Ben Madigan Preparatory School - Prospectus

Bright Futures Start Here

Welcome

from the Principal

Welcome to Ben Madigan Preparatory School, where it is our privilege to accompany and guide your child at this crucial stage of their education. Ben Madigan pupils will embark on a journey that will help to develop a love of learning in a family setting which will discover, unlock and nurture their talents to enable them to flourish socially, academically and creatively.

We believe in providing a caring and happy environment with a broad curriculum. This harnesses the natural curiosity of children where they discover new interests and talents. Dedicated staff know pupils individually and cater to their strengths and areas of development by providing engaging and challenging learning experiences using indoor and outdoor spaces, including Forest School activities as well as providing a wide range of extra-curricular options.

Nestled within the iconic Castle Grounds site with a panoramic view over Belfast Lough, Ben Madigan offers your child a haven of learning where individual personalities develop and friendships grow. Within small classes, we support each child to navigate their way through their primary years and we are proud of our confident, resilient, kind and respectful pupils who are equipped with the necessary skills when they move on to their Senior School.

We hope you enjoy learning about Ben Madigan through this prospectus. However, the best way to get a feel for our friendly school is to come and see it for yourself, so please get in touch. I look forward to welcoming you to our wonderful school.

Principal B.Ed, M.Ed

Rebekah Dallas

About our School

Ben Madigan is the Preparatory School of Belfast Royal Academy and is located on the Antrim Road on a beautiful private site in the shadow of Cave Hill and overlooking Belfast Lough.

The Preparatory Department was founded in 1828 and has a proud history of providing an excellent education to many generations of children. Ben Madigan is non-denominational and welcomes boys and girls aged 3 to 11, with many children starting in Reception and staying with us right the way through into our Senior School and on to Sixth Form at Belfast Royal Academy.

Finest Facilities

In addition to our classroom facilities, Ben Madigan boasts an extensive Library, an activity based learning room and a specialist ICT suite. State-of-the-art IT facilities ensure cutting-edge learning, with iPads being used throughout the School. Pupils enjoy a choice of three playgrounds on site, each providing different opportunities for the children to play with a wide range of equipment, socialise with each other and interact with staff in a less formal setting.

Many of the Academy’s superb amenities are also enjoyed by Ben Madigan pupils, including the indoor swimming pool at the main School site and the sports pitches at Roughfort playing fields.

Our Aims

A Journey of Discovery

At Ben Madigan our pupils are nurtured through a balance of classroom learning and activity experiences to achieve a love of knowledge and a sense of personal achievement prior to starting their secondary education. We view creative diversity as one of the most important aspects of a well-rounded education and we effectively lay the foundations for your children’s future.

We aim to provide a happy, stimulating and structured environment in which all children have the opportunity to develop academically, socially, emotionally, morally, spiritually, physically and culturally to their full potential.

Vision and Values

In Ben Madigan we are fully committed to the well-being and all-round development of all our pupils. We provide an inclusive, caring and safe environment in which expectations for all are high and where we encourage our pupils to demonstrate our key values of:

Kindness

Perseverance

Resilience

Being Team Players

Respect Honesty

At Ben Madigan we endeavour to sow the first seeds of academic, sporting, artistic, cultural and personal ambition through all areas of our curriculum. The Northern Ireland Curriculum is followed throughout the School and is delivered through the key ‘Areas of Learning’:

At the heart of the curriculum lies an explicit emphasis on the development of skills and capabilities for lifelong learning and operating effectively in society. The standards we achieve are carefully monitored, with scores in standardised assessment well above the National average. Most P7 pupils prepare for an entrance examination for local grammar schools. The School supports preparation for these entrance exams, including after school classes. This reflects our recognition of the importance to parents of the child’s performance in these tests.

Class sizes are kept at a maximum of 25 pupils (with most classes being smaller than this), in order that individual attention can be given to each child. We believe that this contributes to the high academic success rate.

Extra-Curricular Opportunities

Children grow and develop through exploration and discovery of their strengths, so we strive to provide a wide range of opportunities for them to try new things so discover where they can flourish. Each week pupils have opportunities to enjoy lessons with specialist teachers in Spanish, PE and Music.

The wide and exciting variety of extracurricular opportunities we offer are testament to the talents within our staff and the specialist tutors and external agencies used across the School.

Our extensive choice of clubs offer something for every child, including cookery classes, dance, athletics, gymnastics, badminton, rugby, cricket, football, judo, cross-country, swimming, gardening, choir, Spanish and French, guitar and drums lessons!

We place a strong importance on the role of learning beyond the classroom.

Pastoral Care

Pastoral care, especially of primary age children, is key to their development and learning.

The well-being and all-round development of each pupil is our priority. We provide a caring, stimulating and safe environment in which expectations for all are high and where pupils are encouraged to develop as tolerant, independent, confident and accomplished individuals.

