Address by The Headmaster
Friday, 27 June 1997
Mr Chairman, Sir Desmond and Lady Lorimer, Ladies and Gentlemen on behalf of the school it is a pleasure to add our welcome to our Chief Guests today. Sir Desmond has occupied many key positions in the commercial, economic and public life of Northern Ireland and we are delighted that you kindly agreed to be our guests today. We look forward, Sir, to your address and trust that you will both enjoy your visit to Campbell.
Following the publication last year of the Dearing Review of Qualifications for 16-19 year-olds, the examination system is undergoing significant changes. While we await yet more new A-level syllabuses for first teaching in September 1999, which will incorporate the Dearing proposals, there has already been considerable impact at Sixth Form level as a result of the introduction of modular syllabuses.
In modular A-levels the syllabus content of a subject is broken down into distinct units (commonly four or six) with an examination being available at the end of each unit, as opposed to linear A-levels where terminal examinations on the full syllabus content are sat at the end of a two year course. Some subjects, such as mathematics and the sciences lend themselves to a modular approach more than others such as modern languages, Design and Technology and Art and Design.
Modular A-level syllabuses were first introduced in 1991 by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate but since that time all examination boards across the United Kingdom have invested much time and effort in vying for a slice of the modular "cake". At one stage the situation threatened to descend into farcical proportions where modular examinations could be taken at three different times of the year and students could repeat modules as many times as they wished. Thankfully the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority, SCAA, which oversees the work of all examination boards, refined the assessment regulations at the end of last year. The major points determined by SCAA were that module assessment sessions will be confined to twice a year - January and June, that at least 30% of the final award for any certificate must be based on the marks obtained in written examinations during the final assessment session and that modules can be re-sat once only except for the terminal modules which cannot be re-sat.
Modular programmes have many advantages. The motivation of students is frequently increased - they have clear, short-term targets throughout the course. The possibility of resitting examinations and improving on earlier performance is also very attractive to most students. The examination load may be spread over two years, with less pressure on the students at the end of the course and with fewer students regarding Lower Sixth as a sabbatical year. Students who are performing badly may be identified, counselled and, in some cases, encouraged to change to a less demanding programme such as AS level. With the objective evidence of module results, students are far less likely to leave everything too late in the Upper Sixth year, thereby risking all on a single spin of the A-level wheel. Teachers too may monitor their own performance in the different aspects of a subject by reviewing the results obtained in the various modules. Knowledge of the results obtained in earlier modules encourages realistic attitudes towards university choices and there is little need for full-scale "mock" examinations as most module examinations are short and sharply focussed.
Despite all these advantages there are of course a number of disadvantages associated with modular programmes. Because students can resit examinations, and typically count the best marks obtained, some argue that the universities will see modular results as second class. Such dichotomy on the part of universities would surely not be acceptable, given the fact that most universities now examine through modular programmes themselves. Some education commentators consider that the frequency of examinations may put too much pressure on students in the Lower Sixth year - call me old-fashioned, but more pressure at this stage is no bad thing. There is no doubt that some students in Lower Sixth lack the maturity and understanding of a subject to perform at full A-level standard but I believe that the new syllabuses will address this problem as they are designed so that the standard of the earlier modules will be appropriate for students at the end of one year of study. There is also a risk with modular examinations that, without effective counselling, students who perform poorly in the earlier modules may be discouraged and disheartened. The co-existence of linear and modular programmes in schools can be an uneasy one as students give work for imminent modular examinations much higher priority than the demands made by traditionally linear subjects. Hopefully this can be partially addressed by adjustments in the school year to which I will refer shortly. Finally, it is commonly argued that modular A-levels lead to better results and are "easier" than linear A-levels. "Easier" here can mean two very different things. Firstly, that they are simply less intellectually demanding, that the level of knowledge and understanding that a particular grade represents is lower than that of a linear one or, secondly, that they represent a more accessible route to a common standard and that students simply work harder on a modular programme. I trust the second explanation to be valid as, with the adjustments to syllabuses outlined by SCAA, the same syllabus content can be covered through either modular or linear route.
What has been the Campbell experience so far? The Mathematics Department led the way by introducing modular programmes three years ago and reported improved levels of motivation among Lower Sixth students. The Political Studies Department entered a cohort for the first time last year and problems were experienced by both pupils and staff due to the proximity of the internal Lower Sixth exams in the linear subjects and the external modular exams. Some students concentrated on their external exams at the expense of the internal ones, much to the frustration of teachers of the linear subjects. As yet it is too early in the process to compare grades achieved through the two different routes.
