Dundonald High School

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

Dundonald High School
School badge
Address
764 Upper Newtownards Road, BT16 1TH

Ulster

Belfast
,
County Down
,
Northern Ireland

United Kingdom
Coordinates54.5966°N 5.7904°W / 54.5966; -5.7904
Information
Former nameDundonald Boys High School
TypeControlled Secondary School
MottoAbsque Labore Nihil (Latin)
(Nothing Without Labor)
Religious affiliation(s)Mixed
Sister schoolDundonald Girl's High School (Merged)
School districtEast Belfast
Educational authoritySouth Eastern Education and Library Board
PrincipalKen Perry
Vice PrincipalRuth Jardine
Years8-12
GenderMixed
Age range11 - 16
Enrollment350 (approx)
LanguageEnglish
Hours in school day6-7
CampusesA, B, C + D block
Colour(s)Black, Red, Grey
Slogan"A caring school at the heart of the community"
Song"Run" by Snow Patrol
NewspaperDHS Newsletter
Communities servedDundonald, Newtownards, Comber, Bangor, Belfast
Websitedundonaldhigh.co.uk

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 ran 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 Communication Technology. These subjects (excluding compulsory English, Maths and Science) are made available to Key Stage 4 level students to choose from. The GCSE-level qualifications are awarded from CCEA, Edexcel, 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.[16]

History

In the 20th century, Dundonald saw two separate high schools, Dundonald girls high school and Dundonald boys high school. After many decades the culmination saw the two schools merging into one mixed-gender school in hope to attract more pupils, during the 1970s.

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.[17][18] The community of Dundonald, students, parents and school staff fought hard for two years to keep the school open.[19][20] UUP party leader Mike Nesbitt fought to keep Dundonald High School open.[21] In 2014, Orangefield closed permanently, with the overwhelming decision in Stormont that Dundonald High School would remain open.[22][23] 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.[24] His main aim was to increase the number of students within the school.[25] 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.[26]

In 2016, the school was refurbished and modernised and saw the introduction of educational iPads.[27]

House system

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.[28] 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.[29] 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

Extracurricular activities

Notable alumni

See also

References
  1. "Information on school types in Northern Ireland | Department of Education". Education. 2015-08-04. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  2. "dundonald high school". dundonaldhigh.co.uk. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  3. "Dundonald High School: No decision made says John O'Dowd". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  4. "dundonald high school". geodruid.com. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  5. "Location | Dundonald High School". www.dundonaldhigh.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  6. "School enrolments - overview | Department of Education". Education. 2015-06-10. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  7. Lonergan, Aidan. "All 32 Irish county coat of arms, what they mean and where they come from". The Irish Post. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  8. "Education Authority". www.eani.org.uk. Retrieved 2019-04-10.
  9. "River Enler, Newtownards Northern Ireland". Wild Trout Trust. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  10. "Presentation College Headford". World News. Retrieved 2019-04-10.
  11. "Key Stage 3 | Dundonald High School". dundonaldhigh.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-04-10.
  12. "Key Stage 4 | Dundonald High School". dundonaldhigh.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-04-10.
  13. "Welcome to Dundonald High School". dundonaldhigh.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-04-10.
  14. "Dundonald High's 'Celebration of Success' | Newtownards Chronicle". newtownardschronicle.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-10-27.
  15. "Celebration of Success 2016 | Dundonald High School". dundonaldhigh.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-10-27.
  16. admin. "Dundonald High's 'Celebration of Success' | Newtownards Chronicle". Retrieved 2019-04-16.
  17. "No decision on high school - O'Dowd". BBC News. 2013-05-07. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  18. "Dundonald school's poor exam results lead to second intervention". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  19. "Dundonald High old boy-turned-principal Ken Perry saved alma mater from axe". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  20. McStravick, Sheena (2015-11-27). "Watch: Dundonald student battling rare illness wows school with Hometown song". belfastlive. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  21. "Nesbitt joins fight over Dundonald High School". Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  22. "O'Dowd gives reprieve to Dundonald High". BBC News. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  23. "Education: Orangefield school to close but Dundonald saved". Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  24. "Dundonald High old boy-turned-principal Ken Perry saved alma mater from axe". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  25. "dundonald-high-school-in-special-measures-for-second-time".
  26. "Welcome to Dundonald High School". dundonaldhigh.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  27. "Welcome to Dundonald High School". dundonaldhigh.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  28. "Welcome to Dundonald High School". dundonaldhigh.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  29. "Rewards | Dundonald High School". dundonaldhigh.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-04-10.
  30. "Broadcaster Colin Murray winds up 'Belfast Boy' with £1m in bank". The Irish News. Retrieved 2018-10-27.
  31. "Super Assembly: David Jeffrey, Make It - BBC One". BBC. Retrieved 2018-09-06.
  32. McKeown, Gareth. "Belfast teenagers develop revolutionary anti-bullying app". The Irish News. Retrieved 2018-10-27.
  33. Sherrard, Chris (2016-10-08). "Teen behind Comber Greenway group delighted with progress". belfastlive. Retrieved 2018-10-27.
  34. "Members2". www.newtownardssilverband.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-11-06.
  35. "Dundonald High old boy-turned-principal Ken Perry saved alma mater from axe". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2018-11-06.
  36. "BBC Three - What Makes You Tic?". BBC. Retrieved 2018-11-06.
  37. "My Belfast With Ryan A From Q Radio - belfastvibe". belfastvibe. 2015-12-26. Retrieved 2018-10-27.
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