Holywood Primary School is served at a variety of levels by a team of approximately 35 members of staff. The Board of Governors acknowledges the dedication and professional approach of all those who do so much to ensure that all pupils receive quality education in a safe and secure environment.
The teaching staff has continually reviewed teaching and learning and the main areas of focus last year were:
Improving performance in Literacy through provision of resources and training regarding classroom strategies including the integration of ICT into planning, preparation and delivery of lessons;
Purchase of 3 Interactive Whiteboards, laptops and data projectors using LMS funding, PTA funding and additional finance secured through grants and the Dissemination of Good Practice and Empowering Schools initiatives;
Involvement with other schools in an ICT Pilot Project called Empowering Schools where staff worked to develop and introduce strategies to enhance communication through ICT across the curriculum;
Revision of rules and procedures throughout the school;
Introduction of Performance Review and Staff Development whereby teachers set personal objectives relating to the School Development Plan and worked towards the achievement of these objectives during the year;
Provision of new reading materials for pupils.
All teachers were involved in staff and in-service training including the use of ICT resources, strategies for raising performance in Literacy, Special Educational Needs and Disability, phonics, maths, the revised curriculum, Early Professional Development and health and safety. Mr Henderson also attended training for new principals in the SEELB.
Teachers also continued to develop investigative and problem solving activities in maths and science in particular. In other elements of The World Around Us, history has been brought to life through educational visits to museums and local studies based on the Holywood area. In addition, a living history museum has been set up in school. The Key Stage 2 classes put together various projects on the Victorians and Vikings that included costumes, cooking, crafts and drama.
P7 pupils again successfully took part in the CCEA Key Stage Two IT Accreditation scheme. All pupils completed one strand from each strand of ICT.
Modelling
Measurement and Control
Communication
Data Handling
The school was also greatly assisted in the promotion of ICT by the kind donations of laptops, PC’s and a data projector and the Governors would like to thank all who donated equipment.
A team of 3 P7 pupils under the guidance of Mrs Clarke, finished 3rd in the SEELB Science and Technology Challenge. A group of Primary 5 pupils worked with local business partners from Belfast City Airport in a shared reading programme entitled ‘Time to Read’ under the Business in the Community Project.
Mrs Crookshanks, ICT coordinator, not only led the school’s participation in the Pilot Project ‘Empowering Schools,’ but was successful in securing a Ł500 grant to further develop ICT in the school. |