School Improvement Plan 2005-2008
Vision Statement:
St Patrick’s Grammar School, Downpatrick is a Lasallian school. We aim to develop young adults who will be leaders in society and who will act with consideration and respect for others according to Lasallian philosophy. They will be sensitive to their spiritual needs, retain a sense of self worth by doing justice to their individual talents and acquire a life-long desire for learning. During their time in St Patrick’s Grammar School they will be given opportunities to develop their talents to meet the changing needs of society, while holding fast to Lasallian principles.
Our Objectives
To be a high-performing, self-evaluating centre of educational excellence.
Our Foci
Learning and Teaching
To develop the talents which are in all pupils by imaginative and challenging teaching and enterprising co-curricular activities. To maintain the following overall pass rates:
- A Level and GCSE subject pass rates between 95 and 100%;
- 95%+ achieving 5 GCSEs at Grades A* - C;
- 65% achieving 3+ A Levels at Grades A – C.
Specific annual goals will be set as appropriate for different cohorts of students who will be encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning.
Pastoral Care and Pupils’ Personal Development
To provide effective monitoring, support and guidance for pupils throughout their time in the school and in planning for their future higher education and careers. Emphasis to be placed on raising students’ awareness of self and of others and their emotional and spiritual growth, through a programme of personal, social and health education.
Extra-curricular Activities:
To encourage students to participate in a range of exciting opportunities; sporting, physical, aesthetic and intellectual challenges together with cultural and social experiences, both within school and through education visits out of school.
Links with parents and the community
To make St Patrick’s Grammar School first choice for parents and pupils by communicating the excellence of what we do. Through efficient and effective communication, with current parents, contact with former students, other Lasallian schools and strong community links, we aim to provide timely and clear information. We aim to be recognised as the best voluntary grammar school in the East Down area with a national reputation.
Staffing and Staff Development
In the interest of our students, to be open to new ideas and the advances of modern technology. To improve as a community of learners in all activities. To practise a continuous process of review and evaluation of provision and performance, alongside efficient induction and training of staff. To create an ethos of cooperation with a shared vision of teaching, learning and caring among all staff.
Resources and Facilities
To maintain an attractive, bright and safe learning environment which meets the needs of users and contemporary expectations which efficiently managing our budgets.
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN 2005-2006
All planned action to be completed by Easter 2006, for review during the Summer Term 2006.
Action points in italics should be reflected in Departmental Improvement Plans
|
Focus
|
Action: What do we Need to do to effect Improvement
|
Lead By
|
|
1a.
Learning and Teaching
|
- Plan for the introduction of Vocational Courses}
- Prepare for the introduction of Vocational Courses }
- Develop Implementation scheme for New Curriculum
- All Schemes of Work to be revised using agreed format
- Complete the TTI objectives
- Investigate Specialist School Status
- Extend differentiated learning in all subject areas
- Review and Implement Departmental Literacy and Numeracy policies
- Develop base lining of pupil attainment and potential
- Implement Learning and Teaching Policy
- Introduce the Key Skill, Application of Number
- Review the use, effectiveness and support for Substitute staff
- Develop an e-Learning strategy
- All staff to use ICT to best effect in learning and teaching
- Build up independent learning resources on C2K
|
- Curriculum Review Group
- HoDs and Subject Co-ordinators
- Curriculum Review Group
- HoDs and Mary Flood
- TTI Working Party
- D G Mullan and Peter Flood
- HoDs and Subject Co-ordinators
- HoDs and Subject Co-ordinators
- B Kelly and Working Group
- P Flood and HoDs
- S Moyes and HoDs/Subject Co-ordinators
- M Flood and CMG
- E-Learning manager
- HoDs and Subject Co-ordinators
- HoDs,Subject Co-ords & e-Learning manager
|
|
2.
Pastoral Care and Pupils’ Personal Development
|
- Introduce Senior School Merit Scheme
- Enhance role of Classroom Assistants
- Extend student responsibilities
- Review Mentoring Scheme and report to BoG and Staff
- Update and Implement Health and Safety Policy
- Continue expansion of Chrysalis Programme in Junior School
- Review bus supervision procedures
- Review Detention system. Does if promote positive behaviour?
- Review and Update the PSHE programme
- Update the Form teachers’ folder
- Develop a Healthy Eating Policy
- Review Careers Education and Guidance provision across the school
- Review whole school Counselling provision
|
- JH , SD and Senior School Form teachers
- RCE and SENCO
- Form teachers and HoSs
- K McLoughlin
- S Diffin
- K McLoughlin and R McConville
- R McConville
- R McConville and HoSs
- R McConville, HoSs & HoYs
- J Hay and P Canavan
- Brian Harte
- Frank McGovern
- Counsellors
|
|
3.
