KEY SPEECHES
Chief Constable, Sir Matt Baggott Principal, Ladies and Gentlemen, and most importantly students. I want to sincerely thank you for your kind words of welcome and it is my pleasure to join with you this afternoon for this celebration of hard work and success. At the outset I want to acknowledge the great sense of community which I have already experienced this afternoon, such an important part of the life of the College and its own example to society. As I have said, today is all about celebrating your success, the success of the young people of PortadownCollege.
As I am sure you will expect before I attend anywhere for the first time it is important to do some ‘homework’ and I was amazed at the opportunities which exist within this College. Twenty-three departments and numerous extra curricular and sporting activities, many of which have brought both success and recognition to the school - be that at the debating table, on the rugby pitch or indeed in the science labs where your achievements have been of ‘Olympic’ proportions. (Pupils have recently been successful in British Science Olympiad competitions) There is definitely something for everyone whatever your strengths or weaknesses, likes or dislikes, and I would like to pay tribute to your Principal and his teaching and support staff for the fantastic work which they do. Teaching is a challenging profession and you all have my sincere admiration for the difficult job which you do and the way in which you so selflessly work to ensure that every child has the very best chance. Having 2 daughters training to be teachers I know how much effort and dedication is involved in teaching. Today young men and women are receiving a range of awards for academic subjects, music and sport among them. I know, how hard you have worked, over many months, to achieve your success. It is not easy, distractions are many and your success is not only a testimony to yourself but your parents and guardians who support you in the background – even though their support probably often goes unnoticed. I know also that the success of the College is not confined to today’s proceedings. I understand that t he College recently achieved some of the best GCSE and A Level results in Northern Ireland and for that achievement you have my sincere congratulations. For those who may be disappointed in results, life and opportunities are still there to be grasped. Reputation, respect and responsibility are not based on qualifications, but these are the things that really matter. There are many potential pitfalls in life and it is often easy to be distracted from our responsibilities. Often we don’t miss an opportunity until it’s gone and then it’s too late – for example you will only get one chance at using the excellent opportunities that this College presents to you and I encourage you to ‘make it happen’. Despite not achieving great exam results I was invited back to my old school some years ago and it was only then that I realised how special that time was You are the future of this country and every day through the way you act, speak and think, whether you think you do or not, you shape its future, positively or negatively. And I would ask you to think on this for a moment…for every negative encounter a person has, be that a person, a school teacher, a student or a police officer, there will be required 14 positive encounters to redress the balance, to make a difference. We say to every student police officer, You may not remember what someone has said to you, but they will never forget how you made them feel. The ripple effect of kindness, a good act, will be felt far and wide. It is the small act of kindness that will make change possible, because it is the small act of kindness that will build relationships and trust. And in this room alone, there are enough young adults to make a real difference to the future of Northern Ireland. In this room, indeed in this college there will be leaders of the future. Leading economists, respected entrepreneurs, industrialists, maybe even a Chief Constable (if you are mad enough to take such a job!!), people who will take this country forward to an even better future. Leadership begins with self and often requires exceptional courage. The courage to do the right thing, the courage to embrace change and to leave aside past prejudices. Leaders are often thought of as strong but their real strength lies in their compassion, their gentleness, their kindness and in their ability to see situations through the eyes of those most affected by it. In fact your school motto sums this up quite well in just three words… ‘FORTITER ET HUMANITER’ – ‘WITH COURAGE AND COURTESY’. We should rightly praise our politicians and political leaders for having brought us this far, but I am not so sure that we can rely on them alone to take us much further. It is my belief that Northern Ireland is on the cusp of something truly very special, despite the worst ever recession and even some of the difficulties and challenges around the current security situation. Northern Ireland has moved on so much from where it was even 10 years ago. Who would have thought back then that individuals and groups so far apart in their beliefs and aspirations would be sitting side by side, working together for the good of everyone in this society. It has often been said of the Middle East and of Beirut in particular, that problems would only ever be solved through individual acts of kindness. So it would be wrong to think that only Prime Ministers and Governments can deliver change. I truly believe that, like the Middle East, relationships built on acts of kindness between individuals, between neighbourhoods, across