Page 27 - Bellfort Magazine 2025

The College would not function without the hard work, loyalty

and dedication that the Teaching Staff, Middle and Senior Leaders

including my Vice-Principals show each day .

At the beginning of September, 157 new Year 8 pupils took up their place at the College. It has been

a delight and a privilege to support these young people on their post-primary journey. The College
enrolment continues to grow… last year I reported just shy of 900 pupils… this year, I share we have

made new ground into the 900s. A beacon of light on the north side of Ballymena shinning out to

the North, South, East and West.

I must I take this opportunity to place on record the service and contribution of our Board of

Governors ably led by Mr Gray as Chair. On behalf of all, I say thank you for your unwavering

commitment to the College Community and Governance of Dunclug College.

The College would not function without the hard work, loyalty and dedication that the Teaching

Staff, Middle and Senior Leaders including my Vice-Principals show each day. In September 2023 we

focused on the theme of momentum… to approach our teaching with reflection… energy… and new
thinking… to underpin the strapline ‘Just Great Teaching’ with a focus on ‘Well-Being’ to support

developments in this new school year.

I must pay tribute to my secretarial staff, to Mrs Bonnar as my personal secretary… keeping me
abreast of appointments… to do lists… the regular reminders of to do lists…! My thanks to Mrs Erwin

and Miss Anderson who bring many years of combined experience to support the day-to-day running
of the front office.

We continue to benefit from the work of Learning Support Assistants as part of our work with pupils

with various types of Special Educational Needs. Similarly, the Sixth Form Supervisors, the team of
Technicians in Design and Technology, Home Economics, Science and Educational Technology who

play a vital role in the management and delivery of these subjects and areas in the daily life of the
College. We are also privileged to have a College Nurse, following 15 years Nurse Stevenson retired

to follow other paths… I can share that our new appointment… Nurse Coulter settled in with ease
and has grasped quickly the chief role of managing illness that arises, bringing support to children,

making contact with parents and maintaining appropriate records.