ST PIUS X HIGH SCHOOL
MAGHERAFELT
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
ANNUAL REPORT
1999/2000
CONTENTS
Item
1 Notice of
Annual Parents’ Meeting
2 Introduction
3 The Board of
Governors
4 Mission
Statement and Aims
5 Staffing
1999/2000
6 The
Curriculum
7 Review of the
Year - 1999/2000
7.1 Education
for Mutual Understanding
7.2 Religious
Services and Experiences
7.3 Educational
Visits and Trips
7.4
Residentials
7.5 European
Links
7.6
Competitions
7.7 Visiting
Speakers and Workshops
7.8
Assessment/Recording/Reporting
7.9 Careers Education
7.10 Sport
8 School
Performance 1999/2000
9 Financial
Statement
10 Premises and
Resources
11 Conclusion
1 NOTICE OF
ANNUAL PARENTS' MEETING.
·
o
The Annual Meeting will be held in the School on Tuesday 12th
December 2000 at 7.00 pm. Parents of registered students, members of the
teaching staff and members of the ancillary and auxiliary staff are invited to
attend.
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the Governors' Annual
Report and the discharge of responsibilities to the school by the Board of
Governors, the North-Eastern Education and Library Board, the Council for
Catholic Maintained Schools and the Department of Education.
AGENDA:
1 Introduction.
2 Presentation of the Report.
3 Discussion of issues previously raised by parents
2 INTRODUCTION
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o
Dear Parents/Guardians
This is the annual report of the Board of Governors of St Pius
X High School, on the school's performance for the school year 1999/2000, as
required by the Education Reform Order, 1989.
The Board of Governors is happy to report that the 1999/2000
School Year was successful and that the requirements of the legislation were
carried out to the full. The Board would like to pay tribute to the principal
and all staff, both teaching and non-teaching, for their dedication to the
school and for their commitment to the students.
If the aims of the school are to be achieved then the
co-operation of staff, students, parents, and the Board of Governors in all
aspects of school life is very important. The goodwill and support of parents
for the work of the school over many years is appreciated.
I am pleased on behalf of the Board of Governors to present the
report on St Pius X High School for 1999/2000. I hope you will read the report
and accept the invitation to attend the Annual Parents’ Meeting in the school
on a date TBA, at 7.00 pm.
Rev Christopher O'Byrne
Chairman, Board of Governors.
3 THE BOARD OF
GOVERNORS - 1999/2000
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o
(1) TRUSTEE REPRESENTATIVES: Term of Office Expires
Rev C O'Byrne PP (Chairman) 2001
Mrs M Conlon 2001
Mr L Gribbin 2001
Mr E O’Brien 2001
(2) PARENTS' ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE:
Mrs M Totten 2001
(3) TEACHERS' ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE:
Mr P Kerr 2001
(4) NEELB REPRESENTATIVES:
Mr G Logue (Vice-Chairman) 2001
Mr E Beattie 2001
Donal Fingleton
2001
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o
(6) PRINCIPAL:
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
The Governors'
main responsibilities include:
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o
§
§
(i) The establishment of aims and objectives for the school and
the drawing up of policy statements for those areas of management where a
written policy is required.
(ii) Ensuring the implementation of the
(iii) Selecting staff, making promotions and undertaking other
personnel responsibilities.
(iv) Drawing up an admissions policy and applying it to
prospective students.
(v) Managing the school’s finances.
(vi) Ensuring that the premises are properly maintained.
(vii) Providing parents with information about the school
through the issue of a Prospectus and Annual Report and holding an Annual
Parents' Meeting.
o
There were 9 meetings of the Board during the year. In addition
Appointment Panels and Sub-Committees met as required.
o
4
o
In this report and particularly at this time of major change,
the Board of Governors considers it important to state clearly through the
School's Mission Statement and General Aims -
o
- what the school believes in
o
- what it aims to do for your children
o
- what are the values the school wants to give them.
o
o
o
'St Pius X High School, in partnership with parents and the
community, seeks to enable students to discover and develop their talents and
aptitudes in an environment permeated by Catholic values, so that they will be
able to participate actively and responsibly in society now and in the future'.
o
§
§
THE SCHOOL AIMS:
(1) To enable all students to discover and develop their
talents in relation to knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes in an
environment where learning is an enjoyable experience.
(2) To give all students the experience of a Catholic
education.
(3) To further the working partnership between the school and
the community.
(4) To enable students to realise the importance of active
participation in all relevant aspects of life and to encourage them to become
responsible adults.
o
We are happy to report that the Principal and staff made every
effort through planning and delivery of the curriculum and through
extended-curricular activities to achieve these aims in 1999/2000. We wish to
put on record our gratitude and congratulations to the Principal and staff for
their hard work and success during the past year.
o
5 STAFFING
1999/2000
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o
Teaching staff - Full-time 55 School Chaplain - 1
Part-time 1
Clerical staff - 2 Caretakers - 2
Technical staff - 4 Cleaners - 9 Part time
Classroom Assistants - 3 Supervisory Assistants - 9 Part time
Language Assistant - French: 1 shared with 2 other schools.
