College Curriculum
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Key Stage 3 | Key Stage 4 | Post 16
In St Columbanus’ College we offer a wide range of subject choices with a constantly evolving and flexible curriculum which is always focused on the particular needs of our students. We see it as our duty to meet the requirements of every student to deliver the best possible learning experience for every young person in our care, whatever their ability or ambitions may be.
St Columbanus’ College is a leader in the field of Collaborative Education which is part of the core vision for the future provision of education in Northern Ireland as outlined by the plans of the Minister for Education to build Area Learning Communities.
Our curriculum accords with, and indeed exceeds, the requirements of the DENI Sustainable Schools Policy and we are committed to providing our students with a high quality educational experience under the strong leadership and management that is both fully accessible and that links with and benefits the entire community in our local area.
Key Stage 3 – Years 8-10
Each of our students follows a common curriculum from years 8 to 10.
This curriculum comprises:
- English
- Maths
- Science
- Religious Education
- Art and Design
- Drama
- Employability
- French
- Geography
- History
- Home Economics
- Spanish
- Citizenship
- Music
- Physical Education
- Information and Communication Technology
- Technology and Design
Key Stage 4 GCSE – Years 11 and 12
At the end of Key Stage 3 (Year 10) students make their subject choices for Key Stage 4 and GCSE’s. All students take a number of prescribed subjects from the General Learning Areas. A wide choice of subjects is offered and there is an emphasis on providing our students with access to traditional and applied GCSE’s and to a range of vocational courses. When making choices for Key Stage 4 the College takes into account the standards attained by students during Key Stage 3 and their aptitude for particular GCSEs or alternative forms of accreditation.
| Core Subjects | GCSE Choices |
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Post-16 – Years 13 and 14
St Columbanus’ College is proud to offer access to over 28 A level subjects. Not only do we offer many of these subjects within our College but we are proud to have achieved substantial success through collaboration with our partners in NDALC: Bangor Academy, Bangor Grammar School, Glenlola Collegiate, Strangford College, Glastry College and Priory College.
St Columbanus’ College is a leader in the field of collaborative education, and there is no doubt that this approach to widening the curriculum in this way is the future for our entire education system. We are proud to already be part of an established and nationally respected model of Collaborative Education. Through the dedication of our staff and the excellent relationships we have with our partner schools in Bangor within the Bangor Learning Partnership, we are committed to delivering an even wider choice of A levels to our pupils so that we can meet the needs of all students in the local area, both our own students and those from other Bangor schools studying with us. Our sixth form was established in 2001 with a small number of pupils and in only 10 years we have watched it grow into a sixth form of 114 pupils studying a diverse range of subjects. In recent years our pupils have achieved record breaking results at A level and we are incredibly proud of this achievement.
Some people are sceptical about the idea of collaborative education and if you are not used to the idea of travelling outside school to some of your classes then you might think it sounds like a hassle to study in this way. In reality it is a lot like a College or University campus experience and our
A Level Choices for Students in Saint Columbanus’ College
‘Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much’
Sixth Form students in the College can access 28 A level courses through the North Down and Ards Area Learning Community.
Additionally our students can opt to study a one year BTEC course in Leisure and Tourism in this College.
The choice of A levels on offer to our students provides a wide range of career pathways. These pathways are identified in the College’s Sixth Form Prospectus.
| St Columbanus’ College A level choices | North Down Area Learning Community A level choices |
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BAc - Bangor Academy GLC - Glastry College
GC - Glenlola Collegiate SU - Sullivan Upper
BG - Bangor Grammar PR - Priory College
SIC - Strangford Integrated College
Currently, A level students from this College attend Glenlola Collegiate, Bangor Grammar School and Bangor Academy to study A level PE, Music, Design & Technology Maths and French.