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From the Headmaster's desk

It is a pleasure to reflect on the highlights of the past year in Dunluce and gratifying to watch the school grow in the way that it has over the past six years during my time as Headmaster of the school.
Once again, despite the downward trend of the overall pupil population in the area and indeed across the province pupil numbers in Dunluce increased. In 2007-08 we had one of our highest intake figures for many years and we hope that this pattern continues.
I am delighted to report creditable success in external examination performance.

99% of pupils who entered and sat, gained GCSE qualifications
99% who sat five or more GCSE’s gained five or more passes
91% who sat five or more GCSEs passed with Grades A*-E
46% who sat four or more GCSE’s passed with Grades A*-C
42% who sat five or more GCSE’s passed with Grades A*-C
...and almost 50% of all grades were A*-C

The successes of our young people are noteworthy given the fact that the system was against them and while the minister continues to keep educationalists guessing as to what system will replace the transfer test, I am convinced that Northern Ireland is heading in the right direction. The end of the 11+ selection process is in sight and that means that so many of our young people will not have to continue to be branded as failures at such an early age in their school careers.
An unexpected benefit from the emerging changes to education in our country has been the creation of the Coleraine Area Learning Partnership, established as a result of the requirements of the Entitlement Framework which now ensures a greater choice of subjects for our young people at 14 and16. I am pleased to report that Dunluce School has already met the standard with more than 24 subjects on offer but we hope to continue to work with our colleagues in other schools with the aim of refining, improving and sharing the quality of our educational experience for all the pupils in the greater surrounding area.
One of the highlights of Dunluce this year was undoubtedly the school musical production of “Little Shop of Horrors” the famous 1982 musical black comedy featuring an eccentric florist shop worker who raises a man-eating plant. The show, which was directed by Mr Alan McClarty and Mrs Lynsey Moore, our two new drama teachers, together with Mr David Lutton, Head of Music, was acclaimed by one of our visitors as being one of the best school productions she had ever seen. I was particularly pleased with the performances of the pupils who all rose to the occasion, some showing talent and ability that surprised even their parents and teachers. The cast and production team all worked so hard in the evenings and also at the weekends to ensure the success of this, our first school musical production for many years. Congratulations to all of the pupils and of course to the three very talented teachers who were responsible for it all. If this is a foretaste of what is to come, I look forward with great anticipation, along with the whole school community, to the next musical production in December 2008, “Calamity Jane”.
A major achievement this year was realised after Mrs McIlveen (Head of English) entered a group of Year 10 pupils for a national competition – theYoung Direct Marketing Awards. Samantha Young, Erin McPeak, Megan Chambers and Aaron Chambers, guided by Mrs McIlveen, spent hours after school putting together a promotional package for the RNLI. To their surprise, they were invited to the main awards ceremony in London and were awarded runners up with silver standard! Given the fact that the competitors came from a wide range of schools across the UK this was indeed quite a significant achievement. Well done to them all, they have brought great credit to the school.
Another major achievement this year was the Investors in People Award. This is a prestigious public award which is presented to organisations which reach the required standard as outlined in the process. I congratulate Mr Darren Parker and the School Awards Team who led the staff throughout the whole process and I look forward to using this award in making continued improvements in every area of the school.
At the end of the year we said farewell to another member of our teaching staff, Mr Colin Fullerton. Mr Fullerton joined the staff of the new Dunluce School in 1974 when it opened. He became involved in many facets of school life and will be missed for the many roles he fulfilled in school and by all who knew him. I speak not only for the staff of the school but for the whole school community in wishing him every success and happiness in his retirement.
As I enter my seventh year in the school, I am constantly encouraged by the support of the governors, of the staff, both teaching and non-teaching, of the parents and pupils of the school. I am assured that as we all continue to work together with the aim of raising standards even higher in Dunluce that we might continue to realize our goal of attaining excellence in all of our pupils and excellence in all that we do.
B. Haugh