GRYPHON

Promotions

Due to changes in staffing, several opportunities presented themselves within the school for staff to apply for permanent positions, temporary positions, or promotion. The following people experienced change as a result of the recruitment drive that occurred in the final term:

Vice Principal Curriculum                               Mr Jonathan Todd Vice Principal Pastoral                                    Mrs Lynsey McDermott Senior Teacher Curriculum                            Mr Andrew Walker Senior Teacher Pastoral                                 Mr David Hinds School Improvement Projects                      Mrs Krystal Cunningham Mrs Kerry Will Head of Physics                                              Mr Stewart Henry Head of Drama         Mr Daire Cunningham Head of Mathematics                                     Mrs Claire McGilton Head of Careers                                             Mrs Stephanie Sterrett Teacher of Art & MIA                                      Miss Chloe McVeigh Teacher of Biology & Physics                        Mrs Stephanie Squance Teacher of Business & ICT                             Miss Molly Hayes Teacher of History & Games                         Mr Matthew Lennon Teacher of Maths & RE                                   Miss Kathryn Orr Teacher of Technology & PE                         Mr Matthew Armstrong-Sanchez Online Safety Co-ordinator                           Mr Phil Ramsey Head of Year                                                   Mrs Stephanie Squance Careers Teacher i/c Industry Links                Mr Phil Ramsey Shared Education Co-ordinator                   Mrs Claire Buchanan Personal Development Co-ordinator         Miss Jessica Smyth Teacher i/c Athletics                                       Mr Matthew Armstrong–Sanchez Library Co-ordinator                                       Mrs Alison McAnoy

We also welcomed the following new staff to the building this year:

Mr Blair                                                              Chemistry Mrs Boomer                                                      Head of Modern Languages Dr Hewitt                                                           Physics and Mathematics Miss Irvine                                                         Drama Mr Gordon                                                         Geography Mrs Macleod                                                     Home Economics Mrs McVeigh                                                     Science Dr McKee                                                          Pupil Supervisor and Rugby Coach

  In addition, we also recruited 6 new Classroom Assistants:

Mr Gu                                                                 Classroom Assistant Mr Hajjar                                                            Classroom Assistant Mr Lyall                                                               Classroom Assistant Mrs Qian                                                             Classroom Assistant Mrs Smyth                                                         Classroom Assistant Mrs Storey                                                         Classroom Assistant

  In terms of Academic Success, we have been able to report the following: A2:      75.7% achieved 3+ A*-C AS:      59.4% achieved 3+ A-C GCSE: 94.2% achieved 7+A*-C  

Some of the pupils who performed at an exceptionally high standard included Marcus McGowan, Zak Lormier, Charlie McCarroll, Shay Ritchie, Jacob Singleton and Austin Williams.  All of these boys achieved at the highest levels possible, and you will hear more about them later on throughout the prize distribution. In terms of AS, Ben Elliott, Adam Foster, Keenan Keenedy, Kai Morrow and Aaron Teeney all achieved 4 A grades, the highest possible grades at Advanced Subsidiary level.

  At GCSE Jake Smyth achieved 9 A*s, Zach Hagan and Luke Nickell achieved 8 A*’s and 1 A and Adil Mohammed and Nathan Wiggill achieved 7A*’s ad 2 A’s, placing them in a strong position as they embark upon their A Level studies. I am also pleased to report that 22 boys achieved A*-A in 9 subjects, which shows the hard work and determination put into their studies. It is also worth mentioning two of our young men who challenged themselves academically during the course of the year.  Otis Murray (Year 13), currently Year 14 participated in the Sutton Trust, a programme to allow UK applicants the understanding needed for applications to university in the United States.  Otis worked online, travelled to Nottingham and then to Boston to visit several institutions on a programme that is 8 times oversubscribed each year.   Another young man, Austin Williams, participated in the UK Chemistry Olympiad and was placed in the top 8% in the UK as a result of his knowledge and understanding.

