Cambridge House ready to host annual ‘Open Morning’

Acting Principal, Mrs E Lutton will address parents and primary 7 pupils on two occasions during the morning (10am and 11am, Assembly Hall 1). The main focus will, however, be to ensure that all visitors enjoy experiencing the full range of academic departments and seeing first hand the extensive programme of extra curricular activities on offer to the various year groups.

Mrs. Lutton said: “I am looking forward to welcoming pupils and parents into our school and sharing with them some of the experiences they can expect from Cambridge House Grammar School. We are a modern school, with traditional values. Our school has continually strengthened and evolved; we embrace change in every aspect and see challenges as opportunities for improvement. Our ethos is one which encourages positive relationships, excellence, self-reliance, co-operation, enthusiasm and initiative in a happy and secure environment. We enjoy high levels of commitment from our young people, past and present, parents, staff and Governors and encourage the full engagement of parents in the educational journey being made by their children. There are a number of Parent Development Groups, and there is a Parent Council.

“We value our long history, engage fully with the present and look forward to our future. By developing practical and well researched strategic links with Businesses, Industry and Universities, Cambridge House is focussed on creating a dynamic and innovative ‘Centre of Excellence’. We will be providing a new and exciting opportunity, unparalleled in the rest of Northern Ireland, where our pupils will benefit from first hand experience and the development of practical skills in our direct engagement with relevant Business, Industry and University identified pathway needs.

“Our aim is to nurture the academic and personal development of every pupil in our care and to prepare them for lifelong learning within a global context. The school’s high level of quality pastoral support is driven by a total commitment to ensuring that individual emotional and mental wellbeing is at the centre of how we promote the development of the whole person. Relationships within the school, at every level, are strong; pastoral care permeates all aspects of school life and influences each pupil in every activity undertaken. The school has a House System, with patrons famous in the fields of the arts, sport, science and business; we use their achievements as aspirations for success and endeavour. We promote a strong family ethos based on care, concern and respect for our fellow human beings. We insist on high standards in all aspects of school life.

“We regard post primary education as one of the most important stages in the life of every pupil. Learning and Teaching is the core purpose of the school. Our school is committed to ensuring that learners attain high standards of performance; we provide a welcoming, supportive and stimulating environment, which promotes a sense of curiosity and self esteem in learners. We recognise and support diversity and difference within our own school family and as part of the Area Planning Initiative, Ballymena Learning Together. This is achieved through curriculum clusters and other partnership activities.

“Our young people achieve local, provincial and national recognition in many curricular and extra curricular areas. We are well placed in Cambridge House Grammar School to improve the lives and life chances of all our learners with new ways of thinking and a continual focus on self reflection. We will provide stability in an uncertain world, building on the skills, knowledge and attributes of our pupils at the key transition points in their lives and offer continuing guidance for future career pathways.

“Building on the past initiative successes, which have included: Sharing Education Partnership (QUB); International School Award 2010; ICT Empowering Schools and the European Foundation for Quality Management, we are, again, part of the Comenius School Partnership programme, funded by the British Council. This enables young people to extend their personal development skills for future employment and active European citizenship; it is part of the Lifelong Learning Programme. Involvement in programmes of this kind brings an international dimension to the education of our pupils. Cambridge House Grammar School is partnered with schools in France, Spain, Poland and Germany.

Extra curricular events and activities: Cambridge House Grammar School offers a high level of quality education for all its pupils; this includes an extensive extra curricular programme and wide ranging educational visits and events.

Admissions: The school’s Admissions Criteria is published on the school’s website and also in the NEELB Transfer Booklet. The school is open to all parents wanting to make application on behalf of their children; in the event of over subscription, the criteria are applied as set out in the booklet. The school is located in an extensive site situated on the Galgorm Road, on the edge of Ballymena town. It offers ease of access for many County Antrim primary schools; extensive public transport and good road networks provide for pupils to travel from a wide catchment area.

Decisions:We all want the best for our children. We want to give them every opportunity to succeed in life. Your child will be treated fairly and with respect in our school. Cambridge House Grammar School retains the very best of spiritual, moral and aesthetic values, honed over the years, from its inception in 1910.

As parents you will need to be clear about the kind of school your child needs in order to flourish as a human being and succeed academically. We hope you enjoy your experience on Open Morning and are able to make the right decision for your child’s needs.