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Dundonald High School

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Coordinates: 54°35′48″N 5°47′25″W / 54.5966°N 5.7904°W / 54.5966; -5.7904
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Dundonald High School
Dundonald princeps schola
School badge
Address
Map
764 Upper Newtownards Road

Dundonald
,
County Down
,
BT16 1TH

Northern Ireland
Coordinates54°35′48″N 5°47′25″W / 54.5966°N 5.7904°W / 54.5966; -5.7904
Information
Former nameDundonald Boys' High School
School typePost-Primary Government Controlled Secondary School
MottoAbsque Labore Nihil (Latin)
(Nothing Without Labor)
Religious affiliation(s)Mixed
DenominationMulti
Established1970s
StatusOpen
Sister schoolDundonald Girl's High School (Merged)
School districtLisburn & Castlereagh City Council
Authority
  • The Education Authority for Northern Ireland
  • South Eastern Education and Library Board
School number4210262
PrincipalKen Perry
Years8-12
GenderMixed
Age range11 - 17
Enrollment600 (approx)
International studentsYes
Education systemCCEA
Classes offeredLevel 1 - Level 2 Qualifications
LanguageEnglish
ScheduleMonday - Friday
Hours in school day6-7
CampusesA, B, C + D block
Campus sizeTotal distance: 1.34 km (4,390.14 ft)
AreaTotal area: 103,255.71 m² (1,111,435.16 ft²
Campus typeBlock System
Student Union/AssociationNational Union of Students-Union of Students in Ireland (NUS-USI)
Colour(s)Black, maroon, grey
Slogan"A caring school at the heart of the community"
Song"Run" by Snow Patrol
AthleticsYes
Sports
NewspaperDHS Newsletter
Key productsCommunity Servicing
EndowmentDundonald Foodbank
BudgetSet by EA
School feesN/A - Government Funded / Optional School Funds by parents annually
Communities servedDundonald, Newtownards, Comber, Bangor, Belfast
Websitedundonaldhigh.co.uk

Dundonald High School is a controlled co-educational secondary school[1] located in Dundonald, in Northern Ireland. The school opened in the early-1970s and offers education to 11 to 16-year-olds.[2][3][4]

Students come from the Dundonald area, Bangor, Newtownards, Holywood, Comber, Gilnahirk and Belfast.[5] Students of all ethnic, religious backgrounds and country origins are welcomed, with students from countries such as Portugal, Hungary, Bangladesh and Estonia have attended the school.[6]

The school badge is similar to the County Down coat of arms with the motto "Absque Labore Nihil" which translates to "Nothing Without Labour" in Latin.[7] The school is run under the South Eastern Education and Library Board (SEELB).[8]

The school is located on the Upper Newtownards Road. The River Enler runs beside the school.[9] Dundonald High School is partnered with Presentation College Headford, in County Galway, Ireland.[10]

The school offers a wide range of subjects that include: English, mathematics, home economics, music, technology, art and design, French, Spanish, geography, history, OCN Well-being, Prince's Trust, learning for life and work, science, horticulture, business studies, physical education and information and communications technology. These subjects (excluding compulsory English, maths and science) are made available to Key Stage 4 level students to choose from. Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) is the qualification framework used. The GCSE-level or level 1 and 2 qualifications are awarded from CCEA, Edexcel, Essential Skills, Key Skills, AQA, BTEC and Open College Network (OCN) education boards.[11][12] Extra qualification and learning events come from Young Enterprise.[13]

The high school runs an annual celebration of success programme, awarding students for their efforts and achievements throughout the school year.[14][15] The programme exhibits a range of musical performances throughout. Parents and special guests attend, such as local primary principals, volunteers and community workers.[14]

History

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In the 20th century, Dundonald saw two separate high schools, Dundonald girls high school and Dundonald boys high school. After many decades the two schools amalgamated into one mixed-gender school in 1990 in hopes of attracting more pupils.

