Our Mission Statement
St John the Baptist’s College (SJBC) is an inclusive, caring Catholic school which is committed to delivering high quality education for all its students. Through close collaboration and positive relationships with parents and a variety of contributory/partner agencies, the college offers enriching learning experiences and equips all students with the skills, knowledge and mindset to achieve their full academic potential. The highly pastoral, warm and nurturing ethos of the SJBC family permeates all aspects of school life and is central to all decision making within the college. In SJBC, we value the personal, moral, social and spiritual development of each of our students, encouraging respect for self and others including the core values of honesty, kindness, empathy, integrity and compassion.
Our Vision
Our vision is to educate and develop our students to the highest possible standard, providing equality of opportunity to a broad, enriching and balanced curriculum that is both relevant in today’s world and challenging to all learners. We aim to promote and grow a culture of life-long learning among students and staff within the college. We endeavour to develop wider life skills and personal capabilities to help our students grow into healthy, well-rounded and successful adults capable of making informed and responsible choices. As a faith based community we are committed to awakening a devotion to God and daily prayer within our young people, challenging them to live out Christian values in their dealings with others according to our Catholic faith.
Principal's Welcome
A Chairde,
It gives me immense pleasure to introduce myself as the Principal of St John the Baptist’s College (SJBC). We are now entering our second year having officially launched as a new co-educational all-ability school on 1st September 2017. I feel incredibly proud and privileged to be leading a highly dedicated team of staff who are fully committed to ensuring that “every child is nurtured, valued and empowered to succeed” in SJBC.
St John the Baptist’s College has been launched initially as a Key Stage 3 model but as a rapidly growing and successful school we look forward to the re-designation of our school which will give us 11-18 status. The school is located in the heart of the community but it welcomes students from neighbouring villages and this year we accepted new Year 8 children from 13 different feeder primary schools.
We work in close partnership with our parents, key external agencies within the EA, the parish, our partner schools within CALC as well as with local businesses, ensuring that together we can build a bright future for the young people of this area.
In our school, we are committed to ensuring that each child receives a high quality education and that they are given every opportunity to achieve their full academic potential. Moreover, we value each child as a unique individual with diverse talents and interests, and this inclusive ethos ensures that all students have the opportunity to learn at their own pace and follow tailor-made curricular pathways.
Our smaller class sizes enable us to offer more individualised support in class as well as promoting close relationships with our students and their families. We also offer our students a rich and varied range of extra-curricular experiences and opportunities which support their physical, social and spiritual development.
Beirigí bua
Mrs N Murray (BA Hons, PGCE, PQH NI, MSC)
Principal
School uniform
cURRICULUM pROVISION
Every child empowered to excel
St. John the Baptist's College is currently a Key Stage 3 school with plans to expand into Key Stages 4 and 5 within the next few years. Our pupils have access to a broad and varied curriculum and the number of subjects available to them far exceeds the minimum number laid out by the Northern Ireland Revised Curriculum. We apply a holistic approach to teaching and learning, ensuring that each pupil is cared for, nurtured and empowered to work to the very best of their ability. Our aim is to empower our pupils and instil in them a sense of confidence and self-belief while equipping them with the skills needed for the modern workplace.
sUBJECTS
Art
Art and Design is an essential element in the education of all children and a central one in the area of Creative and Expressive Studies in the National Curriculum.
The development of the whole person as a creative unique individual able to communicate is at the heart of the subject. Art and Design encourages and fosters the stimulation of the imagination and the opportunity to express creatively ideas, feelings and emotions.
In SJBC, the programme is planned to ensure that every pupil has the opportunity to develop their artistic potential in the wide field of Art and Design.
eNGLISH
The ability to read with understanding and to express oneself clearly in speech and writing is central to achievement in many areas of life, both in and out of school. Here in SJBC, we aim to develop and nurture those key skills, so that our pupils are equipped to deal with the challenges of the school curriculum. Literacy skills are embedded across all areas of the curriculum and we strive to instil a life-long love of reading and writing in our pupils through the use of exciting lessons, resources, texts, ICT and extra-curricular activities.