Staffing and Staff Development
|
- Review Staff handbook
- Introduce Support Staff handbook
- Introduce PRSD scheme
- Agree Staff Development Policy
|
- D G Mullan
- D G Mullan
- D G Mullan and RCE
- S Diffin and M Flood
|
|
4.
Resources and Facilities
|
- Install Interactive Whiteboards and tablets as finances permit
- Recall all laptops for servicing
- Upgrade laptops provided for teacher use
- Replace oldest mobile classrooms
- Progress the PPP school
|
- C Grimes and Bursar
- C Grimes and ICT technicians
- C Grimes and Bursar
- D G Mullan and Bursar
- D G Mullan
|
|
5.
Links with parents and the Community
|
- Develop the Parent Teacher Association
- Consider ways of improving communication with parents
- Overhaul the Assessment reporting system
- Improve contacts with De La Salle High School
- Review Open Days
|
- PTA and Staff
- PTA and CMG
- S Diffin and CMG members
- CMG
|
|
6.
Strategic
|
- Undertake Investors in People accreditation
- Prepare for abolition of academic selection
|
|
|
7.
Extra-curricular activities and sports
|
- Encourage greater pupil involvement in activities
- Plan for optimum effect from use of resource
|
- All teachers
- Working group
|
|
Other(s):
|
|
|
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN 2005-2006
All planned action to be completed by Easter 2006, for review during the Summer Term 2006.
Action points in italics should be reflected in Departmental Improvement Plan
|
Focus
|
Action: What do we Need to do to effect Improvement
|
Lead By
|
|
1a.
Learning and Teaching
|
- Build Independent Learning into Schemes of Work for all subjects
- Place Independent Learning resources on website
- Expand use of pupil profiling and target setting
- Establish a working group to review structure of the school day/week
- Review GCSE and Sixth form Curriculum
- Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the Literacy and Numeracy policies
- Review purpose of Homework and types given to students
- Implement a Homework timetable
- Train staff in guiding our students in self-evaluation
- Develop classroom observation pro formae
- Adopt an Accelerated Learning Approach in all subject areas
- Review teaching of Citizenship programme
- Implement ‘New Curriculum’
|
- HoDs/Subject co-ordinators
- HoDs/Subject co-ordinators
- Form Teachers
- Dermot G Mullan
- Curriculum Committee
- HoDs and Subject Co-ordinators
- CMG, HoDs and Subject Co-ordinators
- Curriculum committee and Departments
- Form Teachers
- P Floods and M Flood
- HoDs and Subject Co-ordinators
- HoS, HoDs and RG
- HoDs/Subject co-ordinators
|
1b. e-Learning
|
- Extend use of school website as a learning resource
- Investigate the building of a VLE
- Review efficiency and effectiveness of C2K
|
- C Grimes and DGM
- C Grimes and Dermot G Mullan
- C Grimes and HoDs
|
|
Pastoral Care and Pupils’ Personal Development
|
- Review school visits policy
- Provide a Leadership programme for the Lower Sixth
- Review Homework Club
- Review and develop the Lasallian philosophy within SPGS
- Review effectiveness of Student Councils
- Monitor effectiveness on ‘On Report’ system
- Investigate the extension of Mentoring Scheme into Year 9
- Develop programme to integrate new Year 13 students
- Improve the use and care of the Y14 Common Room
- Improve students’ attitude to litter
- Ensure Notice Boards are relevant and up-to-date
- Review School Retreat programme
- Examine the effectiveness of IEPs in Learning and Teaching
|
- CMG
- Year Heads and Form Teachers
- KLN, PC and G McCaul
- D McGuire, S Diffin and R McConville
- HoSs and S Council reps
- Heads of School
- Junior School Y Heads & Form Teachers
- RCE, MC and JS
- RCE & JS
- Form teachers
- Prefects, HoSs and J McLaughlin
- D McGuire and RCE
- RCE and SENCO
|
|
Staffing and Staff Development
|
- Internal Review PRSD scheme and its implementation
- Extend use of support staff to reduce admin load on teaching staff
- Review Induction of new staff
- Identify and agree staff for training in Applied courses
- Revise Departmental Handbooks
|
- CMG
- Dermot G Mullan
- M Flood
- D G Mullan
- HoDs/Subject co-ordinators
|
|
Resources and Facilities
|
- Provide mobile laptop stations for classrooms
- Audit subject spending patters and Value for Money
|
- D G Mullan, S Brennan, C Grimes
- D G Mullan, S Brennan
|
|
Premises
|
- Develop attractive, safe main school entrance
- Progress the PPP school
|
- D G Mullan and S Brennan
- D G Mullan
|
|
Links with parents and the Community
|