 

Extra-curricular Success

It is with great pride and pleasure that I can announce that Bangor Grammar School last year won the school cup… in sailing!  A team made up of Daniel Palmer, Matthew Holden, Hunter Reddy, Joseph Robinson, Henry Nelson, Matthew Glasgow and Vaughan Farmer attended the annual youth championship, and as a result, we were the top-performing school in the competition.  Now, this was all news to us when the cup was brought back into school, but I was absolutely delighted to receive this cup on behalf of the school. Our other major sports may not have lifted the Schools Cup, but the tenacity and dedication of both boys and staff have been shown throughout the year.   Last season saw some great successes throughout Bangor Grammar rugby.  Within the junior section, the medallion reached the semi-final of the medallion bowl competition but unfortunately lost out in a hugely competitive match. The 2nd xv progressed on to the ¼ final of the 2nd XV plate competition but lost to a very strong Banbridge Academy team.  The 1st XV made the semi-final of the schools’ cup plate competition but unfortunately couldn’t get over the final hurdle to make the final. These successes have led to Christian Little and Albie Scott being selected for the Ulster 16 and Ulster under 17 training squads. We look forward to welcoming the new year 8 rugby players to Bangor Grammar and excitedly wait to see how they settle into Bangor Grammar Rugby.  Lastly, we would like to thank all the coaches for all their hard work throughout the season. Rugby would not be able to run in school if it weren’t for their dedication and sacrifices.   In Hockey, the highlight for the 1st XI was making it to the Semi-Finals of the Irish Schools Hockey Championships, defeating Campbell College Belfast, Bandon Grammar (Cork) and Wesley College (Dublin) in the group stages. This was the first time in over 25 years that we had reached this stage of the competition. The Under 15s progressed to the semi-final of the Richardson Cup. Narrowly losing out to RBAI, in what was their best performance of the season. The Under 13s also progressed to the Semi-final of the Bannister Bowl, losing out to eventual winners, Cookstown HS. Individually, Sam McMillan, Robbie Brown and JJ Holley were selected for the Ulster U18s hockey squad, which successfully defended their Interpro crown. Sam and JJ progressed to the Irish U18 training panel. Seb Holley was selected for the Irish Under 16s and played in Poland at Easter, and Cork in July, in two European tournaments. Ben McGilton and Charlie Hopkins were selected for an Ulster U13 squad, which travelled to Nottingham for a UK Talent Academies Tournament. Thanks to the dedication of staff including Mr Armstrong-Sanchez, Mrs Woodside, Mr Rea, Mr Lennon, Ryan Burgess and Nathan Belshaw and Mr Holley for such an action packed and successful season. The U18 Football season saw a squad, made up of players from Y12-14, focusing their efforts onto the Belfast Cup and progressed from the group stage as group winners, only to falter at the quarter-final stage, losing to local rivals Regent House School.   In U16 football, the boys won through to the 3rd round in the NI cup, going out in a narrow defeat to Craigavon High School.  In the Belfast Cup the team perhaps should have made better progress but were knocked out in a close game against Grosvenor Grammar School, who went on to be finalists in the NI Cup.  The team then moved into the Belfast Plate and convincingly won the next 3 rounds of that competition to make it to the final in April 2024.  On the whole, the U16 team had a successful season and with many of these players returning to school we will have a solid foundation for the 2024-25 season. In the summer term the Cricket Season commenced and we had amazing participation rates and a huge improvement throughout the school.   Our partnership with Bangor Cricket Club is very strong, sharing facilities and equipment which has been deeply appreciated. It was very encouraging to see so many boys playing school and club cricket.

  In terms of success, the school were Under 12 Plate winners and were in the Under 14 Semi-Final of the Plate. Sam McMillan, captain of the 1st XI displayed excellent leadership qualities. He also batted exceptionally, scoring a great deal of runs. He also represented the Ulster Schools Under 19 squad and the NCU squad. It has been great to see the Cricket Season come to life again, and our thanks go to the staff for their coaching and umpiring from Mr Nowotarski, Mr Walker, Mr Holley, Mr Armstrong Sanchez, Mr Rea, Mr Lennon, Mr Botha, Mr Robinson and Mr Belshaw, particularly after a long rugby & hockey season.   Last year was a standout season for both our Cross Country and Athletics teams. Our Junior (Year 10) Cross Country team achieved a rare and remarkable feat by competing in the prestigious All-Ireland Cross Country competition in Dublin. This accomplishment reflects the hard work and dedication of our athletes. In Athletics, six boys qualified to compete at the All-Ireland level across various events, demonstrating the depth of talent within the squad. A highlight of the season was Jamie Moffatt's outstanding performance, securing a bronze medal in the senior boys' 100m, marking a significant achievement for the school.  A huge thank you to Mr Armstrong-Sanchez and Miss Hayes for their commitment to athletics.