This year modular syllabuses have also been adopted by Biology, Chemistry, English, Geography and Physics with the result that only six boys in the current Lower Sixth are following exclusively linear programmes in a combination of the remaining subjects. In order to avoid potentially greater problems than our experience of last year, now that there is an approximately equal division between linear and modular subjects, it was necessary to make major adjustments to the traditional rhythm of the school year. Gone are the days when examinations were held exclusively in December, February and June. Having made a decision that the first external modular examinations would be held at the end of the Lower Sixth year, it was necessary to move the internal examinations in linear subjects to September of the Upper Sixth year. With the additional introduction in April this year of Key Stage 3 external assessments in English, Maths and Science for our Third Form pupils we have arrived at a situation where every month of the school year from September to June witnesses one or more of the following:-
In addition, the deadlines for submission of GCSE and A-level coursework at various times of the year together with oral, aural and practical examinations mean that there is simply no respite as the winds of change continue to sweep across the educational landscape - the balancing acts required of teachers nowadays are enormous. It is to the credit of both the teaching and non-teaching staff at Campbell that, through their dedication, equilibrium is maintained so successfully and I would like now, Mr Chairman, to illustrate this by reporting briefly on the past year at Campbell.
Last year's A-level results were excellent with the overall pass rate going up from 88.2% the previous year to 94.1 %. The pass rate was the highest of the last ten years and was the first time it had exceeded 90%. There was also a significant increase in the %ABC to 65.3% - again the highest of the last ten years. 30.1% A grades were achieved. On a subject basis, ten subjects had 100% pass rates with a further three subjects having pass rates of over 90%. On an individual basis three boys scored 4A grades - Richard Avery, Grant Boyd and Trevor Boyd. Jonathan Fletcher and Mahon Maguire each had AAAB while a further three boys had 3As. Eight boys scored AAB and a further eight boys scored ABB making a total of 31.2% of the year group scoring ABB or better.
Richard Avery (St John's College), Trevor Boyd (Trinity College) and Mahon Maguire (Corpus Christi College) all met or exceeded their conditional offers from Cambridge while Rupert Gorman (Peterhouse College) was successful as a post-A-level candidate. Colin McMaster and David McClelland were first and second respectively in Northern Ireland in A level Art and Design.
Once again in order to provide parents with authoritative and realistic comparisons, Campbell registered with the A-level Value Added Project conducted by the University of Durham. The results of over 74,000 candidates in 900 schools have been analysed and comparisons provided between the actual grade achieved by each candidate and the expected grade. The expected grade for each candidate was worked out statistically by the University of Durham and based on each candidate's average GCSE score and the general pattern of actual results achieved across the very large sample of candidates.
Of the 17 A-level subjects offered by Campbell in 1996, the average A-level grade achieved by our pupils was higher than the expected grade in 11 of the subjects. Overall the actual grade achieved in each of the 218 papers taken by Campbell pupils was higher than the expected grade by an average of 1.14 A-level points - an excellent achievement.
The School Performance Information published in January by DENI confirmed the excellence of the A-level results as Campbell was in the top 20 of the 70 grammar schools in terms of % pupils achieving 3+ grades at A-C.
At GCSE the overall pass rate was down slightly from the previous year - 83.4 % compared to 84.2%, although the percentage of A (A*) grades at 28.4 represented a significant increase on the previous year (21.6). 86% of the year group achieved five or more GCSEs at A*-C grades but this statistic, which is published by the Department of Education, is not very informative. A much more valuable and realistic measure of performance is obtained from a comparison of GCSE results with candidates' 11+ grades five years previously. The pupils who sat GCSEs in 1996 were the second cohort to be graded in the 11+ according to the four-point scale - grades one to four (in 1991). 98.4% of the Campbell boys who achieved a grade one in 1991 also achieved five or more GCSEs at A* to C. For grade two candidates the figure was 84.6%, for grade three - 73.3% and for grade four - 60.7%. This shows the excellence of the results not only for those who achieved grades one and two, but also for those who achieved lower grades in the 11+ five years previously.
On an individual basis 32 boys achieved five or more A/A* grades compared to 24 the previous year. Five boys had 10 A grades which included 7 A* for Kyle Mitchell, 6 for Christopher Corlett, 5 for Philip McCreery, 4 for Ryan Shirlow and 3 for Paul McAdam.