- Review Parent-Teacher meetings
- Develop links with Past Pupils through school website
- Evaluate links with Primary schools
- Increase staff participation on PTA
- Link with partner schools’ PTAs
- Find opportunities for contributory Primary Schools to visit
- Explore ways to increase applications to the Sixth Form
- Develop website as a marketing tool
- Send copies of Pulse to local libraries, civic buildings
- Find opportunities for contributory Primary Schools to visit
- Explore ways to increase applications to the Sixth Form
- Develop website as a marketing tool
- Send copies of Pulse to local libraries, civic buildings
|
- Year Heads
- S Diffin and ICT technician
- K McLoughlin, P Canavan & D G Mullan
- PTA
- PTA
- HoDs/Subject co-ordinators
- JS, J McLoughlin and D G Mullan
|
|
Strategic
|
- Continue with the implementation of IiP
- Review efficiency and effectiveness of the MIS
|
- IiP Committee
- SD, CG and DGM
|
|
Extra-curricular activities and sports
|
- Develop the school choirs and orchestra
- Publish extra-curricular programme to all parents and pupils
|
- Music teachers and CMG member
- J McLaughlin
|
Action points in italics should be reflected in Departmental Improvement Plans
|
Focus
|
Action: What do we Need to do to effect Improvement
|
Lead By
|
Learning and Teaching |
- Continue to implement and evaluate the new curriculum
- Review effectiveness of Individual Education Plans
- Introduce vocational courses with other providers
- Report on base lining and target setting for students
|
- Curriculum Committee, HoDs and Subject Co-ordinators
- SENCO, HoDs and Subject Co-ordinators
- CMG, HoDs and Subject Co-ordinators
- HoDs and Subject Co-ordinators
|
e-Learning |
- Develop a VLE to enhance students’ Learning
|
|
Pastoral Care and Pupil’s personal Development |
- Review student attendance, authorised and unauthorised, and report to CMG
- Review signing out system for students
- Review use of achievement Section for students in Sims.net
- Improve attitude of students towards non-teaching staff
- Review visiting speakers programme
|
- RCE
- HoSs
- S Diffin
- FTs and PSHE Programme
- HoSs and Health Co-ordinator (BH)
|
Staffing and Staff Development
|
- Develop staff training programme
|
|
Resources and Facilities |
- Continue provision of laptops and PCs
- Prepare for next phase of C2K
- Progress the PPP school
|
- D G Mullan and S Brennan
- D G Mullan, S Brennan and C Grimes
- D G Mullan
|
Links with parents and the Community |
- Expand range of PTA activities
- Increase involvement of parents in the curriculum
- Establish Lower Sixth Symposium with high profile speakers
|
- PTA committee
- HoDs and Subject Co-ordinators
- Ann McCann and J Sheridan
|
Strategic
|
- Complete preparations for abolition of academic selection
|
|
Extra-curricular activities and sports |
- Review extra curricular programme
|
- CMG, G Cooper, M Murphy, G Tate
|
Other(s):
|
|
|
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN 2006-2007
All planned action to be completed by Easter 2007, for review during the Summer Term 2006.
Action points in italics should be reflected in Departmental Improvement Plans
|
Focus
|
Action: What do we Need to do to effect Improvement
|
Lead By
|
1a Learning and Teaching |
- Build Independent Learning into Schemes of Work for all subjects
- Place Independent Learning resources on website
- Expand use of pupil profiling and target setting
- Establish a working group to review structure of the school day/week
- Review GCSE and Sixth form Curriculum
- Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the Literacy and Numeracy policies
- Review purpose of Homework and types given to students
- Implement a Homework timetable
- Train staff in guiding our students in self-evaluation
- Develop classroom observation pro formae
- Adopt an Accelerated Learning Approach in all subject areas
- Review teaching of Citizenship programme
- Implement ‘New Curriculum’
|
- HoDs/Subject co-ordinators
- HoDs/Subject co-ordinators
- Form Teachers
- Dermot G Mullan
- Curriculum Committee
- HoDs and Subject Co-ordinators
- CMG, HoDs and Subject Co-ordinators
- Curriculum committee and Departments
- Form Teachers
- P Floods and M Flood
- HoDs and Subject Co-ordinators
- HoS, HoDs and RG
- HoDs/Subject co-ordinators
|
|
1b. e-Learning
|
- Extend use of school website as a learning resource
- Investigate the building of a VLE
- Review efficiency and effectiveness of C2K
|
- C Grimes and DGM
- C Grimes and Dermot G Mullan
