Bushmills Primary School and Nur

Bushmills Primary School and Nursery Unit

Annual Report 2007/2008

Now some of you may have noticed a new phrase in my introduction; that of Foundation Stage, well September 2007 saw a review of the curriculum in Northern Ireland and a change in the way the classes are referred to. Year 1 and 2 are now to be known as the Foundation Stage, Year 3 and 4 now make up Key Stage 1 and Years 5, 6 and 7 remain known as Key Stage 2.

The revised curriculum is something more than a change of name but part of a fundamental change in the way children are taught and, to some extent what they are taught.

We are moving, the Department of Education tell us, to a more skills based curriculum where children are learning how to do things rather than merely learning facts. Not sure what they think we have been doing up to now.

By law the revised curriculum came into force for children in Primary 1 and P5, where we now teach Communication and Using Mathematics instead of English and Maths, The World about Us replaces Science, History and Geography, we PE, RE and the Arts and introduce Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities, TSPC; and Personal Development and Mutual Understanding while Using ICT, computers etc becomes a subject in its own right.

This may all sound as if education is being completely changed but in fact the actual content has changed very little just the way if is delivered. We have been preparing for this for some time and I feel it has the potential to make education even better for children, provided it is properly funded and schools adequately supported.

It may appear that children in the Foundation Stage are initially learning less but having personally observed similar approaches in Europe and having spoken to colleagues who were involved in piloting the reforms I have no doubt that our children will go from strength to strength.

I am sure that everyone is aware that this year’s P5 will be the first to face the controversial new transfer procedure. Having met local post-primary headteachers I would like to reassure those P5 parents that the proposed Common Entrance Assessment that some Grammar Schools are proposing to use seems both fair and suitable to purpose, though I’ll make no comment on how things will proceed.

Even allowing for the time spent training and preparing for the Revised Curriculum this has been a very busy year in school. The Extended Schools After School Club ran throughout the year and I’m sure you will agree continues to offer a great service for the children, due in no small part to the work of Marie and Hayley, thanks go to the two girls. Extended Schools also offered sports coaching to the children, healthy snack preparation for the P7s, an Evening of Beauty, for the ladies, a basic First Aid Course was held and once again Ronnie Garvin taught some of us a bit more about computers. I think Extended Schools gives Bushmills a lot so it is hard to understand why the Minister cut the funding to all schools by 40%. I am happy to say that the Board of Governors decided that the After School was so valuable that the school would meet some of the shortfall so that the Club could continue.

Three Pyramid Plus clubs were held giving all the children who wanted to attend from P5 and P7 great and valuable experiences.

This year we were also allowed to take part in a NEELB scheme called ‘RAIN’ Raising Achievement In Numeracy. Once a month an Adviser from the Board came into school and assisted teachers with their planning for specific areas of numeracy. I know that many of you viewed the Power Point Display about the project on Sports’ Day.

In September the school underwent an Inspection by Dr White from the Education and Training Inspectorate on Health and Wellbeing. I am very happy to say that the Inspection was a great success and Dr White was very impressed by everything she saw both in the school and in the Kitchen.

In October we had our Harvest Celebration and P7 and Mrs O’Neill distributed the donated fruit and flowers to Senior Citizen in the area. Thank you all for your support in that.

At Halloween we had another of our Fancy Dress parties this time including a Treat or Treat walk around part of the town, once again many thanks to everyone who supported the evening in any way; I know the children thoroughly enjoyed it.

Throughout the year staff have been working with Bushmills born Neill Speers, a former English Lecturer at Stranmillis University College, on the history of Bushmills. In second term this was pulled together to form the basis of our ‘Bushmills 1900’ drama which many of you saw during our Open Day. After the Open Day we were asked to perform the piece at The Getherin in the village on the 7^th June. We had a lot of fun, although it was a lot of hard work and we also performed the world premier of Neill’s play ‘The Legend of Finn McCool’.

The Getherin’ was organised by the Bushmills Ulster Scots Group who also organised an Ulster Scots Poetry Competition for all of the primary schools in the area. Thomas Buick P6 won first prize, Daniel McAllister, P7, won second prize and Ruth Galbraith, also P7, won third prize.

Thank you children that was excellent, you must have outstanding teachers.

The Poetry Prize, was produced by the world famous artist Ross Wilson who is also responsible for the Alphabet Angel in the town. Ross is a member of the Ulster Scots Group and he organised for an artist to work with the children in the various schools. We were lucky to have local woman and former pupil Frankie Creith work with us.

Yes it has been quite a year we had another very successful pantomime at the end of February thanks for all the great support we got for that. Summer term has been a bit of a blur with some much lovely weather, a dry Sports’ Day was a nice change although despite all the good weather we twice failed to have our Fun Sports.

On the 19^th June we had a bouncy castle and water slide. The children really enjoyed that a big thank you to Miss Fulton and everyone who played a part.

So we come to the end of another year and for some the end of their time at Bushmills Primary School, they are moving off to new schools and new challenges I wish you all the very best.

I have thanked parents for all their support but thanks must also go to all my staff, teachers, classroom, foreign language and nursery assistants, caretaker, cleaners, supervisory assistants, our new secretary Mrs Bucklee, Crossing Patrols and the kitchen staff.

I would also record my appreciation of the support from Liz McParland NEELB Maths Adviser for the chance to be involved in the RAIN Project and to Gareth Hamilton our Board link officer and to the Board of Governors for their ongoing support.

Bushmills Primary School