Dear Parent/Guardian
Glastry College has been successfully educating young people from the Ards Peninsula and beyond for over 60 years irrespective of background, culture or previous attainment.
Glastry College enjoys an excellent reputation due to its warm, caring, family feel, its strong sense of community and our child-centred, Christian ethos. Each student is valued as a unique individual gifted with a variety of abilities – academic, sporting, musical, artistic. We aspire to develop their confidence and self-esteem so they are motivated to achieve their highest potential within a safe and supportive environment. Our desire is that every student develops a genuine sense of self-worth, self-discipline and respect for others – qualities that we hope will transcend the boundaries of the College to positively influence our wider society.
We have the highest expectations and standards for our students and our curriculum pathways nurture our academically gifted students and foster more practical skills essential for vocational careers.
Our pastoral structure aims to keep the focus firmly on the individual child, and effectively supports the raising of standards and achievements for all students.
Our curriculum is responsive to student aspirations and flexible enough to provide excellence in curricular choice for all students, and we have developed into a college which now provides an excellent education for students from Year 8 to Year 14 with many going on to further and higher education at university.
We are keen to be available to discuss any questions you might have about all that we offer in the Glastry College community. Please feel free to phone us, and a member of staff will be more than happy discuss any questions you may have. Whilst we would love to have you visit us here at Glastry College, I do hope that our prospectus and online presentation will give you a strong sense of our culture and ethos.
I wholeheartedly believe that Glastry College is a place where your child can flourish and develop into a mature, well qualified, responsible young adult, ready to embrace the challenges of further education, higher education or employment with confidence.
I look forward to welcoming many of you in September as you embark on the beginning of an exciting 7-year journey at Glastry College.
Yours sincerely,
Mr A J Hutchinson
Principal
Our Admissions Criteria for entry into Year 8 in September 2024.
RESPECTIVE FUNCTIONS OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS AND PRINCIPAL IN RELATION TO ADMISSIONS TO THE SCHOOL
In selecting pupils for Year 8 in September 2024, the Chairperson of the Board of Governors, or his nominee, in consultation with the Principal, will apply the following criteria in the order set down:
The Board of Governors draws up the admissions criteria and delegates to an Admissions Sub-Committee, which includes the Principal, the responsibility for applying these criteria. Any reference herein to the term the Board of Governors includes any Committee or Sub-Committee appointed by the Board of Governors for the purposes of applying the Admissions criteria set out herein.
ADMISSIONS CRITERIA
When considering which children should be selected for admission, the Board of Governors will only take into account information which is detailed on or uploaded with the Transfer Application. Parents should therefore ensure that all information pertaining to their child and relevant to the college’s admissions criteria is stated on the Transfer Application or uploaded with it.
Where reference is made to a sibling attending or who attended the college his/her name and current year group or years attended must be stated. Where reference is made to a parent who attended the college, the name, or maiden name, if applicable, and the years of attendance must be stated.
1. Applicants who have an older *sibling enrolled at the college at the date of completion of the Transfer Application. (must be named on the Transfer Application)
2. Applicants who are transferring from the college’s traditional feeder primary schools from Group A:
GROUP A
Ballyvester, Kircubbin Integrated, Portavogie, Ballywalter, Kirkistown, St Anne’s Donaghadee, Carrowdore, Loughries, St Mary’s Kircubbin, Donaghadee, Millisle, Victoria Ballyhalbert, Greyabbey, Portaferry Integrated
3. Applicants who are transferring from the college’s traditional feeder primary schools from Group B:
GROUP B
Abbey, Castle Gardens, Newtownards Model, Ballyholme, Clandeboye, Rathmore, Ballymagee, Grange Park, Towerview Bangor, Bangor Central, Kilmaine, Victoria Newtownards, Bloomfield, Londonderry, West Winds Newtownards, Dundonald, Regent House Prep, St Malachy’s Bangor
4. Applicants who have had a sibling who previously attended the college. (They must be named on the Transfer Form)
5. Pupils whose parent(s) is/are permanent employees of the college.
6. Other pupils.
* includes all children permanently sharing a common home.
Admissions criteria for entry September 2024
** includes those who have permanent parental responsibility.
APPLYING CRITERIA
In the event that there are fewer applicants complying with a particular criterion than there are places available or remaining, those applicants complying with that criterion will be admitted and the next criterion will be applied to the remaining applicants.
In the event that there are more applicants complying with a particular criterion than there are places available or remaining, those applicants complying with that criterion will go forward to be considered under the next criterion and those not complying with that criterion will be eliminated.
In the event that there are more applicants than there are places available or remaining on the application of the last criterion which can be applied, applicants will be selected for the remaining places on the basis of the tie breaker.
TIE BREAKER
If, following the application of the above criteria in order there comes a point where there are more children who meet a particular criterion than there are spaces available, priority will be given to children:
- A – Who list Glastry College as first preference non-selective post primary school then;
- B – Who list Glastry College as second preference non-selective post primary school then;
- C – For whom Glastry College is the nearest suitable school as measured by the Ordnance Survey web distance measurement tool.
In all cases preference will be given to pupils whose permanent place of residence is Northern Ireland at the time of proposed admission to the College.
DUTY TO VERIFY
The Board of Governors reserves the right to require such supplementary evidence as it may determine to support or verify information on any application. This information, if required, will be requested when the offer of a place is being made. It is not necessary for parents to include verification information with their application. The College will specify exactly what verification information is required and how it will be disclosed.
The provision of false or incorrect information or the failure to provide information within the deadlines set by the school can result in the withdrawal of a place and the inability to offer a place on the part of any school nominated on the applicant’s Transfer Form.
WAITING LIST POLICY
The Criteria used to select pupils into Year 8 prior to the commencement of the 2020 school year will also be used for later entry into Year 8. Pupils who were not admitted during the Transfer Procedure will be added to Glastry College’s waiting list at the request of the parent(s) or legal guardian(s). Details of Glastry College’s Waiting List Policy which determines the criteria used to admit an applicant to Years 9 – 12, should a vacancy arise, may be obtained directly from the college or can be accessed on our college website.
Year 8 Induction Materials
A collection of induction materials that you may find helpful in preparation for starting Year 8 will shortly be available, as below:
- Year 8 Welcome Booklet 2024-25
- Parent Information Booklet June 2024-25
- How do I apply for – transport, meals and uniform
- New Uniform and Shoe booklet 2024-25
- Music Lessons Invitation Letter – June 24
- Keeping Children safe (Child Protection in Education Leaflet DENI.)
- College Information and Academic Calendar 2024-25