The Academy Newsletter Belfast Royal Academy June 2013
Headmaster’s Notes To describe our Inspection as one of the highlights of the year may require the suspension of disbelief on the part of some members of staff, but it was, nonetheless, a very positive experience. One of the things which the inspectors remarked upon was the diversity of our school: we are a community of pupils from all social backgrounds, from many religious faiths, and none, and with a significant range of academic abilities. We value, and are ambitious for, them all.
other talented pupils from across the United Kingdom: Antonia Campbell English Language, Andrew Curtis - Computer Science, Kieran McGahan Environment and Society, Jonathan Rainey - PPE, Kelly-Anne Rainey French, Paul Rodgers - Mathematics, Elizabeth Sinclair - Biology: Ecology and Evolution, Matthew Smith - Biology, Sarah Sproule - Geography, Jenna Todd - Art and Design: Mapping the Visual, Christopher Turnbull - Mathematics: Chaos or Clear Cut?
The inspectors also noted our sustained improvement in academic performance. This progress was maintained last year, when at both GCSE and Advanced Level our pupils surpassed the achievements of the previous year. At GCSE, 90% of pupils achieved A* - C in 7 or more subjects, including English and Mathematics, while 96% achieved A* - C in 5 or more subjects. Elizabeth Sinclair gained 11 passes at A*, and 48 pupils achieved 9 or more passes at A* or A. At Advanced Level, 74% of pupils achieved a minimum of 3 Cs, indeed 86% of the 596 subject entries were passed at grades A* - C. 10% of subject entries were awarded A*, for which a score of 90% at A2 is required. In 22 subjects there was a 100% pass rate – out of 596 subject entries only 9 were failed. Ridwan Farouki achieved 4A* and 1 A passes, Julia Diamond and Daniel Stark gained 4 A* passes, and 19 pupils achieved 4 passes at A* or A. Daniel Stark was placed 3rd in CEA Further Mathematics.
The CBI, in ‘First steps – a new approach for our schools’, a report published in November 2012, proposes a model of education to which we should aspire if our society is to succeed economically in the future. It considers international examples of educational excellence and highlights the need to, “emphasise culture and ethos in schools.” It notes that Singapore’s “world class education system” produces “a confident person who has a strong sense of right and wrong, is adaptable and resilient … thinks independently and critically and communicates effectively … has a strong civic consciousness and takes an active role in bettering the lives of others around him.” Underpinning such a system, and the economic growth which it generates, is “… a set of behaviours and attitudes, a kind of social literacy that we must foster…… These personal behaviours and attributes – sometimes termed character – play a critical role in determining effectiveness in [the pupils’] future lives… Everything that happens in a school should embed the key behaviours and attitudes.”
Three pupils from last year’s MVI took up places at the ancient universities in September: Ridwan Farouki is reading Mathematics at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, John William Carey is reading History and Politics at St. Benet’s Hall, Oxford, and Alexsy Gaj is reading Politics, Philosophy and Economics, also at St. Benet’s Hall. In all, our pupils went to 33 universities, including the UCL Institute in Paris, to study in 41 different degree disciplines. It was appropriate that Professor Janice Carruthers, Head of Modern Languages at Queen’s University, was the Guest of Honour at Prize Day, our celebration of pupils’ academic achievement. Professor Carruthers is a former pupil, no stranger to Prize Day in her time, and her parents were both teachers of Mathematics in the Academy. It was a pleasure to attend a Prize-giving of her own, in the University, in July, when Kathryn Fusco and Jazmin Campbell received prizes – Kathryn won the First Prize in the Santander Spanish Essay Competition and Third Prize in the French Essay Competition; Jazmin received the Third Prize in the Spanish Essay Competition. Jazmin returned to school, along with Michael Stewart and Sasha English, in the autumn to talk with our Modern Language Sixth Formers about their experience of studying languages at Advanced and at Undergraduate Level, giving advice on study skills and revision techniques and sharing information about various courses at Queen’s. In the course of the year, eleven pupils attended residential academic reading parties at Villiers Park, where they had the opportunity to study with
Judging ourselves against such an ambitious model is challenging indeed, and yet I believe that we must do so. The report highlights the necessity of capability in ‘core’ and ‘enabling’ subjects, and stresses the importance of ‘non-curricular activities’ in developing the qualities, values and attitudes upon which the future success, not only of the individual but of our society, will be founded. This report offers a passionate and closely argued validation of the ambitious vision of education which characterises a school such as the Academy. A synopsis such as this cannot hope to be comprehensive – a fuller picture of school life will appear in ‘The Owl’. However, it may be possible to convey some sense of the range of the activities which surround the core concern of learning and teaching at the Academy, through which “key behaviours and attitudes” are embedded. One of the busiest areas of “non-curricular activity” in school is the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award which, with more than 400 members, is among the largest in the United Kingdom. Mr Reilly inspires both loyalty and confidence in his ability to organise a very wide range of challenging activities. In doing so he depends upon the support and assistance of a team of former pupils, parents and others which he has developed over the years. It was very gratifying to see the contribution of one member of that team celebrated this year. In recognition of his outstanding commitment and years of service to our Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, Mr Frank Workman received a “Long Service Recognition” certificate from H.R.H. Prince Edward at Hillsborough Castle in February.