communities will be the only way to move Northern Ireland even further away from the challenges of the past. The PSNI too has come a long way in a very short period of time. Built upon many years of courage and sacrifice, there have been huge changes and challenges. Like PortadownCollege the PSNI strive for excellence. Our vision is to be the finest personal, professional and protective Police Service in the world. In most respects you will be the judge of this and we can only achieve this goal if we work closely with local communities and listen carefully to their concerns and frustrations. I have been a police officer for almost 34 years. I have seen the very best in people and sadly at times the very worst. It is a difficult and challenging job but extremely rewarding. Some of you here this evening might well be considering a career in the Police Service of Northern Ireland and indeed if you feel that that is your vocation in life I encourage you do to so. Not everyone wants to be a police officer, yet many do and for every post we receive around 50 applications. But every single one of you, young and old, has an opportunity to contribute to their community and the potential to make a real and meaningful difference. You might not think it, but every person in this room has a daily audience of family, friends, associates and complete strangers and the ability to influence how they think, react or behave for good or bad. You ask what can I personally do, one person? Well if you want to walk on water then you have to get out of the boat, and all great journeys begin with that first small step of risk and courage. I like too the quote from Dame Anita Roddick, the founder of the Body Shop, – ‘If you think you’re too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito in the room’. You are the future, the next generation, what you do and say now does not only have the ability to change the actions and thinking of tomorrow but potentially change the thinking of the next generation. Those of who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are often those who do. Believe in your own ability to make a difference, and you will certainly be proven right. Difference……It is not about proving anyone is right or wrong but about respecting each other for who or what they are and learning to accept that difference and diversity is actually a strength and not a weakness and something to be celebrated and not feared. If there is to be any hope for a positive future we must all learn to live together without feeling intimidated or ashamed. So be kind, be compassionate and be strong. T o quote Confucius - To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right. In closing, I want to again thank you, Simon and Peter for your kind invitation and once again congratulate all those who have received awards today – you should be very proud of your achievements. Thank you.
Principal, Mr Simon Harper Mr Mayor, Madam Mayoress, Mr Chairman, Honoured Guest Matt Baggott, Members of our Board of Governors, distinguished guests, colleagues and, most importantly students and parents, good afternoon and welcome to this special event in our school calendar. To-day we gather in this magnificent building to celebrate the outstanding successes of our students and I would extend our collective thanks to the Reverend Campbell and the select vestry for their kind permission to hold this special event here to-day. A very special welcome to the Chief Constable, Matt Baggott; I am delighted you have been able to accept our invitation despite a most demanding and punishing schedule. Your influence and positive impact on policing in Northern Ireland has been widely recognised. I must note that I admire the courage and tenacity with which you have approached this challenging role. People have often stated to me that they would not take on the job of a school Principal for neither love nor money. Chief Constable, you currently hold a job at which even a school Principal in the toughest of schools would baulk. We look forward to your contribution as you join us in celebrating the successes, academic and extra-curricular of our college community. I would also like to welcome other special guests including: Local Politicians: Mr David Simpson MP Councillor George Savage Alderman Sydney Anderson Alderman Sammy Gardiner Representatives from education: Mr Tony Murphy, Chief Executive of the SELB Principals and Chairmen form local schools: Mr Trevor Canning, ClounaghJunior High School Mr David Gillespie, TandrageeJunior High School Mrs Betty McClurg, CraigavonSenior High School Ms Diane Hunniford, Brownlow Integrated College And Mr Robin Lyttle representing the Southern Regional College. Mrs Helen McClenaghan, former Chief Executive of the SELB and a former teacher and student of PortadownCollege. Mr T H Armstrong, former Principal of Portadown College. You are all most welcome this afternoon. At this point I would like to pay tribute to the sterling work carried out by the school’s Board of Governors. Our Governors are at the core of running our school, working long hours, almost invariably in the evening, and shouldering a considerable burden of responsibility and accountability. All this and no pay! It is a genuine pleasure to work with our governors who have a single minded determination to secure what is best for this school, the young people, staff, parents and wider community. The genuine enthusiasm shown in this service is to be commended and I am privileged to be working with this very capable, committed and good humoured team. Our Governors show a remarkable grasp of the intricacies of a modern educational system whilst demonstrating a clear appreciation of the