Outside the classroom Campbell provides a tremendous breadth of activity and on an occasion such as this it is simply impossible to cover all the activities in the detail they deserve. However I trust that I can convey a flavour of those undertaken. In the sporting arena, the outstanding achievement for the second year running was by the swimming club. The Bath Cup, held in London each year since 1910, is competed for by the top 72 swimming schools in the United Kingdom. Last year Campbell won the Bath Cup for the first time in its history and just last month the team of Dennis Bree (Captain), Andrew Bree, Neil Cameron and James Hand retained the cup, winning the final by the considerable margin of 12 seconds over second placed Nottingham High School in a new record time of 3 minutes 46.56 seconds. For good measure the previous day the team also won the Otter Challenge Cup (for the second time in three years) at St Paul's School, London competing against 15 other schools from across the United Kingdom. Earlier in the season in the Ulster Schools' Championships the swimming team won both the Overall and Intermediate Cups. The Intermediate squad won both the medley and freestyle events, setting new Ulster Schools' records in both and Neil Cameron was selected to represent Ireland in the Schools' International.
In rugby the 1st XV started their Cup campaign well with wins over Dungannon Royal and Limavady Grammar School. In the quarter-finals we were drawn away from home for the third successive round, and this time to Bangor Grammar School but, in a very exciting match, we were defeated by 18 points to 14. Neale Wilson and Barry McCracken represented Irish Schools'. The 2nd XV reached the final of the 2nd XV Cup for the fifth year in succession, having previously drawn two finals and won the last two finals. In this year's final the team drew 10-10 with Methody thus maintaining the school's marvellous record of never being defeated in this competition.
Campbell also has an excellent record in the Ulster Schools' Seven-a-side Championships and this season we won the title for the fourth time in five years. In the knock-out stages Campbell had wins over RBAI, Methody and, in the final, Royal School Dungannon.
The Medallion XV reached the semi-final stage of the Shield competition but eventually lost by 13 points to 12 against Methody.
In hockey the 2nd XI reached the final of the Dowdall Cup but lost to RBAI by 1-0, while the U15 XI lost in the semi-final of the Richardson Cup, after extra time.
In the County Down Cross Country Championships Campbell won the overall shield for the best school performance across the age groups. The Senior team won by a significant margin, with Kyle Mitchell second overall. In the Intermediate race Andrew Herron was 2nd while the Junior team also won their race by a large margin with Michael Dempster-Mortlock second home. At the Ulster Schools' Championships held at Mallusk, in atrocious conditions, Mohamed Laginaf, Andrew Herron and Kyle Mitchell qualified for the Irish Championships.
In squash the U16 team came second in both the Ulster Schools' League and Cup competitions while the U14 squad won both the Ulster Schools' Cup and Division 4 of the Ulster Schools' League. The Intermediate tennis team reached the final of the Intermediate Cup while the seniors reached the semi-final of the Senior Cup.
In the County Down Schools' Athletics Championships a total of 12 first places were achieved (10 individual and two relays) but the highlight of the athletics season was the winning of the Irish Schools' 4 x 100m U17 relay championship by our Intermediate squad of Tristan Aiken, Malcolm Boyd, Gareth McComb and Ian Moore. As last year our annual athletics sports meeting was held as an evening event. Despite the atrocious weather conditions there was a pleasing attendance and we managed to complete the full programme of events. The Pipe Band beat Retreat before a reception in the Dining Hall where everyone dried out and warmed up.
The 1st Cricket XI had a relatively disappointing season with quarter-final defeats in both Schools' Cup and McCullough Cup although they recorded six victories in the other seven matches. The Colts realised their early promise with commanding performances throughout the season and this week won both the NCU U15 Schools' Cup and the Jubilee Cup by 9-wicket margins. The U14 XI also had a good season reaching the final of the U14 League Cup and the semi-final of the Derriaghy Cup.
The SportsMark Scheme for Schools is a new government sponsored scheme - piloted in Northern Ireland - which aims to evaluate and award physical education and games provision in schools, both primary and post-primary. In particular, it is "designed to give full recognition to the good work in physical education and sport which is being carried out in schools". Schools were recently assessed on criteria such as curricular PE provision throughout the school, internal and external competitive opportunities, range of sports and extra-curricular activities, numbers of pupils and staff participating in programmes, qualifications of staff and community links. There were two levels of award: the SportsMark Award for high levels of provision, and the GoldMark Award for Excellence of Provision. Campbell has been awarded the GoldMark, one of only three awarded in the post-primary sector in Northern Ireland.
Last summer's CCF Camp was held at Wathgill (near Catterick) and was attended by 116 Cadets and 16 attached staff. The accommodation and catering were excellent and the Senior NCOs set a fine example. An Old Campbellian, Lt Col J N Rollins OBE, who is Chief of Staff of the Infantry Training Centre at Catterick, provided instructors every day as well as providing up-to-date equipment for the cadets. 16 boys and two staff attended RAF Camp at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire where they had an excellent flying programme combined with other activities. There were also numerous CCF activities during the Easter vacation and 180 boys leave tomorrow for annual camp at Portsmouth.