Warmth and parental inclusion is at the heart of our welcoming school community. Our talented staff actively encourage parental feedback and have the energy and flair to make learning fun, exciting and engaging. Our supportive, inspiring environment is a key reason why Ben Madigan children are confident, motivated and look forward to each school day.

Warmth and parental inclusion is at the heart of our welcoming school community.

School Trips

During the year we offer a wide variety School Trips to a range of locations including HMS Caroline and the Titanic Exhibition Centre, W5 Science Museum, the Ulster Museum, Breckenhill Activity Centre, the Balmoral Show and Belfast Zoo as well as often further afield trips to York. These trips serve to not only enhance their experiences and develop children’s self-confidence and independence but also help to embed much of their learning in an external environment. Our ski trips have also created many wonderful memories for parents and pupils alike.

Parental Involvement

Parents are important members of our school community as we recognise their essential role in their child’s education. Teachers and parents work together for the benefit of every child in our school.

Parents are encouraged to raise any worries or concerns, however small, with the teacher or Principal. Staff similarly keep parents informed of any concerns they may have.

Parents’ meetings are held bi annually to provide details regarding the curriculum, homework and progress.

Additional interviews can be requested by teacher or parent, if required. A detailed report is provided to all parents each year in June.

We also have an active School Development Association which is comprised of an enthusiastic team of parents who work tirelessly to communicate with parents via a regular Newsletter and by organising a wide range of different fundraising and social events.

Pre School

In the Ben Madigan pre-school class we gently stretch and inspire active little minds and bodies to take small, rewarding steps towards self-expression and independence, for a seamless transition to primary education.

Our pre-school curriculum provides structure yet allows each child to learn in a safe, stimulating and caring environment. We create a unique, thematic weekly programme based on Northern Ireland Early Years Guidelines. Differing skills, experience and needs are continually monitored and we fulfil and surpass the Northern Ireland Curriculum requirements.

Music, drama, P.E., cookery and crafts classes let creative talents soar. Prewriting, reading and mathematical activities are all absorbed effortlessly as children enjoy their day. Many friendships and life skills are formed through activities such as story-telling and singing, and a love of the great outdoors becomes second nature as they explore the seasons in our beautiful grounds.

We welcome pupils to pre-school from the age of three.

The pre-school building is located close to the Downview Park West entrance with convenient drop-off points and parking. Four, bright spacious classrooms have been purpose-designed, along with two colourful, well-equipped practical areas used for structured play and the Assembly hall which is also use for P.E..

Prep classes 1 & 2 are also situated within this building, so our pre-school children enjoy the advantage of a seamless transition to primary classes, thanks to familiar surroundings.

Wrap Around Day Care

Convenient, Family-focused Support

At Ben Madigan, every day can be a productive and enjoyable day for both parents and pupils, with parents being reassured that their children are being cared for in a safe and pleasant environment by friendly staff. We fully understand the demands of busy family life and offer hardworking parents comprehensive wrap around day care options from 8am until late afternoon.

Breakfast Club

Our Breakfast club is open from 8am and is the perfect opportunity to ease your child into the school day. Children from Pre Prep to Prep 7 can enjoy a healthy, nutritious breakfast to fuel the activities of the day ahead and kick start their motivation.

After-School Clubs and After-School Care

two children adore the breakfast club and after-school activities. They thrive on the extra chance to talk and play with their friends and have begun to master some great new life skills. I feel reassured that they are safe and enjoying themselves while I get on with my working day.”

Thanks to our wide range of fun and activity-packed clubs each day provides an extension of the learning experience to your child’s day. With an exciting variety of teacher-led and external activities on offer, Ben Madigan is a safe, secure, welcoming place to relax, practice new skills, develop talents and make new friends.

After-School care can also be provided until 5.30pm. Within the After-School setting, children are able to complete their homework or play inside or outside and enjoy a wide range of activities.

“My

Uniform

Our distinctive and traditional uniform gives all our pupils a strong and proud sense of identity and belonging as well as setting the high standards we expect from all of our pupils.

In addition to our main school uniform items, pupils must wear our regulation PE kit for sports lessons at school.

How to Apply

Our academic year begins annually in September, but we also accept applications throughout the year to all classes, depending on places being available. Applications for P1 or Pre-Prep places open in September in the year prior to entry to P1 or Pre-Prep. Preliminary application forms may also be submitted for a child any time from birth.

Application forms are available from the School Office.

For further information or any other queries, please arrange an appointment with the Principal of Ben Madigan, who will be delighted to discuss options with you.

Arrange a visit

We understand the best way to find out more about a school is to see it first hand, and we would welcome your child to come in for a taster day to experience life here at our Prep School. We warmly invite you to come for a visit to Ben Madigan and discover for yourself what makes this school a unique and very special place for children to start and enjoy their primary education.

Please contact the School Office by phone or email to arrange a visit or answer any other questions you may have.

Ben Madigan