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The school, which
has a 400-strong roll, had a 96 per cent higher-education success rate,
with one student going on to Cambridge.
Those results were enough to promote the Strabane school as the best
mixed secondary in the Province behind three girls’ selectives.
And the supplement noted that a 2002 inspection had reported pupil behaviour
as “exemplary”, and said that “a friendly and orderly
atmosphere permeates the school”.
Principal, Lewis Lacey, said he was pleased that the school was doing
well enough to feature in the listings, and he added that it was most
gratifying that it was maintaining the high standards which had consistently
placed it in the top 10 in the Province in the past four or five years.
“We have been fourth before in Northern Ireland, in 2001, although
we slipped to ninth last year,” said Mr. Lacey. “But the truth
is that the criteria used does not paint a full picture of a school,
or of the actual education and activity that goes on within it. Strabane
Grammar School educates the whole child.
‘Partnership’
“However, our appearance in the league tables is a great tribute
to the partnership that exists between staff, pupils and parents. The
relationships within the partnership are very strong, and it is that
which makes us a successful school. A new building, which we would very
much like and which is long overdue, would complete our success story.”
Commenting on the A-Level criteria adopted by the Parent Power supplement,
Mr. Lacey said the Department of Education in Northern Ireland assessed
grammar school pupils on A to C results and that the A/B system used
by the guide was more selective.
But he remarked: “A lot of the students at Strabane Grammar scored
higher grades this year than ever before.”
Meanwhile, Omagh Academy, the only other secondary Tyrone school in
the state schedule, slipped down the ranking order to finish tied with
two cross-channel establishments at No. 100.
Nevertheless, it was still among the top eight performers in the Province
and achieved an overall 98 per cent higher-education success. Again
the Academy produced one scholar for Cambridge, although GCSE and A-level
results were slightly below their neighbour’s tally.
The 660-pupil school, reported by inspectors as having sound teaching
which, at times, was very good, had a 39.2 per cent A*/A GCSE record,
while 62.8 per cent of pupils obtained As and Bs at A-level.
Headmaster, Jim McBain, said he was delighted that the school had once
again been placed among the top 100 secondary schools in the United
Kingdom. In the examinations of 2003 Academy pupils had done very well
and were a credit to both themselves and their teachers, he added.
Potential
Acknowledging that the school’s position was lower than last year
he noted that the class of 2003 was a varied group with a wide range
of ability and he asserted that all had worked hard to achieve their
potential.
At GCSE level Mr McBain said: “I regret the adoption of the percentage
of pupils achieving A*/A as the criterion for success, when a more meaningful
statistic is the proportion of pupils achieving seven or more subjects
in the grade range A* to C.
“The latter statistic reflects breadth, and is more in keeping
with the goals of secondary education than a statistic which draws attention
to the number of high flyers that a school is fortunate enough to have.”
Concluding Mr McBain said: “My overall view is that in the external
examinations of 2003 Academy pupils did very well as shown by the school’s
position among the top 100 secondary schools in the UK.”
Primary sector
Meanwhile, in the primary sector, Gillygooley returned to the listings
after the absence of a couple of years and principal, Anne Orr, admitted
she, too, was delighted with its inclusion.
The most recent school inspection had revealed “the good behaviour
of many of the 86 children, the commitment of the teachers and .....
the standards achieved in aspects of reading and writing”.
Mrs. Orr, who now presided over a reduced roll of 74 pupils, said: “To
be one of only nine Northern Ireland primary schools listed in the Sunday
Times Parent Power Magazine is a great honour for the governors, staff
and pupils of the school.
‘Excellent’
“It shows that a small, rural school can effectively compete in
providing an excellent education in the world of today.
“We aim to provide a broad and balanced curriculum in a friendly,
homely environment in which each child’s individuality is recognised.
Our pupils are encouraged to take pride in their school and their work,
and they are given every encouragement to reach their full potential.”
The principal went on to pay a fulsome tribute to her three colleagues
on the teaching staff, and all ancillary workers who, she said, had
contributed in no small measure to the school’s accomplishment,
which included a 100 per cent mathematics success and a 93 per cent
Level 4 English achievement at Key Stage 2.
The other local contender in the primary sector was the much larger
Omagh County Primary School at Campsie, which has 438 pupils on its
rolls. The corresponding figures here were 92 and 84 per cent respectively.
Principal, Ken Thompson, said he also was delighted that the school’s
commitment to the provision of quality learning and teaching had been
recognised, and he revealed that the County Primary’s revised Vision
Statement now included the word ‘excellent’, encompassing
all facets of school life.
