School Report: Assumption Grammar School, Ballynahinch, County Down
Excellent relationships between teachers and pupils characterise this selective secondary for girls
Excellent relationships between teachers and pupils characterise this selective secondary for girls
The school: A state-funded, selective secondary school for girls on the outskirts of the small town of Ballynahinch, south of Belfast. it was founded as a convent by the Missionary Sisters of the Assumption in 1933 and is now a specialist music and PE school. It is oversubscribed with a wide catchment area. Polish, Spanish and Mandarin are among the languages spoken at home by pupils, while about 13 per cent of students are eligible for free school meals.
Top marks: Northern Ireland’s Education Training Inspectorate (ETI) found the school to be “very good” in all aspects when it last visited. Inspectors noted that pupils’ behaviour was “exemplary” and “teachers and pupils share high expectations and enjoy excellent working relationships”.
Making the grade: Assumption pupils regularly achieve among the best GCSE and A level results in Northern Ireland.
Joining the debate: A team of three girls from Assumption took on the roles of UK government ministers in a mock EU debate last month. Teenagers from across Northern Ireland represented different European countries in the event at Belfast City Hall, designed to give them a chance to experience the EU’s decision-making process. The pupils had a week to learn about EU policy and prepare for the debate, which focused on migration and climate change in the context of Brexit.
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