48 Year 11 pupils started their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award. The Assessed Expedition took place at the end of April in the Mournes. Many of the Group have finished their Bronze Award and proceeded to the Silver Award. 36 pupils started their Silver Award, with 28 of them completing their Practice and Assessed Expeditions in the Mournes in June. These pupils are now completing the other three sections of the Award, which they hope to finish when they are in Year 12. The Year 14 Gold Group was the largest group that we have taken through the Award with 20 pupils. This group of pupils had not had a chance to complete either the Bronze or Silver Awards due to COVID-19. The Gold group, consisting of three expedition teams, completed their training and practice expeditions in the Mournes, followed by their Assessed Expedition in the Cairngorms in Scotland. The expedition involved walking 96km in a remote area for four days, including three nights camping.   This year, once again had the usual highlights of our school calendar.  The Christmas Carol Service and the Spring concert were uplifting in their musicality and performance, and I would advise the need to book your tickets as soon as they are released for this academic year.  You will be glad to hear that BGS has not adopted a dynamic pricing strategy as yet.  As always, the Service of Remembrance reminded us of the former boys who paid the ultimate price for our freedom and as always, the CCF played a substantial role in the event.  This year, we also had a number of joint events with Glenlola Collegiate School, and it is a pleasure to have Mr Eric Thompson with us today.  In February, we held a joint concert in Bangor Elim Church and were entertained by a diverse and talented group of young people who have a love for music and performance.  Later in the year, we invited our local Primary Schools to a taster event in both schools to allow them to see what single sex education really is like and to experience the ‘big school’ environment for the day.  This was a day when the excitement and wonder of education were shown to all those who came along, and I believe that it provided them with an insight into the next stage of their education in a positive way.   The return of the Bar Mock Trial once again set us apart as a school that challenges pupils to take risks, and it was also a great opportunity to work with other schools at a high-level event.  Working with other schools is one thing, but debating against them is quite another, and this year our team made it through to the Quarter Finals of the Senior Debating Championship and the school was represented by Adil Mohammed and Philip Szwergla.  Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful in this competition, and perhaps the less said about that, the better. However, we were victorious, as Shay Ritchie lifted the Trophy for Best Speaker in the NI Debating Finals in Belfast City Hall.

Now, when it comes to clarity of speech and communication, our boys are second to none; but I have to admit that during the Senior Drama Society production of 'Old Boyz', I was highly impressed to see how well they were able to master the Ulster Scots dialect.  The history of our beloved school has never been so entertaining - our boys' ability to recall the details of my infamous school assembly following the death of Her Majesty the Queen, with its mass faintings and my low country expressions, brought laughter and tears to the vast majority of the audience (or those who could understand it at least...). This year saw several school trips visiting countries around the world, including Krakow with the History Department. The German Exchange restarted last year and we will be hosting families in the next two week here in BGS, A Spanish trip to Valencia to attend a Spanish school and soak up the culture of a vibrant city, the eagerly awaited ski trip to Austria, and finally the Induction trip for Year 8 (that had been planned for September) managed to happen in May owing to the joys of Northern Ireland weather.  All opportunities that assist our boys in challenging themselves, widening their horizons and working together in difficult situations. Once again, our community reached out to other communities in our charity involvement last year.  £3,685 was raised for Children in Need, and a MacMillan Coffee Morning was held in September.  We also held the Action Cancer Bag Drop after Easter, which brought in a lot of donations and food donations at Christmas for the Food Bank.   The annual sponsored walk allowed for donations to be made to Marie Curie Cancer, Cystic Fibrosis, Aware NI, MacMillan Cancer, and Clifton School Christmas Party.   We also supported Angel Wishes, Abanna, PIPS Suicide Prevention and the NI Hospice.  It is with gratitude that I report that the total forwarded to charities by our school community this year was £9,013 As a school, we are incredibly appreciative of the work that our PTA does in many areas of the school, whether to assist in school activities or organise a variety of events in order to raise much-needed funds. In October, the Year 8 Disco was held in partnership with Glenlola, November saw the annual Family Quiz night, in February a Gin tasting event was held, and in June the PTA organised a Uniform sale for the new Year 8 intake.  The PTA was also able to purchase 30 new Chromebooks to aid the teaching and learning within the school, and we are appreciative of all they do for the school.   I mentioned earlier about the support that was given to me by Elizabeth Huddleson during my time at Bangor Grammar School, but I must also make reference to the support and encouragement given to me by the Governors, parents, and all staff.  This year has taught me that this job can only be done in partnership with all parties.  My governors have been there to listen, advise, support and encourage throughout my time as acting Principal and especially since my appointment.  I wish to thank you all for moving forward at a pace to ensure the stability that the school needs.  Parents and pupils, thank you for your support, your willingness to back decisions that are made, and to trust us with your son, knowing that we have his best interests at heart.  And to all the Staff, Facilities, Catering, Classroom Assistants, Department Heads, Senior Leadership, Teachers - I thank you all for your graciousness and support.  The number of times when a staff member encourages another member of staff, goes the extra mile, says the kind word that makes the day a little bit better.  Keep doing it and support each other.  Mr Harper mentioned one of our governors who had these qualities and who passed away during the year due to a tragic accident.  Mr Derek Patterson was a true gentleman in every sense of the word.  He always had the best interests of the boys at heart.  He cared deeply for this school, and his professional background meant that he could bring so much to school life.  Derek was the man who you could always depend upon to come forward for a recruitment panel, to attend a school function, to speak to everyone in the organisation, and to make a difference.  I remember the night that he was involved in the accident, and an hour beforehand, he sat around the governors' table and mentioned to me his concern for the young people and challenges they have to face in today’s fast-moving world.  Derek left a legacy behind – his legacy was that he cared. I trust that in my closing remarks that we as a school, as a community, can all say the same. 

