Learning
We aim to make learning rewarding and enjoyable experience for everyone. We want our pupils to be
equipped with the skills, knowledge and understanding necessary to make informed choices about pathways they
take. To that end the staff:
- create a supportive classroom environment
- use a variety of teaching methods
- promote interactive learning
- promote key skills across the curriculum: Numeracy, Literacy & ICT
- encourage pupils to develop increasing independence and to take the responsibility for their own learning
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| Art and other vocational subjects are part of the core-curriculum |
The curriculum, taught at the levels, is being developed to embrace the focus of the revised curriculum - Skills and
Capabilities, Learning for Life & Work and Assessment for Learning. Additional vocational subjects have
been planned in the current year to enrich/enhance the provision.
Key Stage 3
There are a wide variety of courses taught at Key Stage 3, including:
At the end of Year 10, pupils progress to Key Stage 4.
Key Stage 4
All pupils will follow the core curriculum with the following compulsory elements:
- English
- Mathematics
- Science (single award)
- Modern Language - French
- Non - Exam PE, RE and Personal Development
Key skills are offered across the curriculum and as a discrete subject for some pupils.
Religious Education, Physical Education and Learning for Life & Work are also compulsory but are not assessed unless chosen as a full GCSE. A half GCS course is followed in Religious Eduction and this can be converted into a full GCSE through attendance at after-school classes.
The following subjects are optional at Key Stage 4:
- Business and Communication Systems
- Business Studies
- Careers
- Child Development
- Double Award Science
- Drama
- French
- GCSE Art
- GCSE Construction - view details
- GCSE English
- GCSE English Literature
- GCSE Hospitality
- GCSE Learning for Life and Work - view details
- GCSE Mathematics
- GCSE Maths
- GCSE Motor Vehicle and Road User Studies - view details
- GCSE Resistant Materials - view details
- GCSE Science (Single Award)
- GCSE Technology and Design - view details
- Geography
- History
- Home Economics
- Horse Care
- Horticulture
- ICT
- LLW - view details
- Music
- Physical Education - view details
- Religious Education - view details
- Spanish
Post 16 Courses
Course at advanced level are subject to demand. Subjects that we offer include:
- Applied Business Studies
- Art
- Biology
- BTEC National Award inSport - view details
- Business Studies
- Certificate of Personal Effectiveness - view details
- Environmental Studies - view details
- French
- GCE Product Design - view details
- Government and Politics
- Health and Social Care
- History
- Home Economics
- Information Technology
- Mathematics
- Media Studies
- Moving Image Arts
- Music
- Performing Arts - view details
- Religious Education - view details
- Travel and Tourism
Enrichment Courses that are offered at this level include Civic Link, Current Affairs, Spanish for Business and Sports Leadership Award. Courses offered by the North East Institute for Further and Higher Education Collaboration: Sports Studies, Media Studies, Photography and CISCO.
Some Courses, at all levels, are offered through Collaboration with the FE Sector and other schools:
At Key Stage 3
- Drama - introductory classes for Year 10 pupils delivered by Dunclug College staff in Ballee Community High School and Castle Tower School
At Key Stage 4
Pupils at Key Stage 4 may follow a mainly academic pathway, with chosen vocational specialisms built in or a mainly vocational pathway. For some subjects, it is necessary to collaborate with other schools, - to gain , or share, expertise or resources, or to enable a subject with small numbers to run successfully.
Courses offered through collaboration with other schools are as follows:
- GCSE Music (Ballee CHS & St Patrick's College)
- GCSE Drama (St Patrick's College & Slemish College
- Edexcel DA Horse Care (Department of Agriculture & Rural Development)
- Edexcel DA Food Care (Department of Agriculture & Rural Development)
- Edexcel DA Horticulture Care (Department of Agriculture & Rural Development)
- Pupils at Key Stage 4 who follow a mainly vocational path attend the North East Institute for Further and Higher Education one day each week throughout Key Stage 4. There they have the opportunity to study for an occupational qualification in a range of areas which includes: Construction, Motor Vehicle Studies, Catering, Engineering, Beauty & Hairdressing and Design
- In year 12 there is also the opportunity for those following the mainly vocational route to undertake work experience for one day per week throughout the year, often related to the area studied at the institute
At Post 16
- A level Performing Arts (Slemish & St Patrick's Colleges)
- A Level DA Science (Slemish College)
- A Level Home Economics (Slemish College)
- A Level Media Studies (FE College, Cullybackey High School)
Dunclug College is currently pursuing further collaboration with Ballymena Academy, St Patrick's College and local Primary schools, in the area of Business Studies as part of its application for specialist school status in the area of Business & Enterprise.
Ballymena Learning Together Initiative
The principals of the nine schools in the Ballymena area have been meeting over the last two years to build, and extend, good community relations and, latterly, curricular links. Through a variety of initiatives, such as The Relationships Program (Year 8), Common Purpose (Year 11), and Spirit of Enniskillen (Year 13), pupils have been given oppotunity, while maintaining their differences, to share their interests, celebrate their diversity and to learn and grow together. Dunclug is involved in partnership with St Patrick's College in the outworking of the Dunclug Initiative supported by the Department of Social Development, involving delivery of sporting, computer and creative arts programs as well as programs to enable vulnerable young people.
