Strangford College | |
---|---|
Address | |
Abbey Road | |
Coordinates | 54°34′47″N5°33′11″W / 54.5796°N 5.5531°W Coordinates: 54°34′47″N5°33′11″W / 54.5796°N 5.5531°W |
Information | |
Type | state post-primary school |
Religious affiliation(s) | integrated |
Established | 1 September 1997 |
Principal | Clare Foster |
Gender | co-educational |
Enrolment | 800 |
Strangford College, also known as Strangford Integrated College, is a school in Carrowdore, Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland. It is an integrated co-educational secondary school with a grammar stream for 800 pupils. Clare Foster is the school's current principal. [1]
Integrated Education is a Northern Ireland phenomenon, where traditionally schools were sectarian, [2] either Catholic or Protestant. On parental request, a school could apply to 'transition' to become grant-maintained and offer 30% of the school places to students from the minority community. Lagan College was the first integrated school to open in 1981. [3] As of January 2022 [update] , pupils at Strangford College are approximately 45% from a Protestant background, approximately 25% from a Catholic background and approximately 30% from "other" backgrounds. [4]
Strangford College opened 1 September 1997, with 64 students and 7 staff. It was awarded grant-maintained status in September 1999. [5]
A new build was approved by the Department of Education in April 2016 and a contractor appointed in 2021. [6]
In 2021, the college applied to raise its official enrolment number from 670 to 760; the minister at first refused the request, [7] but on appeal, reversed his decision. This allows the college to accept 130 year 8 students a year. [8]
The college applied unsuccessfully in 2019 to use transfer tests to select the 35% of pupils it admits to the grammar stream in Year 8. [9] It reapplied in January 2022. [4]
The eleven-plus (11+) is an examination administered to some students in England and Northern Ireland in their last year of primary education, which governs admission to grammar schools and other secondary schools which use academic selection. The name derives from the age group for secondary entry: 11–12 years.
Education in Northern Ireland differs from systems used elsewhere in the United Kingdom, although it is relatively similar to Wales. A child's age on 1 July determines the point of entry into the relevant stage of education, unlike England and Wales where it is 1 September. Northern Ireland's results at GCSE and A-Level are consistently top in the UK. At A-Level and BTEC level 3, one third of students in Northern Ireland achieved A and distinction grades in 2007, which is a higher proportion than in England and Wales.
A secondary modern school is a type of secondary school that existed throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland from 1944 until the 1970s under the Tripartite System. Schools of this type continue in Northern Ireland, where they are usually referred to as secondary schools, and in areas of England, such as Buckinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Wirral,.
Catholic school is a Christian parochial school or education ministry administered by adherents of the Catholic Church. As of 2011, the Catholic Church operates the world's largest religious, non-governmental school system. In 2016, the church supported 43,800 secondary schools and 95,200 primary schools. The schools include religious education alongside secular subjects in their curriculum.
The integrated education movement in Northern Ireland is an attempt to bring together children, parents and teachers from both Roman Catholic and Protestant traditions: the aim being to provide a balanced education, while allowing the opportunity to understand and respect all cultural and religious backgrounds.
Lagan College is an integrated secondary school in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It holds a total of around 1500-1600 students. It was formed in 1981 as the first integrated school in Northern Ireland and contains students of mainly Roman Catholic and Protestant faiths, however students from other faiths also attend the school.
Malone Integrated College is a grant maintained, integrated, co-educational, multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious secondary school, situated in Finaghy, South-West Belfast, Northern Ireland.
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Crumlin Integrated College is an integrated, secondary school founded in 2006, located in Crumlin, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It lies within the North Eastern Education and Library Board area. It was formerly Crumlin High School: the transition was announced in July 2006 by Education Minister, Maria Eagle. She said “Education has a vital role in helping to create the conditions necessary for long-term peace and stability in Northern Ireland."
Fort Hill Integrated College is an Integrated College in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, located on Belfast Road. The principal of the school is Mr. Colin Millar. The school crest depicts keys representing opening the doors of knowledge: academic, personal, social, cultural, emotional and spiritual.
Hazelwood Integrated College is an integrated secondary school in Newtownabbey, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The school's students are aged from 11 to 18 years. As of September 2018, the school's principal was Ms Máire Thompson.
North Coast Integrated College, Cloyfin Road, Coleraine, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland is an integrated co-educational non-selective secondary school. Angela Passmore is the school's current principal.
Sperrin Integrated College, 39 Pound Road, Magherafelt, Derry, Northern Ireland is an integrated secondary school for 11-19 year olds. As of June 2021 the admission number is 100 and enrolment is 570. B A Heron is the school's current principal.