Tribute to Rosie McKee

The year is 1988 - Margaret Thatcher has just reached the milestone of being the longest serving UK prime minister of the 20th century. A mere 500 miles away from 10 Downing Street is a little place in County Down called College Avenue, where another (somewhat less-publicised) event is taking place. A 24-year-old member of staff has just started her career in Bangor Grammar School. Her name is Miss Rosemary (Rosie) Hill. Rosie joined the Physics department alongside Dr Peter Moore (Vice Principal), Ivan Wilson (Vice Principal) and Dougie Rea (Head of Department). Rosie was clearly not daunted by the other, illustrious, members of the Physics Dept and her colleagues very quickly realised that they had a member of the department who was not only extremely diligent, but also had a comprehensive knowledge of both Mathematics & Physics. Rosie Hill became Rosie McKee in the summer of 1989 when she married Maurice McKee. Rosie’s first stint was a mere 7 years, but during this time she coached our Year 9 hockey players and helped them to secure the Ferris Cup with the U14 hockey squad. There was then rather a long wait until the next time they won this trophy - 27 years later in fact - when they finally won it again in 2022; this time with the coaching assistance of Mrs Williamson and Mr Armstrong-Sanchez. Rosie departed from BGS in 1995, to go with her husband to Lagos, Nigeria with his work commitments. Rosie often spoke fondly of her time in Nigeria, but all too soon Northern Ireland would be calling her back home again. Her son Adam was born in 1998 and Rosie returned to teaching soon afterwards. Her return to teaching recommenced in Lagan College in the year 2000; but soon enough Bangor Grammar called, to see if she could be persuaded to come back once again to College Avenue. Elaine Foster of the BGS Physics department was leaving for Strathearn School. Ivan Wilson had also taken early retirement and there were many boys needing her expertise once again. Rosie, of course, accepted the call, and a few years later when Dougie Rea, the Head of Physics, was unwell, Rosie McKee stepped up as acting HoD whilst he was recuperating. During this second stint, Rosie also took on the role as teacher in charge of Community Action at BGS, which involved sorting out placements for our boys in the community, preparing the Clifton Special School Christmas Party, the annual school sponsored walk, along with numerous non-uniform days throughout the year. In 2006, when a number of BGS staff accepted redundancy packages and/or early retirement incentives Rosie then became permanent Head of the Physics Department. Over the following 18 years, the department continued to improve both academically and in terms of encouraging our boys to take on the subject at both GCSE and A-level. When I first started Bangor Grammar in 2004, I was greeted by Rosie in her capacity as acting Head of Department. I was struck by how knowledgeable she was in every single area of Physics and how she could easily use her comprehensive knowledge of mathematics to simplify whatever problem she encountered. She kindly gave me a copy of all of her own teaching materials to help me get started in my own teaching career. Even when nature conspired to prevent Rosie from getting to work, she refused to let the elements get in her way. On one such occasion there was very heavy snow in Belfast, and it was impossible for her to drive into work due to the hazardous road conditions. Rosie, of course, would never let a bit of inclement weather stop her from getting into work. She decided to walk/slip all the way to the bus stop, got the bus to the train station, the train into Bangor and then somehow made her way up the Gransha Road on foot. There were a lot of boys & staff missing from Bangor Grammar on that day, but Rosie certainly made sure she got her tick for attendance.   Rosie, although small in stature, was never once intimidated by the sometimes boisterous boys of BGS. In those early days of my own teaching career, I would ask Rosie for advice on how to deal with the seemingly unruly behaviour from a small number of our boys. She would tell me to make sure that I use large doses of sarcasm & humour to keep them in check - along with some carefully-planned lessons to make sure they become knowledgeable physicists along the way. I’m forever indebted to Rosie for the guidance she gave me in those early years, it certainly helped me to become a better pastoral teacher with a much deeper knowledge & understanding of Physics in the years to come. Rosie was a person who would always speak her mind in support of her colleagues and could easily empathise with the difficulties of balancing the seemingly insurmountable workload of planning lessons, marking, coaching, running detentions, writing schemes of work & keeping up with ever changing subject specifications along the way. Rosie never faltered in her commitment to the boys of BGS and she would take home her very large box of books & marking every single day. Thankfully, the box had wheels and a long handle otherwise Rosie would have been needing a chiropractor on a weekly basis.