French
In SJBC, pupils follow the National Curriculum for French and are taught how to express themselves both in oral and written form using a range of vocabulary and structures, as well as developing a sense of cultural awareness. Pupils are required to work independently as well as in pairs and groups.
Geography
In Geography pupils can develop an understanding of the world, its cultures, its environment and the way in which these interact and bring about change. Pupils are encouraged to investigate local and global environments and to investigate key issues such as the impact of urbanisation and globalisation. A wide range of physical and human geographical concepts and skills can promote a curiosity for learning and prepare pupils for future studies. Collaborative work, with other departments within the school and with outside organisations, will provide many opportunities for personal development, leadership and teamwork.
Horticulture
Horticulture is, at the most basic level, the science or art of cultivating fruits, vegetables, flowers, or ornamental plants. A Horticulturist's work involves plant propagation and cultivation with the aim of improving plant growth.
In SJBC, we aim to give our pupils the life skills they need to cultivate gardens of their own. Our outdoor classroom allows our pupils to use these skills in a real life context and develop a love for nature and its beauty.
History
Our History department is one of the most vibrant in the school with trips to famous historical sites and an annual 'Build your own castle' competition for year 8 pupils.
At KS3, pupils will study a variety of topics and time periods including World War One, plantation-era Ireland and the reign of Elizabeth I.
hOME eCONOMICS
Home Economics at Key Stage 3 is part of Learning for Life and Work. In Years 8, 9 and 10 pupils get the opportunity to examine key concepts in relation to healthy eating, home and family life and independent living. Year 8, 9 and 10 is divided into a series of units which are designed to be enjoyable, challenging and relevant for our pupils. A wide range of practical cookery is built into each unit of work so that pupils can develop a range of important skills such as working with others, problem solving, cooking skills and using equipment.
Irish
Irish at Key Stage 3 covers a wide range of topics in accordance with the Northern Ireland Curriculum. The focus in the Department is on spoken language and students are actively encouraged to speak Irish both inside and outside of the classroom.
Students get the opportunity in Key Stage 3 to achieve the ‘cúpla focal’ badge and their ‘silver fáinne’. Most students study Irish for two periods a week in year 8 and three periods a week in year 9 and 10.
lEARNING FOR lIFE AND wORK
In St John the Baptist College this subject is divided into three main areas of study:
Personal Development
This area gives students the opportunity to study: Maximising and sustaining health and well-being, concept of self, building and maintaining healthy relationships, recognising, assessing and managing risk, understanding the roles and responsibilities of parenting, developing competence as discerning consumers.
Employability
This area gives students opportunities to study: The impact of globalisation on employment, recruitment and selection practices for employment, rights and responsibilities of employers and employees, issues of self- employment and sources of support.
Local and Global Citizenship
This area gives students opportunities to study: Diversity and inclusion in Northern Ireland and the wider world, rights and responsibilities regarding local, national and global issues, the role of society and government in safeguarding human rights, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), key democratic institutions and their role in promoting inclusion and justice.
mATHEMATICS
The Mathematics department in SJBC is a young and vibrant department and we are delighted to welcome two new specialist teachers in 2018.
We believe that in order to succeed in Mathematics you need to enjoy Mathematics so we celebrate achievement and incorporate ICT and games into our daily lessons to promote enthusiasm.
We have a very successful High Achievers scheme which has given our students further opportunities to achieve GCSE’s in Key Stage 3 and we have also created a transition scheme of work for Year 8 students to minimise duplication at Key Stage 2.
We follow the Northern Ireland Curriculum at Key Stage 3 and our High Achiever students follow the revised CCEA GCSE modular specification.
Music
Key Stage 3 music is a compulsory subject in the common curriculum. Lessons in Year 8 – 10 are provided once a week.
Pupils are encouraged to listen to music from 1600 to the present day and to be aware of its historical and cultural context. All pupils are introduced to music notation. Through the methods of imitation and improvisation, pupils will be encouraged to perform short pieces of music in unison and in harmony. All class music is performed using keyboards, percussion and a range of other classroom instruments.