During summer camp the Pipe Band played at Richmond Castle and at several local town centres. Many congratulations to David Russell, a Fifth Form pupil, who won the World Under-16 Piping Championship. The Pipe Band was also invited to perform at the official launch of the Dean of Belfast Cathedral's annual Charity Sit-Out in December and the Marie Curie Cancer Clinic's 50th anniversary celebrations at Ravenhill last week.
Last July, 15 boys competed in the National Rifle Association's Schools' Meeting at Bisley where Campbell finished 4th in the Ashburton Shield. David Platt, the team captain, achieved perfect scores in the Financial Times competition, qualifying for a tie-shoot, from which he emerged as the first Campbellian to bring home this very large piece of silver. Alastair Smyth won the Inniskillings Cup and the team won the Royal Irish Rangers Trophy. David Platt and Alastair Smyth were selected for the Irish Rifle Team. While at Bisley, the Council for Cadet Rifle Shooting confirmed Campbell's win in their Earl Roberts Commonwealth competition. This international event with over 100 entries is regarded by the CCRS as its most prestigious competition.
In September at the Northern Ireland Inter-Service Cadet Rifle Meeting, Andrew Pollen won the "Champion-at-Arms" title. This achievement is especially commendable because he is the fourth consecutive Campbellian, and the youngest cadet ever, to win this title.
More recently Alastair Smyth of Upper Sixth is the first Campbellian selected for the British Cadet Rifle Team (The Athelings) to visit Canada in August 1997. He will also represent Great Britain at Bisley before departing for Canada.
Also last summer Kyle Mitchell was one of 12 British cadets to be chosen for the six-week Cadet Leadership and Challenge Course at Banff in the Canadian Rockies. One hundred and eighty cadets from across the Commonwealth and from France and Germany attended. Kyle won the Best Cadet award and was placed first in the annual Canadian and Exchange Cadet Cross Country Race.
A 70-strong orchestra from Gymnasium Haus Overbach visited Campbell in October. According to one of the staff in charge of the orchestra the feedback from their students was most enthusiastic - "more even than the vast grounds, the impressive building and facilities, the super acoustics in the Central Hall etc, it was the hospitality and friendliness of the hosting families that featured most in the students' comments". Campbell is particularly fortunate in having so many supportive parents who pull out all the stops when asked to help. This is just one of many examples where parents have gladly hosted visitors; others this year include the visits of rugby teams from Trinity School, Sydney and the "Affies" from South Africa. On behalf of the school I would like to take this opportunity to thank parents most sincerely for all their help in hosting visitors.
The performances of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat" attracted large audiences over three nights in December to what was a very colourful, harmonious and delightfully professional production. The Junior Drama Society and Junior musicians staged a very enjoyable programme last Tuesday evening. The music was stimulating and the drama most entertaining.
Early in January the visiting African Children's Choir staged two concerts in the Central Hall. On both evenings the Central Hall was full and those attending could not help but be enthralled by the energy and enthusiasm shown by the children. Over £10,000 was raised for the Meningitis Research Appeal Fund.
In February, 14 Lower Sixth boys and two staff (Mrs Elwood and Miss Bryans) spent one week in Romania visiting orphanages, schools and hospitals delivering items they collected before departure. The Campbell party was accompanied by an equivalent number of pupils and staff from St MacNissi's College, Garron Tower and from Carrickfergus Grammar School. All the staff and pupils involved took part in a cross-community service held at Garron Tower in January. Our fete last Saturday was in aid of the street children of Romania and raised over £2700 for this very deserving charity.
During the Easter holidays 46 boys from Second to Fourth Forms, along with four staff, undertook a week-long History tour to France and Belgium where the itinerary included visits to battlefields and cemeteries.
It is always sad to lose long-serving members of staff and this year is no exception. Over the years many Campbell concerts were staged and conducted by Michael McGuffin, our Director of Music. Michael resigned early in the term having completed 36 years at Campbell. Well known in Northern Ireland as an accompanist and conductor, Michael was appointed Director of Music in Campbell in 1977. Always a stout defender of things musical within the school, he was unfailingly sympathetic in his accompanying of gifted and less-gifted musicians in public performances. However, Michael was much more than a musician. As a schoolboy at Methody he was Ulster Schools' sprint champion and a prop on the 1st XV in the days when props were not renowned for their speed off the mark. For many years Michael was heavily involved in rugby and athletics coaching in Campbell and in thanking him for his valuable contributions to Campbell life we wish him every fulfilment in the pursuit of his many and varied professional musical interests.
Mr Chairman, in presenting this my tenth annual report, I would like to conclude by thanking you and all the members of the Board of Governors for the very considerable time and effort which you collectively invest in the interests of the school.