- C Grimes and HoDs
|
|
Pastoral Care and Pupils’ Personal Development
Pastoral Care and Pupils’ Personal Development
|
- Review school visits policy
- Provide a Leadership programme for the Lower Sixth
- Review Homework Club
- Review and develop the Lasallian philosophy within SPGS
- Review effectiveness of Student Councils
- Monitor effectiveness on ‘On Report’ system
- Investigate the extension of Mentoring Scheme into Year 9
- Develop programme to integrate new Year 13 students
- Improve the use and care of the Y14 Common Room
- Improve students’ attitude to litter
- Ensure Notice Boards are relevant and up-to-date
- Review School Retreat programme
- Examine the effectiveness of IEPs in Learning and Teaching
|
- CMG
- Year Heads and Form Teachers
- KLN, PC and G McCaul
- D McGuire, S Diffin and R McConville
- HoSs and S Council reps
- Heads of School
- Junior School Y Heads & Form Teachers
- RCE, MC and JS
- RCE & JS
- Form teachers
- Prefects, HoSs and J McLaughlin
- D McGuire and RCE
- RCE and SENCO
|
|
Staffing and Staff Development
|
- Internal Review PRSD scheme and its implementation
- Extend use of support staff to reduce admin load on teaching staff
- Review Induction of new staff
- Identify and agree staff for training in Applied courses
- Revise Departmental Handbooks
|
- CMG
- Dermot G Mullan
- M Flood
- D G Mullan
- HoDs/Subject co-ordinators
|
|
Resources and Facilities
|
- Provide mobile laptop stations for classrooms
- Audit subject spending patters and Value for Money
|
- D G Mullan, S Brennan, C Grimes
- D G Mullan, S Brennan
|
|
Premises
|
- Develop attractive, safe main school entrance
- Progress the PPP school
|
- D G Mullan and S Brennan
- D G Mullan
|
|
Links with parents and the Community
|
- Review Parent-Teacher meetings
- Develop links with Past Pupils through school website
- Evaluate links with Primary schools
- Increase staff participation on PTA
- Link with partner schools’ PTAs
- Find opportunities for contributory Primary Schools to visit
- Explore ways to increase applications to the Sixth Form
- Develop website as a marketing tool
- Send copies of Pulse to local libraries, civic buildings
|
- Year Heads
- S Diffin and ICT technician
- K McLoughlin, P Canavan & D G Mullan
- PTA
- PTA
- HoDs/Subject co-ordinators
- JS, J McLoughlin and D G Mullan
|
|
Strategic
|
- Continue with the implementation of IiP
- Review efficiency and effectiveness of the MIS
|
- IiP Committee
- SD, CG and DGM
|
|
Extra-curricular activities and sports
|
- Develop the school choirs and orchestra
- Publish extra-curricular programme to all parents and pupils
|
- Music teachers and CMG member
- J McLaughlin
|
Action points in italics should be reflected in Departmental Improvement Plans
|
Focus
|
Action: What do we Need to do to effect Improvement
|
Lead By
|
|
Learning and Teaching
|
- Continue to implement and evaluate the new curriculum
- Review effectiveness of Individual Education Plans
- Introduce vocational courses with other providers
- Report on base lining and target setting for students
|
- Curriculum Committee, HoDs and Subject Co-ordinators
- SENCO, HoDs and Subject Co-ordinators
- CMG, HoDs and Subject Co-ordinators
- HoDs and Subject Co-ordinators
|
|
e-Learning
|
- Develop a VLE to enhance students’ Learning
|
|
|
Pastoral Care and Pupil’s personal Development
|
- Review student attendance, authorised and unauthorised, and report to CMG
- Review signing out system for students
- Review use of achievement Section for students in Sims.net
- Improve attitude of students towards non-teaching staff
- Review visiting speakers programme
|
- RCE
- HoSs
- S Diffin
- FTs and PSHE Programme
- HoSs and Health Co-ordinator (BH)
|
Staffing and Staff Development
|
- Develop staff training programme
|
|
Resources and Facilities
|
- Continue provision of laptops and PCs
- Prepare for next phase of C2K
- Progress the PPP school
|
- D G Mullan and S Brennan
- D G Mullan, S Brennan and C Grimes
- D G Mullan
|
Links with parents and the Community
|
- Expand range of PTA activities
- Increase involvement of parents in the curriculum
- Establish Lower Sixth Symposium with high profile speakers
|
- PTA committee
- HoDs and Subject Co-ordinators
- Ann McCann and J Sheridan
|
Strategic
|
- Complete preparations for abolition of academic selection
|
|
Extra-curricular activities and sports
|
- Review extra curricular programme
|
- CMG, G Cooper, M Murphy, G Tate
|
Other(s):
|
|
|
|
About The School