In Years 8 and 9, pupils work as individuals and in groups and enjoy opportunities to arrange and compose short pieces of music which may be enhanced by including orchestral instruments and keyboards. All pupils are given the opportunities to perform and record their class assignments.
Physical Education
Physical Education is part of a wider process of education. It provides a planned and rich experience in physical activity. The areas of understanding which we promote are aspects of the ‘Holistic Child’.
Pupils are given the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of sports, both in class and as part of our range of extracurricular activities, as well as learning the importance of exercise and healthy living.
Religious Education
Within St John The Baptist College, Religious Education is an integral and indispensable aspect of the total education of young people and, therefore, deserves an important place in the life and work of the school.
Each Religious Education lesson takes place in the context of a Christian community. In the classroom each pupil gets his/her main chance to acquire a knowledge and understanding of faith which will enable him/her to acquire the gift which God has given, and to look at life from the Christian viewpoint.
The RE Department liaises closely with our school chaplain to administer the sacraments during the school year. He administers the Sacrament of Reconciliation for everyone in the school during the periods of Advent and Lent. There is also at mass to mark the beginning of the school year and a combined school service during Catholic Schools Week. We arrange various liturgical celebrations throughout the school year to celebrate key religious festivals within our school community.
sCIENCE
In St John the Baptist’s College the Science Department strives to inspire, motivate and challenge pupils through a broad, coherent and practical programme of study at Key Stage 3. Our lessons are designed to stimulate and excite pupils’ curiosity about phenomena and events in world around them.
It is the objective of the Science department to enable pupils to become well informed, confident citizens in an increasingly technological world. Pupils experience a variety of activities during their course of study and are given every opportunity to apply scientific knowledge and ideas to help them solve problems. It is our aim that pupils begin to make personal decisions and judgements based on their scientific knowledge on issues concerning personal health and well being, safety and the care of the environment, as well as equipping them with the important skills necessary in the world of work.
tECHNOLOGY AND dESIGN
As we live in a high technology society it is fair to say that our way and quality of life as well as our standard of living is dependent to a large extent upon the manufacture of sophisticated products and, of course, all of these have to be designed. Technology & Design is an exciting subject which provides opportunities for pupils to solve all sorts of problems in a practical way by designing and making things.
sTRETCH AND cHALLENGE
At St. John the Baptist's College, we strive to ensure that every pupil is challenged and encouraged to perform to the best of their academic ability. Each year, high achieving pupils are identified within each year group using a mixture of data, test scores and teacher feedback. These pupils are given the opportunity to attend additional classes in several subjects (such as Maths, English and COPE) which will enable them to study for, and achieve grades in, GCSE modules in Maths, Media Studies and COPE by the end of Year 10.
Additional Languages
St. John the Baptist's College has a proud tradition of excellence in the Irish Language. We support and challenge pupils who have attended Irish Medium education in primary school to continue their study and obtain their GCSE Irish in Year 8.
This year we are thrilled to add two new languages to our curriculum - Polish and Portuguese. Pupils who are native speakers of these languages will attend classes in their language and will be encouraged to complete GCSEs in these languages by the end of Year 10. Pupils identified as high achieving or those who have already passed their GCSE Irish will also be offered the opportunity to learn one of these languages.
Coding and Digital Schoolhouse
SJBC is thrilled to be one of only four Digital Schoolhouse schools in Northern Ireland.
Digital Schoolhouse is a programme, sponsored by Sega and Playstation that allows us to provide coding classes to our pupils and local feeder primary schools. Coding is the language of the future and we are excited to be able to provide our pupils with the digital skills they will need for the workplace of the future.
No ChILD LEFT BEHIND
Every pupil in our school is given as much support as they need to succeed academically. We use data, teacher feedback and parental feedback to tailor this support to your child's specific needs. This means that whether your child needs short term support with spelling and mental maths or long term literacy and numeracy withdrawal, they will receive the assistance they need to become confident, well-rounded learners.
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Pupils with English as a second language are fully supported in St. John the Baptist's College and will receive additional literacy support to assist them in settling into the school and succeeding academically. The school employs a Portuguese speaking classroom assistant and currently offers Portuguese as a GCSE option for any Portuguese pupils who would like to sit their GCSE early.
