Larne Grammar School

Larne Grammar School is a co-educational voluntary grammar school located in Larne, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Founded in 1886 by Sir Edward Coey and John Crawford,[1][2] it has around 760 pupils and 50 teaching staff.

Larne Grammar School
Address
Lower Cairncastle Road

Larne
,
County Antrim
,
BT40 1PQ

Northern Ireland
Coordinates54.853364°N 5.832063°W / 54.853364; -5.832063
Information
TypeGrammar
Motto"Pollicitis addere facta"
Fulfil your promise
Religious affiliation(s)Integrated Christian
Established1886
FoundersSir Edward Coey
Mr. John Crawford
Local authorityEducation Authority
Chairman of Board of GovernorsMr Roy Logan
Head teacherMr Johnathan Wylie
Staff50
GenderCo-educational
Age11 to 18
Enrolment760
HousesCurran, Drumalis, Gardenmore, Inver
Colour(s)Navy blue and maroon    
PublicationThe Grammarian
Former PupilsGrammarians
Websitehttp://www.larnegrammar.co.uk

History

The school was opened by Mr. John Crawford and Sir Edward Coey in 1887. Mr. R.M. Jones M.A. opened the school to its first pupils. Larne Grammar School was set up as an all boys fee paying and boarding school. During the school's first 20 years, very few pupils attended, and the school was threatened to be closed on numerous occasions. The school temporarily closed between 1914 and 1918 due to the outbreak of World War One. In 1922, Larne Grammar School merged with Larne Girls' School, and a Preparatory Department was established. Larne Grammar began to grow, with more and more pupils joining the voluntary school. During the early 1970s, the school was extended to accommodate the growing number of pupils. 19 new classrooms, a sports hall and changing rooms were built to the rear of the school. During the leadership of Headmaster D.J. Thompson, the original school building was demolished and replaced by a new school in 1987. 22 new classrooms, a new sports hall, new staff offices and a new canteen were built, as well as a new atrium, reception and Headmaster Suite. The extension from 1972 remained, but was refurbished. The original assembly hall was retained and still remains today. In 2001, under the command of John Wilson, a new Technology and Design Department was established. The new building consists of two classrooms with workshops, offices and lavatories. The building has solar panels and provides all of the energy required to power the entire school. Furthermore, a new Music Department was constructed towards the rear of the building, with a large classroom, offices and tuition rooms. To celebrate the 125th Anniversary of Larne Grammar School, a new astro-turf hockey pitch, four tennis courts and a new pavilion were built. All classrooms have been fully refurbished during the 2012/13 school year, with new equipment being added such as Apple Computers, new desks and new chairs; all of which under the orders of new Headmaster Jonathan Wylie.

Name Year of Appointment Year of Withdrawal
Headmaster R.M. Jones 1888 1891
Headmaster William Dawson 1891 1900
Headmaster William Smith Johnson 1900 1903
Headmaster James MacQuillan 1904 1937
Headmaster John W. Darbyshire 1937 1943
Headmaster Ronald Henry Davies 1943 1950
Headmaster Joseph Alan Stewart 1950 1973
Headmaster D.J. Thompson 1973 1989
Headmaster H.M. Morrow 1989 2001
Headmaster John Wilson 2001 2012
Headmaster Jonathan Wylie 2012 Present

Academics

The school was inspected in November 2000 by the Department of Education.[3] The following strengths were identified:

  • Exemplary behaviour and motivation of the pupils
  • Many instances of good teaching
  • High standards achieved by many of the pupils
  • Good accommodation.

With J Wilson as headmaster, the school flourished with pupils gaining an overall excellent standard of teaching with GCSE and A Level grades much higher than the Northern Ireland average, which has the highest average throughout the UK. To enroll at the school, pupils go through several selection processes to ensure that all pupils have a high academic standard.

Curriculum
Key Stage 3: Years 8-10
Art & DesignFrenchICTPhysical EducationTechnology & Design
BiologyGeographyLearning for Life & WorkPhysics
ChemistryHistoryMathematicsReligious Studies
EnglishHome EconomicsMusicSpanish
  • Bold subjects are compulsory
GCSE: Years 11–12
Additional MathematicsChemistryEnglish LiteratureHistoryMusicReligious Studies (Long Course)
Art & DesignClassical CivilisationFrenchHome EconomicsPhysical EducationSpanish
BiologyGeographyICTPhysicsTechnology & Design
Business StudiesEnglish LanguageMathematicsReligious Studies (Short Course) Motor Vehicle Studies
  • Bold subjects are compulsory
AS & A2 Level: Years 13–14
AccountingBusiness StudiesFrenchHome EconomicsPerforming ArtsSport
Applied Business StudiesChemistryFurther MathematicsHuman BiologyPhysical EducationTechnology & Design
Applied MathematicsComputingGeographyICTPhysics
Applied ScienceClassical CivilisationHealth & Social CareLawPsychology
Art & DesignEngineeringHistoryMathematicsReligious Studies
BiologyEnglish LiteratureHistory of MusicMusicSpanish

Teaching Staff

Larne Grammar School has 60 teachers and 772 pupils, giving the school a pupil teacher ratio of 12.7 pupils per teacher, which is much lower than the Northern Ireland average of 15.6 for Grammar Schools, and 16.8 for all schools delivering secondary education.