In 2012, Sinn Féin member John O'Dowd made a proposal to close Dundonald High School, as well as the proposal to close Orangefield High School, due to low pupil numbers and for financial reasons.[16][17] The community of Dundonald, students, parents and school staff fought hard for two years to keep the school open.[18][19] UUP party leader Mike Nesbitt fought to keep Dundonald High School open.[20] In 2014, Orangefield closed permanently, with the overwhelming decision in Stormont that Dundonald High School would remain open.[21][22] The acting principal, Ken Perry was strongly proud and thankful for the final decision. Mr. Perry was a past pupil of the school who went on to become the full-time principal of Dundonald High School.[18] His main aim was to increase the number of students within the school.[23] Enrollment numbers began to rise, with a maximum 100 pupils entering year 8 in 2016. Along with this, saw the GCSE grades rise to record-breaking heights for the school.

In 2015, the Dundonald High School Bowls team were Runners-up in the Irish Bowls Federation Competition. In November, the Senior Girls' Rugby team won the Castlereagh and Lisburn Rugby Blitz competition at Lisnagarvey playing fields.[24]

In 2016, the school was refurbished and modernised and saw the introduction of educational iPads.[25]

House system

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In 2015, the school introduced a house system where pupils were put into one of three houses, in which are named after genera of plants.[26] These have been planted at the school gates by school students along with DUP MLA's including Gavin Robinson. Students can earn points for their respective house based on strong attendance and valiant work efforts and contributions to the school. The awards include prizes and school trips.[27] The houses are represented in teams on events such as sports day and rounders day in which they collect points for their house. The three houses are:

House House colour
Rowan Green
Willow Red
Juniper Yellow

Sports

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Extracurricular activities

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Notable alumni

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Information on school types in Northern Ireland". Department of Education. 4 August 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  2. ^ "dundonald high school". DundonaldHigh.co.uk. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  3. ^ "Dundonald High School: No decision made says John O'Dowd". BBC News. 7 May 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  4. ^ "dundonald high school". geodruid.com. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  5. ^ "Location". DundonaldHigh.co.uk. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  6. ^ "School enrolments - overview". Department of Education. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  7. ^ Lonergan, Aidan. "All 32 Irish county coat of arms, what they mean and where they come from". The Irish Post. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  8. ^ "Education Authority". www.eani.org.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  9. ^ "River Enler, Newtownards Northern Ireland". Wild Trout Trust. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  10. ^ "Presentation College Headford". World News. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  11. ^ "Key Stage 3". DundonaldHigh.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  12. ^ "Key Stage 4". DundonaldHigh.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  13. ^ Perry, Ken. "Young Enterprise Business Event". DundonaldHigh.co.uk. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  14. ^ a b "Dundonald High's 'Celebration of Success'". NewtownardsChronicle.co.uk. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  15. ^ "Celebration of Success 2016". DundonaldHigh.co.uk. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  16. ^ "No decision on high school - O'Dowd". BBC News. 7 May 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  17. ^ "Dundonald school's poor exam results lead to second intervention". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  18. ^ a b "Dundonald High old boy-turned-principal Ken Perry saved alma mater from axe". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  19. ^ McStravick, Sheena (27 November 2015). "Watch: Dundonald student battling rare illness wows school with Hometown song". Belfastlive.co.uk. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  20. ^ "Nesbitt joins fight over Dundonald High School". Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  21. ^ "O'Dowd gives reprieve to Dundonald High". BBC News. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  22. ^ "Education: Orangefield school to close but Dundonald saved". Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  23. ^ "dundonald-high-school-in-special-measures-for-second-time". 20 March 2017.
  24. ^ Perry, Ken. "Girls' Rugby Champions". DundonaldHigh.co.uk. Archived from the original on 7 September 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  25. ^ "Welcome to Dundonald High School". dundonaldhigh.co.uk. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  26. ^ "Welcome to Dundonald High School". DundonaldHigh.co.uk. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  27. ^ "Rewards". DundonaldHigh.co.uk. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  28. ^ "Broadcaster Colin Murray winds up 'Belfast Boy' with £1m in bank". The Irish News. 25 March 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  29. ^ "Super Assembly: David Jeffrey, Make It - BBC One". BBC. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  30. ^ "Members2". www.newtownardssilverband.org.uk. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  31. ^ "Dundonald High old boy-turned-principal Ken Perry saved alma mater from axe". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  32. ^ "BBC Three - What Makes You Tic?". BBC. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  33. ^ "My Belfast With Ryan A From Q Radio - belfastvibe". belfastvibe. 26 December 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
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