Nurture Centre
St. John the Baptist's College is one of the few post-primary schools in Northern Ireland to offer a Nurture Centre. The Centre is specifically targeted at pupils with social and emotional issues who may find the transition between primary and secondary school to be a particular challenge. Pupils accepted into the Nurture Centre will be taught in a small class setting by a trained Nurture Teacher for half of their school timetable and will receive additional support in helping them deal with transition through counselling, meditation and a variety of coping strategies.
Pastoral Provision
A Nurturing School
Here in St. John the Baptist's College, we strive to provide the very best pastoral care for our pupils to guide them in all aspects of their lives. We believe that pupils cannot achieve their full potential academically unless their social, emotional and spiritual well-being is looked after first. With this is mind, we ensure that our school environment is happy and welcoming to ensure the best quality learning can take place.
Form Teachers
Form teachers play an integral role in the pastoral care of the school and will oversee your child's pastoral needs on a daily basis. Form teachers work with classroom teachers and the Head of Pastoral Care to ensure every child is safe and content.
aDDITIONAL sUPPORT
We offer our pupils the very best of pastoral support and work with various outside agencies to ensure that each child gets the help and support they need. The school currently has an on site Learning Mentor, counsellor and links with local agencies such as St. Mary's Youth Club, Oasis and REACH Mentoring as well as a host of other services our pupils can avail of.
Mental Health
We take the mental well-being of our pupils very seriously so pupils are taught mindfulness techniques and calming strategies in LLW classes. St. John the Baptist's College is also an ambassador school for Cycle Against Suicide and we firmly believe in their message of 'It's OK not to feel OK and it's absolutely OK to ask for help'.
Parental Contact
We use a variety of methods to keep our parents constantly up to date with their child's progress and general well-being. Form teachers are the first point of contact for parents and our Parent App and the Show My Homework App will help parents keep up to date with their child's academic progress. Certificates and praise cards are used widely throughout the school to recognise success.
Safeguarding and Child Protection
Under the guidance of the Safeguarding and Child Protection team, all staff within St. John the Baptist's College are committed to the safety and well-being of our pupils. We have rigorous access procedures in place for all visitors to the school and all staff members and visitors are made aware of our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy. Our priority is to ensure our pupils are safe from harm, well cared for and are able to learn in a safe and stable school environment. Our policies on Safeguarding and Child Protechtion, Drugs and Alcohol, and Relationship and Sexuality Education are available on request from the school office.
Extracurricular Activities
We believe that the education of our pupils should continue well after the bell has gone at the end of the day. We provide a robust programme of extracurricular activities, both after school and during the school day, to ensure our pupils are given every opportunity to excel and develop their hobbies and passions outside of the main school curriculum.
Our Extracurricular Activities Programme includes:
- Art Club
- Ranganna Gaelige
- Chess and Draughts Club
- Eco Club
- High Achievers Maths and English Provision
- Homework Club
- Homework Club - Portuguese Pupils
- Coding Club
- Choir
- Netball
- Gaelic
- Soccer
- Media Club
- Credit Union Savings Club
- Music Lessons
- Traditional Music Group
- Horticulture
- Book Club
At SJBC, we take care of the environment and instil a sense of environmental responsibility in our pupils. The school has been awarded three prestigious Eco-Schools Green Flag awards and our Eco-Club members (known as the Eco-Warriors) work tirelessly to ensure our school is a cleaner, greener place.
The Eco-Schools programme is the world’s largest Environmental education programme and aims to make environmental awareness and action an intrinsic part of the life and ethos of a school. It’s participatory approach and combination of learning and action makes it an ideal way for schools to begin improving the environments of schools and their local communities.
Faith and religious education
A strong Catholic ethos
St. John the Baptist's College is a Catholic school and strives to instil the teachings and moral code of the Catholic Church in our pupils. All pupils receive religious education as part of the curriculum and take part in regular religious celebrations including whole school prayer services and themed assemblies.
