11th December 2015

Academy Unveils New School Development Plan

Banbridge Academy’s School Council, along with Principal Mr McLoughlin and Vice-Principals Mr McFarland and Mrs Evans, has unveiled the new School Development Plan. They helped to prepare the document, which has been drafted in careful consulation over a number of months, via various forums, with all of the school’s key stakeholders – principally the pupils, parents and staff. The strategy places emphasis on four central tenets: child centered provision, high quality teaching and learning, effective leadership and a school connected to its local community.

At the heart of the process lies the fundamental aim that the pupils of Banbridge Academy continue to feel enabled and supported as they seek to achieve their potential across all areas of school life.

Child-Centred Provision

●      Review the arrangements for pupils during non-teaching time

●      Develop links between the Careers Department and Progress Files

●         Review the existing channels of communication in the Pastoral System

●         Identify pupils with additional needs, consolidate and develop intervention strategies

●         Review SEN provision and implement appropriate staff training

●         Review school uniform and introduce monitoring procedures

●         Review Anti-bullying Policy and train staff in NIABF procedures

●         Review the Relationships and Sexuality Education Policy

●         Review the Misuse of Drugs Policy

●         Complete the review of the Discipline Policy and procedures

●         Review of counselling provision

●         Promote tailored pathways for individual pupils – see HQTL

 High-Quality Teaching and Learning

●      Review Curriculum provision to ensure it is sufficiently broad, balanced and flexible to meet the needs of individual pupils (Focus: ICT and Computer Science)

●         Investigate the possibility of extending the curriculum in line with  the Entitlement Framework and the introduction of new subjects at GCSE/GCE

●         Investigate tailored pathways for individual pupils

●         Monitor and evaluate the revision of GCSE and GCE specifications to ascertain the potential impact on the school Curriculum and timetable

●         Audit and evaluate CEAIG and Employability

●         Develop and implement strategies at Key Stage 3 to improve pupils’ literacy skills to enhance performance across the entire curriculum

●         Develop the Library’s contribution to the enhancement of literacy skills and the curriculum

●         Review Numeracy Policy

●  Sharing and modifying practice to ensure lessons motivate all learners

●     To develop good practice in line with the school Teaching and Learning Policy (Focus: Provision of Quality Feedback)

●         Development of the school ICT strategy with a focus on eLearning to enhance collaboration and pedagogy

●         Review Assessment and Reporting procedures (Focus CCS, TS&PC & LLW)

●         Review tracking of pupil progress at KS5

●         Review Homework Policy

●   Review and develop the use of the school MIS for managing school information for effective use of data and target setting

●         To undertake pupil pursuits
Effective Leadership

●         Implement the new SDP

●      Board of Governors understand their role in the monitoring, evaluating and review process

●  Teaching and Learning Committee lead the development of pedagogy

●        Implement a training programme for the Middle Leadership

●         Establish a School Steering Group

●     Review and develop the role of the Curriculum Committee

●      Continue to develop and implement staff well-being strategies

●         Appoint a Financial Administrator

●     Investigate funding possibilities for the second hockey pitch

●     Develop the subject link between Senior and Middle Leadership

 A School Connected to its Local Community

●   Investigate how to engage parents further in the learning process when their child is under-performing and implement strategies accordingly

●         Review Parent Information evenings

●         Develop a new school website

●         Improve links with former pupils

● Review and further develop the collaborative arrangements with BALC, other partner schools, colleges and investigate links with new schools, educational providers (BALC Implementation Plan)

●       Develop the links with our main partner Primary Schools

●  Develop the arrangements for the CBI Business Class Project

●   Improve environmental awareness and recycling in school

●    Register Banbridge Academy Association with the Charity Commission