Careers' Guidance
Careers Guidance is vital at all stages of the curriculum. A Careers module is included in the Personal Development programme at both Key Stages 3 & 4, and a discrete period of careers is offered to pupils in Years 11 & 12. Pupils receive a structured careers guidance programme involving work experience, careers talks and individual careers guidance programme involving work experience, careers talks and individual interviews with the careers officer and senior staff. This level of support continues into Years 13 & 14, as pupils consider pathways for future study and/or employment.
Special Educational Needs
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| Technology and Design |
All pupils are individuals and to some extent, all have special needs. Through the streaming of classes, we aim to ensure each pupil is provided with the education suited to their needs and that pupils are challenged and stretched to achieve the best of which they are capable.
This extends to pupils facing challenges in the learning process. Care is taken to ensure various needs are identified and met as far as is possible. In years 8 and 9 pupils with special difficulties are kept together as a small class and receive teaching from specialist teachers in the core curriculum of English, History, Geography and Religious Education. Thos with Statements of Special Education Need may receive extra support though the North East Education & Library Board which might include: Learning Support Assistance for individual pupils, or groups of pupils, in the classroom or extra hours of specialist teaching in key areas. These pupils participate fully in other general and practical subjects and are fully involved in the wider life of the school.
Where possible, pupils across any of the classes, or from any year group, who are challenged in certain aspects of their learning, such as literacy or numeracy, may be developing a program to address the challenges of Dyslexia in learning. Pupils with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties will receive support through the school Guidance Facility and a range of strategies such as Art Therapy, Anger Management or Behaviour Support.
All pupils who enter the college requiring additional help with key subject are encouraged to progress to the best of their ability and many have gone on to gain excellent grades in public examination. A Special Needs Policy has been agreed by the Board of Governors and is available from the college office.
Key Skills
The key skills of Numeracy, Literacy and ICT are coordinated by specialist staff, who support all subject departments in the transfer of these skills within each subject area and seek to promote consistency across the school.
Assessment & Reporting
Ongoing monitoring of pupil progress is a vital aspect of teaching and learning. This includes the efficient marking and assessment of class work, practical work, homework and coursework. Pupils receive verbal and written feedback, are encouraged to set targets for improvement and supported in the process of achieving those targets.
Parents receive reports in a variety of ways: through meeting with teaching staff on parents' evenings/afternoons; through the annual written report in June; through the Progress File, updated annually and through individual interviews arranged at the request of either the school or the parent.
Homework
The college regards the completion of homework as an essential aspect of the teaching program, the learning experience and the assessment procedure. Homework is therefore regularly set and marked, and forms part of the pupil's assessment record. Each pupil is provided with a diary as an aid to organising his/her private study. Parents are encouraged to discuss homework with their children and may be asked to sign completed work where pupils experience difficulty in this area.
Pupil Performance
- Results Tables are prepared annually to show pupil performance:
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NFER Testing upon admission to the college |
| NFER Base-line testing - 1st term and annually thereafter |
| Performance in the twice-yearly examinations |
| Key Stage 3 results in English, Mathematics and Science |
| Key Stage 4 - GCSE; Entry Level Qualifications; Occupational Studies |
| Post 16 - A Level, AS Level (Academic & Applied Courses) |
- Ongoing Formative assessment is a key aspect of learning and pupils at all levels are increasingly encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning
- Each term, merit awards are presented in each year group in recognition of effort and achievement in all subject
- Extra-curricular achievement is recorded in the annual Record of Achievement and through photographic evidence
- Homework is monitored weekly and pupils receive verbal and written feedback
- Attendance Data is posted monthly, to enable rewards to be presented, interviews to take place and targets for improvement to be set
- The Anti-Bullying and Child Protection policies are monitored, through maintenance of detailed records and the Log of Bullying, and annually reviewed following consultation with pupils, parents teaching staff and all other staff
- Heads of Departments meet regularly to monitor pupil progress in individual subject departments
- Year Tutors meet regularly to discuss pastoral issues arising and update Education Plans where necessary
- The Special Educational Needs Working Group, under the leadership of the SENCO, is responsible for the annual review of pupils with statements of Special Educational Need and the ongoing monitoring of Individual Education Plans
School Day
Below is a timetable of a typical day for the students of Dunclug College.
| TIME |
PERIOD |
| 8:55am - 9:10am |
FORM PERIOD/ASSEMBLY |
| 9:10am - 10:10am |
1 |
| 10:10am - 11:00am |
2 |
| 11:00am - 11:15am |
BREAK |
| 11:15am - 12:05am |
3 |
| 12:05am - 12:55pm |
4 |
| 12:55pm - 1:40pm |
LUNCH |
| 1.40pm - 2.30pm |
5 |
| 2.30pm - 3.20pm |
6 |
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Monday - Full Assembly (All Years)
Tuesday - Class Conference Time (All Years)
Wednesday - Year Assemblies (As arranged in Gym/Assembly Hall)
Thursday - Junior Assembly (Years 8, 9, 10)
Firday - Senior Assembly (Years 11, 12, 13, 14)
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