Charity Work
A main focus of our Catholic ethos is the helping of those in need. We encourage our pupils to participate in charitable events throughout the school year including fundraising for Trocaire during Lent and creating food hampers for families in need at Christmas time.
The Prayer to St. John the Baptist
O God, You raised up St. John the Baptist to prepare a perfect people people for Christ. Fill your people with the joy of possessing His grace, and lead the minds of all the faithful in the way of peace and salvation. We pray that just as St. John gave up his life for truth and justice, so we may always stand up for our faith in You. Help us to lead others in the Way, the Truth, and Eternal Life. Amen.
SHARED EDUCATION
Shared Education is an important part of school life in St. John the Baptist's College. We have formed links with several local schools through shared education programmes such as Peace IV and TBUC. Our pupils work closely with pupils from our partner schools to complete projects involving sport, art, media skills, digital skills and coding. These projects are invaluable in allowing our pupils to access deeper knowledge of these skills while developing tolerance and understanding of other cultures - and making new friends at the same time!
Partnerships and community links
The school works closely with various outside agencies in the local community such as youth clubs, mentoring groups, religious groups and sporting teams to ensure a varied school experience for our pupils with opportunities for trips, fundraisers, workshops and work experience.
Primary School Links
St. John the Baptist's College has forged strong links with our feeder primary schools and we encourage P6 and P7 pupils to visit our school as much as possible so that they become comfortable and familiar with our school environment. We hold P7 taster days several times a year and offer a variety of workshops to primary schools including STEM programmes and a coding course.
We offer our High Achievers Programme in Maths and English to P7 pupils in our local primary schools which allows pupils identified as 'high achievers' to attend one weekly lesson of Maths and English with subject specialists where they study GCSE level topics.
Celebrating Success
St. John the Baptist's College values the importance of celebrating the achievements of each pupil. Our weekly assemblies are used to share success stories with the whole school community and achievement certificates are given to the top performing pupils in each subject on a termly basis. Form Teachers record all achievements from competition wins and sporting achievements to academic success.
Pupil vOICE
The voice of the pupil is very important in St. John the Baptist's College. Each form class elects a class representative who sits on our Student Council. The Council meets regularly to bring ideas for the improvement of the school and pupil experience to senior management, who endeavour to make as many pupil suggestions as possible a reality.
ICT
St. John the Baptist's College believes in preparing our pupils for the workplace of the future and this means giving them the opportunity to develop the 21st Century skills they will need to succeed. ICT is embedded across the school curriculum and pupils use a variety of ICT skills on a daily basis to enhance their learning.
Infrastructure and Next Generation Learning
The school has invested heavily in our ICT infrastructure with the purchase of class sets of iPads and Chromebooks as well as touchscreen whiteboards and Apple TVs for classrooms. Many classes make use of platforms such as Google Classroom and the Show My Homework App to enable pupils to complete and submit work online. Our Next Generation Learning programme ensures that all staff are fully trained in the use of relevant devices and applications.
ICT Success
As a result of our fantastic progress in our ICT journey, St. John the Baptist's College was a finalist in the Capita ICT Excellence Awards 2018 and was awarded Highly Commended status, a success we intend to build on in the years to come.
Transition
The transition of our pupils from Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 4 and beyond is an important aspect of life in St. John the Baptist's College. We have formed links with several of our local schools to provide managed pathways for our Year 10 pupils to transition into GCSE. Our Transition Coordinator oversees the process and we endeavour to make it as easy and stress-free for our pupils and parents as possible. We maintain regular contact with our past pupils for the first year of their transition to ensure they are happy, settled and succeeding to the best of their ability.
Transition from Primary to Post-Primary
Our aim, in St.John the Baptist's College, is to make the transition from primary to post-primary as easy as possible for our pupils. We work hard to ensure our school environment is friendly and inviting.
Each form class is assigned a form teacher who is responsible for ensuring your child is settling well into the school. We offer the very best of pastoral care and have ample provision for pupils who find transition that little bit more difficult (such as our Nurture Centre and onsite Learning Mentor). We are confident that you will be making the right decision for your child's future by sending them to SJBC.
Credits:
St. John the Baptist's College