[/caption]
Speaking at the event, Minister O’Dowd said: “Today’s event goes some way to recognising the wonderful work being done in schools day and daily to help our young people succeed in school, in work and as they go forward in their lives. The role that schools play can never be underestimated and today I want to thank school governors, principals, teachers, teaching assistants, parents and the wider school community for their hard work, professionalism and commitment.
“Schools represented here today are delivering for all our children and young people including those with Special Educational Needs, from early years right through to Key Stage Four or post-sixteen study. The schools here today are high performing and all have demonstrated strong leadership, which in turn fosters good teaching. They are an example to be followed and I congratulate them on reaching the top of the class.”
Commenting on overall outcomes for young people Minster O’Dowd added: “Some schools involved today serve high proportions of our most deprived pupils and are giving special attention to the needs of those facing the greatest challenges, ensuring they receive a high quality education. Based on recent statistics, targeted interventions and programmes are working for these young people and the results are showing improved attainment at 16 enabling our most deprived children to remain in education and take on the challenge of A levels or other level-3 qualifications.”
The Minister also paid tribute to the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) saying: “As the saying goes, ‘there is always room for improvement’. The knowledge we gain from inspection is vital in identifying where that improvement should be and so raise our standards. I would like to thank the ETI for the role they play. I believe all our children and young people deserve a standard of education that allows them to achieve success and reach their full potential.”
In the spotlight were:
1. Nursery Schools
* Outstanding – Ashgrove NS Newry; Bligh’s Lane NS Derry; Downshire NS Banbridge; Edenderry NS Portadown; Enniskillen NS; Harrison NS Lurgan; Millington NS Portadown; Mossley Newtownabbey; Our Lady’s NS Belfast; Steeple NS Antrim
* Very Good – Arellian NS, Newtownards NS
2. Pre-school Providers
* Outstanding – Ballykinlar Cross-community; Belleek Pre-school; Benburb Community Pre-school; Bo Peeps Enniskillen; Busy Bees Warrenpoint; Dromara Pre-school; Gran Tots Swatragh; Little Smarties Garrison; Rascals ‘n’ Ruffians Newry
* Very Good – Alphabet Greenisland; Anahilt; Banagher Community pre-school, Feeny; Cloughmills Early Years Pre-School; Glasswater Crossgar; Glenravel; Green Elves Greencastle; Hundred Acre Wood; Ladybird Land Day Care; Laurencetown Pre-School; Little Bear’s Bangor; Loughinisland; Naiscoil an luir Newry; Springfield Belfast; St Bernard’s Newtownabby; St Peter’s Moy; Sugar & Spice Drumquin; Sunshine Lisburn; The Dry Arch Children’s Centre Dungiven; Tober Tinys Tobermore
3. Primary Schools
· Outstanding – Ballinderry; Christ the King Omagh; Derrygonnelly; Donaghadee PS; Gilnahirk PS; Holy Cross Girls’ Belfast; Holy Family Belfast; Holy Trinity Cookstown; Mossley Newtownabbey; Mountnorris PS; Pond Park Lisburn; Poyntzpass PS; Recarson PS Omagh; Scoil na Fuiseoige Belfast; St Comgall’s Bangor; St Francis of Assisi Keady; St Joseph’s Crumlin; St Mary’s Ballygawley; St Mary’s Rathfriland; St Patrick’s Eskra, Omagh; St Patrick’s Rasharkin; Stranmillis PS
* Very Good – Ballyclare; Ballyholland Newry; Ballymena; Ballynure PS Ballyclare; Broughshane; Churchtown PS Cookstown; Creavery Antrim; Edenbrooke PS Belfast; Edenderry PS Banbridge; Jonesborough; Limavady Central PS; Lisnasharragh PS Belfast; Mount St Michael’s Randalstown; Nettlefield PS Belfast; New Row Castledawson; Orangefield Belfast; Portadown IPS; Rowandale IPS; Royal School Armagh, Prep; Springfield Belfast; St Aidan’s Magilligan; St Brigid’s Cloughmills; St Colman’s (Saval) Newry; St Eugene’s Derry; St Eugene’s Strabane; St John’s Eglish; St Joseph’s Galbally; St Kevin’s Belfast; St Malachy’s Castlewellan; St Mary’s Bellaghy; St Naile’s Kinawley, Enniskillen; St Patrick’s Dungannon; St Patrick’s Newry; St Patrick’s and St Brigid’s PS, Ballycastle; St Paul’s Slievemore, Derry; Strabane Controlled PS; Victoria PS Ballyhalbert; Windmill IPS Dungannon.
4. Post-Primary Schools
* Outstanding – Our Lady’s GS, Newry and St Mary’s GS, Magherafelt
* Very Good – Kilkeel HS; Loreto College; St Colman’s College Newry; St John’s Business and Enterprise College, Dromore; St Genevieve’s HS Belfast; St Joseph’s HS Crossmaglen; St Malachy’s College, Belfast; St Malachy’s HS Castlewellan; St Patrick’s Academy, Lisburn; The Royal School Armagh; Wallace HS Lisburn
5. Special Schools
* Outstanding – Beechlawn School, Hillsborough
* Very Good – Rosstulla School, Newtownabbey
6. The Department of Education’s ‘Education Works’ campaign promotes the value of education. This year’s campaign aims to ensure that parents have information on schooling and that they are aware of the steps they can take to ‘Get Involved’ and support their teenager in achieving good outcomes at school. Watch out for the ads on television, radio and outdoor locations. The campaign highlights the vital role families can play in helping children do well at school and improve their life chances.
Visit:
http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/education-works
for more information or watch the TV ad on the Department’s YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/TheDeptofEducation]]>
