PRINCIPAL’S REPORT: SEPTEMBER 2012
Examination Results 2012
GCSE
Cumulative %
A*
A
B
C
GCSE 2012
23
56
88
99
GCSE 2011
20
56
86
98
GCSE 2010
14
45
78
95
Notable Successes







98% of students achieved A*-C in 8 or more subjects.
Only one student did not achieve A*-C in 7 or more subjects.
Highest % at each grade ever awarded at GCSE in Wallace.
3 students achieved 10 A*.
7 students achieved 9 A* and 1 A.
60 students achieved 8 or more A grades.
100% A*-C in Mathematics.
A2
Analysis of A2 Results 2012
Tracking their progress from GCSE
Cumulative %
A* + A
B
C
A2 2012
35
63
86
Notable Successes:


29 students achieved 3 or more A grades.
5 students going to Oxbridge.
AS
Analysis of AS Results
Cumulative %
(A*) A
B
C
AS 2012
34
66
86
Notable Success:

32 students achieved 3 or more A grades.
Sport
Two successful senior hockey tours (boys and girls) took place during half-term to
Holland.
Boys Hockey:
Under 18 representatives are Ross Kelly and Jack Wilson
Under 16 representatives are Sean Murray, Ryan Getty and Mark McNellis
Ulster Talent Development Squad Scott McCabe, William Carey, Jordan Taggart
and Craig Getty.
Swimming:
Peter Sands represented Ireland Germany during the summer in an
international youth competition.
Rugby:
Irish Schools U19 Training Panel
Jordan Grattan
Ulster U19
Jordan Grattan, Peter Weir
Ulster Schools U18
James McCallan, Zack McCall, Aaron Gilkinson
Ulster Schools U17 Talent Development Squad
Connor Guiney, Sam Moore, Andrew Irvine, Josh Collingwood, Gary Chan, Max
Trouton
Ulster Schools U16 Talent Development Squad
Ben Pentland, Philip Hylands, Graham Malley, Ryan Wilson, Adam McCallum, Neil
Kilpatrick, Ikenna Nzewi, Luke Ballard, Patrick Ferguson
Badminton:
Alannah Stephenson represented Ireland in the World Junior Badminton
Championships in Japan, she won the Champions of Champion in the schools
badminton. Beth Stephenson and Craig Getty were runners up in the same
competition.
Netball:
Alice Green, Aimee Donaldson, Kerry Beckett, Rachel Orr,
Zara Kirkwood and Hannah Shelcott all represented the school in the
South Eastern team who won the Podium sport tournament. At U15
regional Development squad: Jane Kilpatrick and Claire Hanna and at
U13 Anna Rankin, Rozi Lemon, Rachel McCullough, Alyssa Jebb, Sara
Menown and Jenny Rankin were selected. NI U17 Netball: Evie Dornan is
in the final 25.
Rotary Club: Youth Leadership Development Competition
Chloe Carson was selected for the final of this competition. Mrs J Dumigan, given
the significant interest among our young people, has decided to begin a Rotary
Interact Club in Wallace.
The school has been ably supported by David Browne, President Elect and Henry
McNally, Rotary Club of Lisburn.
Poetry Aloud Competition
14 pupils from Years 10-13 participated in the Northern Ireland heat in October.
Paige Clements was selected to represent her age group in Dublin on Friday, 23
November 2012. She will perform two poems in the National Library; “The North
Pole” by Frank McGuinness and “Dancing on the Table” by Margot Bossonet.
SEELB Awards Ceremony
School was recipient of The Tom Nolan Poetry Award for the second year in a row.
Christopher Lennon’s outstanding performance at GCSE 1st in French in Northern
Ireland was also recognised.
Lyric Programme Design Competition
Lara Pinkerton, Year 8, has won this competition. Her design will appear on the
programme for the forthcoming production of “Hansel and Gretel’.
Georgia Black, Year 8, is runner up.
Both girls will receive complimentary family tickets.
Pupil Successes
Tim Irvine, Year 13, qualified for the National Finals of The Queen Elizabeth Award
for Engineering in London. He was presented in London with a Queen Elizabeth Aard
for Engineering and a trophy.
Jordan Browne and Christopher Lennon learned that their applications for Villiers
Park Course had been successful. Both boys are in L6.
Oxbridge Success
Stuart Wilson has been offered a place at Queen’s College, Cambridge, to study
Modern and Medieval Languages.
Natasha Gillies has been offered a place at Merton College, Oxford, to study Biology.
Caroline Smyth has received an offer to study Law at Lucy Cavendish College,
Cambridge, starting October 2014. Lucy Cavendish College is a women only
constituent college of the University of Cambridge, admitting postgraduates and
undergraduates aged 21 and over.
Student Successes
Neil Mulholland (U6 Leaver June 2012) was recently awarded a STEM Entrance
Scholarship to Queen’s University Belfast. This scholarship was based on his A Level
grades in STEM subjects. The “Scholarship Awards Ceremony for Entrance” was
attended by Mr Bill Wilson.
The Principal presented 5 YASS (Open University Degree Module) certificates to four
members of U6: Natasha Gillies, Beth Doherty, Andrew McStea and Amy Murtagh. A
breaktime coffee meeting took place at which the four students, Miss Gracey, Mr
Lowry and the Principal were in attendance.
Sporting Finals in School Team Competitions
Medallion Shield Final took place on 11 March 2013. The team lost 17-0 to Campbell
College at Ravenhill. (Note: a Wallace Medallion side reached three out of the last
four finals, 1 draw, 2 defeats).
Prior Shield Final 2nd XI Boys’ Hockey took place on Wednesday 13 March 2013. The
team was defeated in extra time.
Bannister Bowl: Semi Final U13 XI Boys’ Hockey vs Campbell College took place on
Friday, 15 March 2013 at Lisnagarvey Hockey Club.
Richardson Cup: Final U15 XI Boys’ Hockey took place on Tuesday, 19 March 2013 at
