Specialist School Status
Belfast High School was one of only 13 schools in Northern Ireland awarded specialist status by the Department of Education in May 2007. Our specialism is in Language, an area of the curriculum for which the school is widely renowned and highly successful. The focus given to language study at Belfast High School is broad and deep, ranging from the study of both Modern Foreign and Ancient Languages, to literacy in English, Mathematics and Science. As part of our commitment to collaboration with other schools in the Newtownabbey Learning Community, we offer access to Post 16 study in French as well as expertise in cutting edge skills in language teaching methods. We intend to use our specialist status to improve the learning experiences of our own school community as well as the wider community, involving neighbourhood primary and post primary schools in exciting opportunities for learning. We have the support of a wide range of local sponsors for our plans over the next four years. These include the University of Ulster at Jordanstown, the Governors, Members and Friends of Belfast High School, Nortel Networks, SDE Decorating, the Northern Bank, British Telecom, Niavac and DPM Solutions.
To read our specialist school bid, Click here.
We have a number of initiatives planned for the future involving many departments in the school.
Click here to visit Belfast High's Modern Languages weblog, with all the latest news and events from Modern Languages and our Specialist School status. Pupils can access the links on the left of the weblog. Ask your Modern Languages teachers for the username and password!
Work Experience
A group of L6 pupils will be going to Berlin in January 2009 to complete work experience. We hosted eight German students in November 2008 who completed their work experience in our area. Three of the students, Tim Grasser, Dennis Witthuhn and Tobias Ehret, carried out their placement at the UUJ Engineering Composites Research Centre (ECRE).
From left: Tim Grasser, Dr Justin Quinn (UUJ), Mrs Hood (BHS), Dennis Witthuhn, Mrs Macpherson (BHS) and Tobias Ehret.
Science
A group of 4th year pupils who study Science and French completed part of their courses at Disneyland Paris in January 2008. This course was developed by the Education Department of Disneyland Paris.
Business
The British Council are promoting a project called Achievers International. Miss Foster and Mrs Patterson travelled to Berlin to complete in-service training for the project. Students of Business and German will the opportunity to market and export products to a partner school in Germany.
Links with Our Learning Community
From September 2007, a group of Form 2 pupils are working in a joint rpject in French with pupils from Glengormley High School.
History and Language
Mr Bernard Buntenkotter from our partner school in Aschen came to teach History in October 2007. Mr R. Ewart travelled to Aachen to teach History.