Slemish College – an outstanding school

After a welcoming speech by Dr RS Jennings, Principal of the Integrated College, the visitors were given a tour of the Larne Road Campus, escorted by guides from the all forms at Slemish. Also present, were a number of students considering transfer to the College Sixth Form in September.

Dr Jennings began his address by welcoming the visitors; he then went on to explain why he felt Slemish was special.

Outstanding Teaching

You will be aware from our prospectus that this school was inspected in April 2009. Schools are marked on a scale that runs from Outstanding to Inadequate. Three quarters of the lessons observed by the Inspectorate in Slemish College, were very good to outstanding.

Our teachers demonstrated a wide range of cutting edge learning and teaching approaches and resources to support learning and guide the pupils.

The Inspectors went on to report that much of the more effective practice was focused on catering for the pupils’ individual learning practices.

We are committed in Slemish to teaching in a way, so that our students will learn. Creative and innovative approaches to learning permeate throughout this school. It is well recognised, students will not achieve their potential unless there is high quality teaching and learning.

Outstanding Pastoral Care

Parents and young people, you will be pleased to know that in Slemish College we care for our students. The Inspectorate found that the quality of the arrangements for Pastoral care is outstanding. We give a high priority to the emotional health and well being of our students.

The relationships between staff and students in Slemish College are second to none. Parents, we believe you make a critical contribution to your children’s success at school. We invite you to see around the College during term times and view your young person in class, on our parents’ coffee mornings.

I have a Parents’ Advisory Group which meets once per term to talk about issues in the College and this has brought about changes to our management. We want to listen to what you have to say and share with you in supporting your child.

Outstanding Opportunities

Slemish College is a recognised centre of excellence by the Department of Education. We are a Specialist School in Humanities. This means we partner with other second level schools and primary schools in the area, to support and progress the teaching of English and Geography.

We have received the International School Award from the British Council, in fact, one of the first schools in Northern Ireland to achieve this honour. We have links with schools in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, France, Sweden, Romania, USA, Sicily and Germany. Our sixth form students will be off during the summer to build houses in Zambia with Habitat for Humanity. We aim to give our students an all round experience of school education that will enable them to take their place in the 21st century world.

In this school, students have the opportunity to join sports and clubs ranging from Hockey, Rugby, Camogie and Gaelic. Our Hockey teams are about to play in four regional finals. Our Senior Debating Team is currently powering through competitions, with consistent success. Our Entrepreneurs team won the regional competition for Young Entrepreneurs and came second in the National Final.

In Year 8 you get the chance to go on a residential to Gannaway, near Donaghadee, a trip to Paris and you also may go skiing. You may be elected to our Students’ Council, represent the College in Horse Jumping, join our Environmental Club and a host of other activities. Our students value the extra curricular activities offered here.

Outstanding Students

We are proud of the students who attend Slemish College – they make us proud.

Their examination results are extremely good. Our students according to the Inspectorate across the board achieve high standards. “They are highly motivated, engage well in and talk confidently about their learning.” At GCSE, our results are excellent, well above the NI average. Most subjects are 10% above the NI average. We offer a comprehensive range of subjects at both Key Stage 4 and post 16 level

Our excellent A level results mean that the vast majority of our sixth formers progress to their first choice universities, including Cambridge, where we have a link with Corpus Christi College.

An Outstanding School

I frequently ask our students what they like or dislike about school and almost invariably they tell me they like the teachers. The Inspectors found the same thing, noting how students highly regard their teachers. Ours is a happy school, where young people succeed. Are you the sort of person who’d like to come to a school like this?

The Inspectors concluded their report on Slemish by saying: “In the areas inspected, the quality of education provided by this school is outstanding; the quality of pastoral care is also outstanding. The school has demonstrated its capacity for sustained self-improvement.” Standard Inspection reports have been published for 56 schools, on the Inspectorate’s website. Slemish is only the second to receive the designation ‘Outstanding.’

Ours is a happy school, where young people succeed. Are you the sort of person who’d like to come to a school like this?