Rosie knew everyone in the staffroom and tried to be a friend to all. Rosie kept her commitment to her work, at the highest possible levels, right up until the very end. Rosie would never ask a member of her department to do something that she wasn’t fully prepared to do herself. Mrs McKee would never ever ‘blow her own trumpet’ in any area of life, but she was certainly an inspirational teacher, meticulous as Head of Department and a good friend to those around her. Thank you, Rosie, for the memories and the legacy that you have left behind in the Physics Department of BGS. Stewart Henry (the new Physics Head of Department) has ‘big’ shoes to fill - but then again, he has had good tutelage over the past eleven years of his own tenure at Bangor Grammar. Fred Gilmour, Physics Dept

SALVETE

YEAR 8 RESIDENTIAL TRIP

The Medicine and Pharmacy Mock Interviews took place on the 19th November, with past pupils Richard Martindale (Pharmacy), Dr Darren Monaghan (Medicine), Carl Rogers (FI Medicine) and Adam McConnell (F2 Medicine) giving up their time to come in and run MMI interviews for Keenan Kennedy and Ben Elliott.

Further mock Interviews and feedback also took place for prospective Physiotherapy students, with Stephen Mawhinney from North Down Chiropractic and Physiotherapy leading the session.

Mervyn Smyth from Ulster University and Alex Hamilton, a past pupil working at Stephen Clarke Consulting, spoke to the pupils about both Energy and Architectural Engineering.

CAREERS FAIR

CHILDREN IN NEED

Pinzolo, nestled in the breathtaking Val Rendena and surrounded by the Dolomites, provided the perfect setting for both beginners and intermediate skiers. With its 19 pistes, including 5 blue, 10 red, and 4 black runs, the resort catered to all skill levels. Daily routines began early with a 06:30 wake-up call, followed by breakfast and preparation for the slopes. Pupils were transported to the ski lifts by minibus, where they ascended to the mid-station via gondola for lessons starting at 09:00. With five beginner groups and one intermediate group, the ski school ensured tailored instruction for all abilities. By the end of the week, most beginners were confidently navigating all the resort’s runs, and some even ventured into the renowned Madonna Ski area on the final day.

Evenings in Pinzolo were just as engaging as the days on the slopes. Activities included a film night, a table quiz, a treasure hunt in the village, and an exciting ice-skating outing at the indoor arena. The group also enjoyed exploring the village’s vibrant Christmas market and indulging in local delicacies like gelato and coffee.

It was an early start to visit the local market, using our best Spanish, to buy ingredients for our paella class. We made it ourselves, using a paella pan and ate it afterwards. Afterwards, we headed to the beach for some water games and football. The day ended with some shopping around the city, given that we felt like locals by now. 

We travelled home via Alicante airport, which allowed us to see another part of Spain, as we journeyed by coach, before catching our flight back to Belfast International. We had a really good time using our Spanish and making lasting memories in the process. If you are considering a trip with BGS, then a language trip should be right up there!  Jonah McAuley (Year 10)

PARIS TRIP