All subjects have at least two teachers, with many having more. All teachers are able to teach at least one subject to A level, with many able to do so with two subjects.

Extracurricular activities

Department of Music

  • Orchestra
  • Woodwind Group
  • Brass Group
  • String Group
  • Traditional Irish Group
  • Jazz Band
  • Music Theory Club
  • Music Appreciation Society
  • Junior Choir
  • Senior Choir
  • Chamber Choir
  • Choral Group
  • Music Lessons in the following instruments;
  • -Brass:Trumpet, Cornet, E-Flat Tenor, French Horn, Horn, Baritone, Euphonium, Tuba, Trumbone
  • -Woodwind: Clarinet, Flute, Saxophone
  • -String: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass
  • -Percussion: Drum Kit, Side Drum
  • -Other: Guitar, Piano, Voice

Department of Physical Education and Sport

  • Rugby
  • Hockey
  • Badminton Club
  • Tennis Club
  • Netball Club
  • Volleyball Club
  • Basketball Club
  • Rowing Club
  • Dance and Fitness Club
  • Dance Club
  • Fitness Club
  • Cross Country Club
  • Athletics Club
  • Walking Club
  • Yoga Club

Department of the Environment

  • Conservation Society

English Department

  • Club of Literature
  • Debating Society
  • Drama Club
  • Junior Reading Club
  • Senior Reading Club

Modern Languages Department

  • French Club
  • Spanish Club

Technology and Design Department

  • Remote Control Car Club

Other

  • Charity Committee
  • Chess Club
  • Homework Club
  • Photography Club

Sport

Hockey

In 2000, the School won the Ulster Senior Schoolgirls' Hockey Cup, an annual competition competed for by schools affiliated to the Ulster Women's Hockey Union, by beating Ballymena Academy 2–1 in the final.

Rugby

The 1st XV have reached the final of the Subsidiary Shield competition of the Ulster Schools Cup on three occasions in 1981, 1991 and 1992, but lost on each occasion.[4]

On 9 March 2007, the 1st XV rugby team won the Schools Trophy by beating Omagh Academy 11–3 in the final.[5] They won it again on 22 February 2008, beating Dalriada 12–0 in the final.[6]

At junior level, the school Medallion XV were finalists in the Medallion Shield in 1955.[7] The team won the subsidiary Medallion Plate in 1987 and were runners up in the Plate in 1998 and 1999.[8][9][10] The lowest of the subsidiary competitions, the Medallion Trophy, was won in 2008 when Downshire High School were narrowly defeated by 13–12 in the final.[11]

Athletics

In the summer of 2008, the school senior boys 4 × 100 m team qualified from the Ulster heats to reach the All Ireland School Athletics Finals. The team won the title in a time of 43.67 seconds, less than a tenth ahead of second place Castleknock College. [12] In 2009 the team retained the title, making them only the 6th school to ever do so.

Notable former pupils

References
  1. "Plaque honours ham entrepreneur", BBC News, 18 November 2006
  2. "Larne Grammar School" Archived 2 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine, ArtOliphant
  3. "Larne Grammar School", Department of Employment, April 2002
  4. "RSD in shield success". Tyrone Courier. 27 March 1991. p. 44.
  5. "Northern Bank Ulster Schools' Round up Saturday 10th March 2007". Ulster Rugby. 12 March 2007. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
  6. "Northern Bank Schools' Trophy Final". Ulster Rugby. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
  7. Belfast Newsletter. 28 March 1955. p. 3. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. "Medallion win a thriller - and the Plate". Larne Times. 9 April 1987. p. 42.
  9. "Medallion go down fighting in Ravenhill final". Larne Times. 26 March 1998. p. 63.
  10. "Ballyclare take the honours at Ravenhill...". Newtownabbey Times. 25 March 1999. p. 62.
  11. "Larne Grammar School win Medallion Trophy". Ulster Rugby. 7 April 2008. Retrieved 17 April 2008.
  12. "Irish Schools Relay Gold for Larne Grammar Four". Larne Times. 5 June 2008.
  13. "Members of Parliament for Belfast, East" Archived 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Peter Robinson official website
  14. "William Craig obituary". The Telegraph. 27 April 2011. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  15. "Larne Grammar School Photo Gallery"
  16. "Raymond Snoddy profile". The Institute of Ideas- Battle of Ideas 2007. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  17. "Schools Cup draw". BBC Sport. 30 November 2000. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  18. "IRFU Committee Profile - Stephen Hilditch". Irish Rugby Football Union. Archived from the original on 31 May 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
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