Dundonald High School

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School in Dundonald, County Down, Northern Ireland

Dundonald High School

Dundonald princeps schola

School badge

Address

764 Upper Newtownards Road

Dundonald

County Down

BT16 1TH

Northern Ireland

Coordinates| 54°35′48″N 5°47′25″W﻿ / ﻿54.5966°N 5.7904°W﻿ / 54.5966; -5.7904
Information
Former name| Dundonald Boys' High School
School type| Post-Primary Government Controlled Secondary School
Motto| Absque Labore Nihil (Latin)
(Nothing Without Labor)
Religious affiliation(s)| Mixed
Denomination| Multi
Established| 1970s
Status| Open
Sister school| Dundonald Girl's High School (Merged)
School district| Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council
Authority|

* The Education Authority for Northern Ireland
* South Eastern Education and Library Board

School number| 4210262
Principal| Ken Perry
Years| 8-12
Gender| Mixed
Age range| 11 - 17
Enrollment| 600 (approx)
International students| Yes
Education system| CCEA
Classes offered| Level 1 - Level 2 Qualifications
Language| English
Schedule| Monday - Friday
Hours in school day| 6-7
Campuses| A, B, C + D block
Campus size| Total distance: 1.34 km (4,390.14 ft)
Area| Total area: 103,255.71 m² (1,111,435.16 ft²
Campus type| Block System
Student Union/Association| National 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
Athletics| Yes
Sports|

* Association football
* rugby union
* netball

Newspaper| DHS Newsletter
Key products| Community Servicing
Endowment| Dundonald Foodbank
Budget| Set by EA
School fees| N/A - Government Funded / Optional School Funds by parents annually
Communities served| Dundonald, Newtownards, Comber, Bangor, Belfast
Website| dundonaldhigh.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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

* Aerobics
* Badminton
* Basketball
* Bowls
* Cricket
* Dodgeball
* Football
* Gymnastics
* High jump
* Hoopla
* Hockey
* Long jump
* Netball
* Rounders
* Running
* Rugby union
* Tennis
* Track and field
* Volleyball

## Extracurricular activities

[edit]

* Art club
* Band
* Bass, Electric and Acoustic Guitar lessons
* Breakfast club
* Board games club
* Choir
* Dance
* Drum lessons
* ICT club
* Library
* Maths club
* Piano lessons
* Pool (cue sports)
* Science club
* Sponsored walk
* Student council
* Table Tennis
* Tin Whistle lessons
* Trivia
* Voluntary work

## Notable alumni

[edit]

* Colin Murray \- BBC Sports, music radio, and television presenter.[28]
* David Jeffrey \- Former Linfield and Northern Ireland football player and Manager.[29]
*   * Juliette McCutcheon \- Tuba player, Newtownards Silver Band member and BBC Radio Ulster Band Series musician.[30]
* Ken Perry \- Principal of Dundonald High School, degree in Music.[31]
* Lewis Nickell \- BBC Three chat show host with Tourette's Syndrome \- "What makes you tic?".[32]
* Ryan Annett \- DJ and radio presenter on Q Radio and Cool FM.[33]

## See also

[edit]

* List of schools in Northern Ireland
* List of secondary schools in Northern Ireland

## References

[edit]

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.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Education Authority Profile

* v
* t
* e

Education in Northern Ireland

Administration|

| Departments|

* Department of Education
* Department for the Economy
* Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

|

Other government organisations|

* Education Authority
* Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment

Sector support organisations|

* Controlled Schools' Support Council
* Council for Catholic Maintained Schools
* Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education
* Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta

Institutions|

| Universities|

* Queen's University Belfast
* University of Ulster
* Open University

|

University colleges|

* St Mary's University College
* Stranmillis University College

Further education colleges|

* Belfast Metropolitan College
* Northern Regional College
* North West Regional College
* Southern Regional College
* South Eastern Regional College
* South West College

Agricultural college|

* College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise

Theological colleges|

* Belfast Bible College
* Edgehill Theological College
* Irish Baptist College
* Union Theological College
* Whitefield College of the Bible

Schools|

* Irish medium primary
* Primary
* Irish medium secondary
* Secondary
* Grammar
* Integrated

Nurseries|

* Irish medium

See also
Education in the United Kingdom

England
Scotland
Wales
Education in the Republic of Ireland
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