need for change and how to implement it effectively. Perhaps the greatest asset Governors bring to our school is their breadth and depth of experience in many walks of life, their total commitment and a large smattering of common sense. All of this ensures our school community remains vibrant and dynamic. Your sense of duty and willingness to embrace positive change has enabled our school to forge ahead and provide the outstanding educational experiences and outcomes celebrated by our students this afternoon. Such benefits will be enjoyed in the future by those children still transiting the educational path towards us. Thank-you one and all for your loyal support forPortadownCollege. I must pay tribute to those Governors who have moved on having completed their term in office: Mr Tom Atkinson, Mr Peter Robinson, Mrs Marion Hammond and Mr Mark Smyth. We were joined this year by: Mr Mark Montgomery, Mr David Dougan, Miss Pauline Curry and Miss Gillian Gibb. This afternoon, of course, we are here to celebrate the success and achievements of our young people. I have the pleasure of reporting our considerable academic success and our Senior Prefects will, in a few moments, outline our extensive extra curricular programme. At ‘A’ Level our students quite simply excelled with a staggering 100% pass rate in all exams, all 575 of them! The new A* grade proved beyond all doubt that this fine group of students were truly on top of their game. A total of 12.2% of all grades awarded were A* compared with NI and UK figures of 9.5% and 8.1% respectively. Three students scored a full set of four A* grades, Rachel Calvin, Daniel Clarke and Rachel Johnston. Additionally, Kathryn McClure was placed 1st in CCEA A Level Moving Image Arts, Joanne McNeill 2nd in CCEA A Level Health and Social Care, Danielle Lockhart 2nd in CCEA A Level Home Economics, while Katharine Holland was joint 2nd in CCEA A Level Music and 3rd in CCEA A Level Moving Image Arts. A total of 93.7% of all grades were recorded at A* - C, almost 10% higher than the NI average. Despite reports in the media regarding a shortage of places in universities, the vast majority of our students were successful in moving on to Tertiary education. Academic success achieved through the College is already paying tangible and early benefits. I am especially delighted that so many have made the journey to join us this afternoon – it is a pleasure to see you once again. At AS Level 674 exams were entered with a terrific 98.4% pass rate with an impressive 43% recorded at grade A. Many students produced exceptional results with straight A grades and their achievements are recognised through our Year 13 prizes at AS Level as noted in your programme. This bodes very well for next year. At GCSE Level a mere 2273 exams were entered by 214 students. Once again the performance far outstrips the NI average in all of the key measures, for example 93.4% of grades were at A* - C where the average figure in the Province is 76.3%. A terrific 98% recorded 5+ passes at grades A* - C. Lauren Cornett was placed 2nd in CCEA GCSE ICT out of a total entry of 7705. Cheur Zhang recorded 9A*s and 1A (along with an A grade in AS Chinese) while Katie Best, Ben Frazer, Adam Shuaib and Sarah White each gained a veritable haul of A*s and As. The vast majority of our Year 12 students have progressed on to AS studies here inPortadownCollege where they also benefit from an enhanced enrichment programme. Some have chosen to follow alternative pathways in education or employment. We wish them every success, health and happiness for the future. We were of course delighted to be joined in Year 13 by students from other schools such as CraigavonSenior High School, MarkethillHigh School and BrownlowIntegratedCollege. The arrival of students from other schools enriches the College and we very much value their contribution to College life. We look forward to consolidating and strengthening our links with these and other schools so that their leavers can share in the provision and success of the PortadownCollege community. This year has been special because, as many of you will be aware, PortadownCollege was ranked as the top controlled grammar school in the Province in a recent Irish Times league table. No mean feat and weighty affirmation of all that has been reported this afternoon. Clearly PortadownCollege is meeting the needs of our students through high quality teaching and learning, extensive provision and appropriate pastoral support. All of the successes noted have required considerable application and dedication from our students. At this point I would ask everyone to join together to applaud our students for their superb achievements. Our extra-curricular programme last year included some academically focused work. Our mathematicians in Years 11 and 12 entered the UK Intermediate Mathematics Challenge winning 7 Gold, 13 Silver and 19 Bronze Awards. Year 13 and 14 students also entered the UK Senior Mathematics Challenge collecting 1 Gold, 3 Silver and 8 Bronze Awards. A team of Year 12 and 13 students were Northern Ireland runners-up in the QUB Mathematics Team Challenge. PortadownCollege was awarded the title of “BestSchool in Northern Ireland” for the British Biology Olympiad. Dissecting this performance reveals one Gold Medal, one Silver Medal and two Bronze Medals. Two students were Highly Commended with another two being Commended. Year 11 Biologists entered the UK “Biology Challenge” run by the Olympiad Group with the following awards being obtained. 