6 THE
CURRICULUM
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The Curriculum is not just about formal lessons. It includes
all the opportunities for learning provided by the school, including sport,
music, culture, opportunities for travel, and so on. As indicated in the
School's mission statement and aims, the teaching and expression of our
Catholic values are important elements of the curriculum. Therefore Religious Education
and Experience is important. So too is the Pastoral and Social Education
programme through which the good relationships and general quality of life, so
evident in the school, are promoted and developed.
It is the responsibility of the Governors to ensure that a
broad and balanced learning experience is provided for all students. Towards
this end in 1999/2000 all the statutory requirements of the
Teachers incorporated into their teaching, work on the
Educational Themes of:
Education for Mutual Understanding Information Technology
Cultural Heritage Economic Awareness
Health Education Careers Education.
6.1 CURRICULAR PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
§
§
The Principal and staff made every effort to implement the Aims
and Objectives in the written Curriculum Policy to ensure that the curriculum
is delivered suitably to all students throughout the school. The policy may be
inspected at the school on request to the principal.
On training days, and during their weekly meetings teachers
worked hard to develop policies, schemes of work, and assessment arrangements for
their subject departments. In-service courses provided through the Regional
Training Unit and the North-Eastern Education and Library Board were availed of
by teachers to enhance skills and understanding.
6.2 SUBJECTS OFFERED FOR GCSE 1999/2000
Art & Design
Business Studies
Child Development
Information Systems
Craft/Design/Technology
Double Award Science
English
English Literature
French
Geography
History
Home Economics
Irish
Office Applications
Mathematics
Music
Social & Environmental Studies
Religious Education
Single Award Science
Technology & Design
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o
§
§
Throughout Key Stage 3, in Years 8, 9 and 10, students who were
identified as having difficulty in literacy and numeracy were provided with
special support, while working through the programmes of study, set down in the
NIC. Subject areas were supported through additional teaching and/or advice
from special needs teachers. Students’ progress and attainments were
continually monitored.
In Key Stage 4, Years 11 and 12, students took courses as
required by the NIC. GCSE exam courses were undertaken where possible. Some
students took WJEC examinations in Geography, English, History and Graphical
and Material Studies, and in Mathematics the CCEA Living Mathematics Course.
Teaching groups were restricted to approximately 16 students per group.
With regard to the 18 statemented students, the advice given in
the statements was made known to all teachers, and reviews and transition
arrangements were carried out as required.
Communication with and involvement of parents in Learning
Programmes were important aspects of the provision for students with learning
difficulties. To take account of the Special Needs Code of Practice, in force
from September 1998, appropriate roles and responsibilities were identified and
explained to Heads of Year and Heads of Department.
Staff meetings provided opportunities for raising staff
awareness regarding the Code of Practice.
Training opportunities for Governors and Teaching staff were
availed of.
6.4 CURRICULUM
ORGANISATION - KEY STAGE 3
|
AREA OF STUDY |
SUBJECTS |
YEAR 8 PERIODS |
YEAR 9 PERIODS |
YEAR 10 PERIODS |
|
English |
English Language Literature & Library |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
Mathematics |
Mathematics |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
Science & Technology |
Science Technology & Design Information Technology |
4 3 1 |
5 4 1 |
5 4 .5 |
|
Environment and Society |
History Geography Home Economics |
3 3 3 |
3/4 3/4 2 |
3 3 3 |
|
Language Studies |
French Irish |
2/3 2/3 |
3 3 |
4 or* 4 |
|
Creative and Expressive |
Physical Education Art Music Drama |
3 3 1.5 .5 |
3 2 .5 .5 |
3 3 .5 |
|
|
Religious Education |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
Personal & Social Education Library Skills Careers |
1
|
1 |
1 1 1 |
|
TOTALS |
|
45 |
45 |
45 |
6.5 CURRICULUM
ORGANISATION - KEY STAGE 4 (YEARS 11 - 12)
|
AREA OF STUDY |
SUBJECTS |
ALL STUDENTS NUMBER OF PERIODS |
OPTIONS/ NUMBER OF PERIODS |
|
English |
English Language English Literature |
5 |
5 |
|
Mathematics |
Mathematics |
5 |
|
|
Science & Technology |
EITHER Double Award Science or Single Award Science |
10 or 5 |
|
|
Environment & Society |
Choose at least one of: HISTORY or GEOGRAPHY or BUSINESS STUDIES or HOME ECONOMICS |
5 or 5/6 or 5/6 or 6 |
|
|
Language Studies |
Choose at least one of: FRENCH or IRISH -------------------------------------- * or One of FRENCH, IRISH as part of a Modular Course |
5 or 5 --------------------- or 3 |
|
|
Creative & Expressive |
PHYSICAL EDUCATION ART & DESIGN MUSIC |
3 |
5/6 5/6 |
|
|
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CAREERS PERSONAL & SOCIAL EDUCATION |
4 1 1 |
|
|
|
Other Optional Subjects: CHILD DEVELOPMENT TECHNOLOGY & DESIGN CLAIT and MODULAR OPTION of TECHNOLOGY/ART or HOME ECON/B.STUD. OFFICE APPLICATIONS INFORMATION SYSTEMS SOCIAL & ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES (Modular) MODULAR COMPUTER STUDIES & HOME ECONOMICS |
5 6 5/6 5 5/6 5 5 |
|
* Conditions apply to choosing this course.
7 REVIEW OF THE
YEAR 1999/2000
7.1 EDUCATION
FOR MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING (EMU)
·