“That is the standard we aim to achieve in our curricular and extra-curricular
activities,” he explained.
“What is equally pleasing about our recognition is the inclusion
in the Sunday Times supplement’s citation of the school’s
welcoming and friendly ethos which is often commented on by visitors.
“Our hard-working and dedicated staff focus on nurturing good relationships
within the County Primary, and this is reflected in the way in which
the children grow in confidence and self-esteem.
‘Pastoral care’
“And the high level of pastoral care in the school has undoubtedly
had a major impact on its degrees of attainment. We are proud of these
achievements, and we are intent on continuing to provide a supportive,
yet stimulating educational experience for the children in our care.”
While both Gillygooley and the County primary have mixed rolls, the
other school to score heavily with the Sunday Times, St. Anne’s
Primary School in Strabane, is an all-girls one of 288 pupils.
It is back in the charts after a one-year gap and, since the data was
gathered for the weekend supplement, it has received a Chartermark,
the Cabinet Office award that recognises excellence in public service.
The school has also developed an international dimension through links
with schools in Lithuania, the Czech Republic and France. St. Anne’s
has hosted several French language assistants and currently has one
in situ delivering a programme to its Key Stage 2 pupils and their parents.
In May the school choir visited the Czech Republic.
“We provide and go beyond the requirements of the curriculum with
courses which benefit both pupils and their parents,” explained
principal, Maura Shannon. “The school is involved, too, in the
Dissolving Boundaries ICT 2003 project and is paired with a Dublin school.
“We provide a wide range of extra-curricular activities. The staff
has worked very hard in recent years to promote a highly-effective and
interesting package of such activities for all our children.
“The Parent Power publication is welcome recognition for the school,
and it is a tribute to the dedication and commitment of the staff, the
pupils and the parents. It is due to them that we have such a good school.”
St. Anne’s, where the Key Stage 2 achievement figure in mathematics
was 87 per cent and in Level 4 English was 85 per cent, boasts the National
Curriculum Business Education Award, BT’s special award for IT
use and an award for best-kept school grounds.
And, in its most recent report, the educational inspectorate noted:
“St. Anne’s is a pleasant school where relationships are excellent
..... and where the pastoral dimension is given high priority.”
Mrs. Shannon added: “I’m genuinely delighted that the efforts
of the staff have been recognised and rewarded by the Sunday Times supplement.
It is public acknowledgement of their enthusiasm, hard work and devotion
to their job and their pupils.
“It’s a great achievement for the school, which has a reputation
for being very caring and welcoming, with consistently high standards
in curricular attainment.”
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POLICE are warning
householders in the Strabane district that burglars remain active in
the area.
They say that a number of break-ins have occurred recently in Strabane
and outlying villages and they are now urging the public to be alert
to this type of crime.
Commenting on the matter, Detective Inspector John Gilmore said: “The
recent spate of burglaries is a concern to us and we have increased
patrols in an effort to thwart those involved.
“However we can’t be everywhere at once, and we are urging
householders, who are ideally placed to know what is ordinary and what
is out of the ordinary and what people and vehicles are not from their
neighbourhood, to contact us immediately should they notice any suspicious
activity.
“We have also received reports that householders are being approached
by people from outside the area, seeking to carry out work on homes
in the district. So, if you receive an unexpected visitor at your door,
note the description of the caller, if possible the registration number
of any vehicle used, and contact us straight away,” he said.
Detective Inspector Gilmore concluded: “We welcome the opportunity
to check out reports of suspicious activity and it is much better to
call than not call, and find out later that a crime has been committed.”
Expressing his worries over the spate of burglaries Strabane district
councillor and SDLP West Tyrone Assembly candidate, Mr. Eugene McMenamin,
said:
“In recent times residents have returned to their homes to find
them ransacked and in many cases considerable sums of money stolen along
with valuable jewellery and sentimental items that money could never
replace. In one particular case a local family had over £8,000
of goods stolen from their new home.
“This is a traumatic experience for the unfortunate victims and
will probably take a long time to get over, if they ever will. To have
one ransack your personal belongings is something every individual dreads.
“Unfortunately when the majority of these culprits are caught the
courts hand out minimal sentencing. This is where the law needs to be
addressed not only giving heavier sentences, but I feel the perpetrators
of these break-ins should repay every penny that they have stolen back
to the householder they have burgled,” said the councillor.
Anyone who has any information regarding recent burglaries in the area
is urged to contact the police at Strabane on 028 7136 7337 or Crimestoppers
on freephone 0800 555 111. If urgent, always dial ‘999’.
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