5 Golds 1 Silver 2 Bronze 3 Highly Commended And 1 Commended Not to be outdone the chemists clearly had the solutions and struck 1 Gold and one Bronze Medal in the Royal Society of Chemistry Olympiad. In Physics our bright sparks achieved 2 Silver Awards in the UK Physics Olympiad. In the Irish Physics Olympiad one Gold Medal and one commendation were secured. The Portadown College Debating Team won the Northern Ireland final of the Business and Professional Women’s Speaking Competition with 3 students winning individual awards. The team went on to record an impressive second place in the United Kingdom. One aspect of our young people which is of course not so well documented or indeed subject to statistical analysis is the type of people they are when they leave us. By this I mean those all important values and attributes such as good manners, courtesy, appearance and communication skills which are vital in modern life both in terms of employment prospects and in the ability to get on with others. I firmly believe that our academic outcomes, coupled with our high expectations of behaviour and manners, will ensure continued success for our students wherever they find themselves. I too believe that being a well-balanced, thoughtful and considerate individual also leads in some measure to personal contentment and fulfilment. The young people of Portadown College are second to none and provide much hope for the future in which they will play pivotal roles and shape our society; believe me, we are in good hands. It was with deep sadness we learned of the untimely death of one of our past students, Lieutenant Neal Turkington. Our sympathies remain with his family. So where exactly does all of this great success come from? Well first of all I must pay tribute to the magnificent foundations laid by our local primary schools and our Junior High Schools, Clounagh, Killicomaine and Tandragee. Recent visits to our partners in the Junior High Schools revealed much creative work, a strong sense of shared purpose and community, and an utter commitment to the young people. The excellent work of these schools makes a tangible and very positive impact on the successes celebrated here to-day. Please join me in a round of applause for our Junior High Schools. We are also very much indebted to a multitude of individuals and organisations who bring diversity richness and professional support to our school community. This includes the Department of Education, the Inspectorate, SELB, CASS, CCEA, Southern Health and Social Services, Craigavon Borough Council and the PSNI. I would also acknowledge the contribution made by the local media as they share in our celebrations of success in our community. At the very heart of our success is our teaching staff who have proved themselves to be a most talented, industrious, creative, dedicated and inspired group of professionals. The demands on, and expectations of, teachers have placed a very heavy burden of responsibility on their shoulders. Teaching is an immensely rewarding job but a hugely taxing one too. Our staff show a genuine commitment to the young people and a level of support and caring second to none. I pay tribute to our staff for their generosity in giving so freely of their time and expertise to ensure our students experience a breadth and depth of challenges and opportunities through which they can develop, mature and enjoy the successes noted. I am indebted to our staff for their good will, working far beyond that which their jobs require of them whether it be academic, pastoral or extra-curricular. The quality of relationships within the school are testament to the calibre of teachers here in PortadownCollege. I have been struck by the sense of pride which past and current students have for PC; in truth I believe this is because the College is a happy school, one which genuinely nurtures the individual and is simply a good place to be. I would also like to pay tribute to my colleagues on the Senior Management Team who play a vital role in the success of the school. Mrs Greer of course needs no introduction. A veritable scholar and consummate professional, she is a first rate Vice-Principal tending to the pastoral needs of our students. She is also an accomplished and passionate English teacher. The College is yet further indebted to her for the exceptional manner in which she led the College as Acting Principal during the majority of last year, clearly leaving the College in a very healthy state. Mr Atkinson provides a very measured, considered and creative insight into the curriculum and he fulfils a pastoral role too. His flexibility, loyalty and talent make him a colleague of some substance and a great asset to our school. I would also like to thank Mrs Hammond for her diligence and industry last year as she stepped up to the mark and filled the gap of Acting Vice-Principal last year. I would therefore like to put on record my gratitude, and that of Governors, for the hard work of all of our teaching staff. I would also like to thank all other staff in the school – technical, secretarial, our buildings officers, our Librarian, classroom assistants, lunch-time supervisors, cleaners, canteen staff, school crossing patrol lady and exams invigilators. Each and every one of these staff contribute much to the welfare and progress of our young people and perhaps are too often the unsung heroes in any school setting. They are vital individuals who complete the team without whom the school simply could not operate or thrive. Special thanks must be extended to the following individuals who have contributed much to our event to-day: Mrs Doogan, Mrs Qua and Miss Watson for the musical items. Mrs Montgomery for the beautiful flowers. Mrs Willis and Miss Lyttle for the catering. Mr Jamieson and Mr Hawthorne for the sound and recording. Mrs Heyburn and the Office Staff. Thank-you also to our Prefects and musicians for their important contribution. Parents continue to play a central role in our success. Supportive parents who have a genuine concern for the progress of their son or daughter, and share our aims and ethos, make such a positive contribution. An effective partnership between school and home really does provide a terrific platform and foundation for any young person to succeed. Your support is very much appreciated. Our PTSA continued to provide support to the College through assisting at major events and organising events of their own during the year to raise vital funds. This is a small group of highly motivated individuals who are committed to contributing their time and talents for the betterment of our students. Last year for example saw our quadrangles being equipped with picnic tables for student use. Mrs Sandra Biscombe deserves particular mention and gratitude for her tireless and exemplary leadership. This afternoon I thought it appropriate to share with you some of my initial thoughts and impressions of PortadownCollege. Of course PC has an enviable reputation across the Province as a centre of excellence. This hard earned reputation will no doubt be further consolidated by the outcomes celebrated this afternoon. But I wish to scratch below the surface and disclose what lies beneath. Quite simply PortadownCollegeis a very special place. It is made special by the quality of relationships so evident as you enter the school, by the excellent standard of teaching and learning, by the calibre of young person who is eagerly supported by caring parents and the shear breadth of provision, both curricular and extra-curricular. Opportunities abound in this vibrant and dynamic institution. My first visit to the College was late one November afternoon as darkness fell. I walked towards the main entrance to be met by a constant stream of muddy rugby players and, may I say, somewhat less muddy hockey players as they left for the day having completed their respective team practices. Once inside the building I could hear the strains of an electric guitar being played somewhere down the corridor. Rehearsals too were just finishing off in the assembly hall, clearly the first night of a large drama production loomed. Still more students emanated from other parts of the College having remained long after the school’s official closing time. This, I remember thinking at the time, is a place with a real heart to it, somewhere indeed where students can flourish and develop in a clearly relaxed atmosphere and a strong sense of purpose, with mutual respect between staff and students to the fore. My first highly positive impressions, gained in a matter of minutes, have simply been confirmed and strengthened over the past few months. I am indeed uniquely privileged to serve this superb school and the broader Portadown community. I too would like to share my thoughts on the current two-tier system in Craigavon. Having worked in several large 11-18 grammar schools and served as the Principal of an 11-16 non-selective school, I feel well placed to comment. The two tier system has some quite striking advantages. First of all, young people transiting the system are able to enjoy the benefits of holding positions of responsibility at an early stage for example in Year 10 when they may serve as a prefect or senior prefect in their Junior High School. On my visits to our feeder Junior High Schools it has been fascinating to see how 11 – 14 year olds are the key focus of attention, enabling them to grow in both confidence and maturity; that very maturity shines through as these young people join us in the College. The second clear issue is that of outcomes. Combining the examination successes enjoyed by the local ControlledGrammar Schools and CraigavonSenior High School show us to be collectively some 6% ahead of the NI average at GCSE level alone. The delay to 14 years old also facilitates the so-called “late developers” as they mature over the three years at Junior High School; it also provides a “clean slate” and a fresh beginning for all. On the issue of academic selection I am a firm supporter as our educational system remains the envy of the rest of the UK. Transfer at 14+ enables students to make informed choices through which they can access a truly tailored, challenging and appropriate educational experience at the next level. In the end it is simply about placing the right young people in the most suitable educational setting which recognises their aspirations, provides meaningful and challenging pathways for progression and fully meets their needs. The current two tier system does just that and does it extremely well. I would also reinforce the message that significant investment in a new build is a matter of priority. In a country of scant natural resources we must invest in our greatest resource of all – our young people. At a time of economic challenge I would ask all in positions of power and influence to consider the words of Sir Claus Moser who stated “Education costs money, but then so does ignorance”. Difficult political decisions must recognise the need for investment in the College as part of a considered strategic economic plan for the future prosperity of the Portadown and Craigavon areas. In conclusion, PortadownCollege has enjoyed an exceptional year. The school remains a pillar in our community and will continue to meet the best interests of our young people. We face the future in the sureness that we will be true to our school motto “Fortiter et Humaniter”; we will indeed proceed with confidence and show courage and courtesy as we meet the challenges which lie ahead. Mr Chairman, this concludes my report. |