Lisnagarvey Hockey Club.
Ferris Cup: Final U14 XI Boys’ Hockey vs Sullivan took place on Thursday, 21 March
2013 at 2pm in Lisnagarvey Hockey Club. Wallace won this Cup.
Note: Year 11 sportsmen reached the final of both the rugby and hockey
competitions.
Girls’ Hockey continues to flourish with 8 girls recently chosen for SE Area Teams at
U15 and U17 levels. At U15 level 5 of the area squad are players at Wallace.
Student Successes
Aimee Donaldson has been invited for interview for the Queen’s Scholar Award. This
is a new award. Ten undergraduates 2013-14 be successful and have full fee
scholarships for the duration of their undergraduate studies. In the Queen’s
University Santander Essay Competition Ashton Turner, Year 14, won second place in
Spanish (£500) and third place in French (£250). The Modern Language Department
will also receive £250.
1. Residential courses
Year 13 students were encouraged to apply for a range of residential courses in
order to enhance knowledge and understanding of subject areas, increase
interpersonal and intrapersonal skills, network and support university applications.
Mr Lowry oversaw the administration of applications for residential courses. The
following students were successful:
Villiers Park
Jordan Brown – English
Chris Lennon – Mathematics
Chris Robinson – Law
Sutton Trust Design Triathlon
Paige McKeown – Engineering
UNIQ (Oxford)
Chloe Carson – Beginner Languages
Chris Robinson – Spanish
Experience Cambridge (online course followed by one day seminar)
Chris Robinson – Law
2. YASS
The school has long established links with the Open University and summer 2012
saw several students in Year 13 undertake programmes of independent study
through YASS. These students graduated in spring 2013.
Beth Doherty
Natasha Gillies
Amy Murtagh
Andrew McStea*
*Andrew completed two YASS modules in his spare time.
3. Other Activities
The year began with letters sent to Year 13 students who achieved high overall GCSE
profiles as well as impressive profiles in related subject areas. These letters
encouraged students to consider applying for Oxbridge and other Russell Group
universities.
Mr Lowry also focused on making departments aware of subject specific academic
competitions this year such as the James Hemming Essay Prize. The focus on
entering academic competitions will also be maintained next year. Mrs Dumigan
also increased the school’s connections to Rotary.
Gifted and Talented success has not been restricted to the senior school. Rachel
O’Connor has accepted a place on a summer school at Oxford following her excellent
performance in the follow up challenge to the UKMT.
Samantha Walsh (Year 11) has now attained Grade 7 in Speech and Drama outside
school.
Mrs Hawthorne has introduced and administered full course GCSE RE for those
students in Year 12 who have scored sufficiently well in Year 11 and who have an
interest in completing the course.
Sport
Rugby
A number of Wallace students have been selected for Ulster Development Squads:
Zac McCall and Jordan Grattan have been chosen for the Ulster U20s Squad, Ben
Pentland, Max Trouton and Jacob Stockdale for the Ulster U18s Squad.
In the U17 Squad, Patrick Ferguson, Jonny Stewart, Ryan Wilson, Adam McCallum,
Ben Finlay and Philip Hyland have been selected, and finally Gary Dillon, Aris
Epanomertakis, Nick Woods and Ben Parker were selected.
The programmes will be held at the High Performance Centre at the University of
Ulster, Jordanstown, bringing together the best 35 players in each squad in order to
best prepare individuals and squads for the Inter-provincial series of games in
September 2013.
Boys’ Hockey
Daniel Nelson and Sean Murray travelled to England at the beginning of the month
to play for the Ulster U17 squad. Sean Murray was also selected along with Ryan
Getty and Mark McNellis for the Irish U16 squad.
William Carey, Jacob Herman, Scott McCabe, Andrew O’Hare and Jordan Taggart, all
in Year 10, have been selected for the Ulster U16 boys’ squad. They will travel to
Scotland at the end of June.
Girls’ Hockey
Zoe Jackson, Year 12 represented Ulster U17 at a tournament in England over Easter.
She and Tamilla Matchett, Year 13, have been selected for Ulster U18 training squad
over the summer.
Jasmine Kirkwood and Jayne Kilpatrick, Year 10, have been selected for Ulster U15
squad to play in Holland in June. They have also been selected for Ulster U16 training
squad over the summer.
Boys’ Cricket
1st XI
Notable wins so far against RBAI, beat FSL in league and Schools’ Cup quarter final.
2nd XI
Notable win against FSL, but beaten by Grosvenor in Duke of Abercorn Cup.
U15
Beaten by Grosvenor in U15 Schools’ Cup. Beat Parkhall in 1st round of plate. 2nd
round is still to be played.
U14
Notable wins so far against FSL and BRA in the League. Beat Carrick Grammar and
Regent in Schools’ Cup.
U13
Notable wins against Lurgan, Methody, Friends’, Armagh and Down High.
U12
Notable wins – Grosvenor and Regent House. Beat Foyle in U12 Schools’ Cup.
Representative Honours
Jonathan Waite has been selected for the NCU U13 squad. Ross Waite has been
selected for the NCU U17 side. James McCallan, Ryan Moore and Mark Hylands have
been nominated for an Ulster Schools trial.
Cup Progress
1stXI are due to play Friends’ School in the quarter final of the Schools’ Cup.
U15 lost to Grosvenor in the Cup and will now play Royal School Armagh in the
quarter final of the U15 Plate.
U14 played Foyle in the 2nd round of the U14 Cup tomorrow Away.
U13 played Belfast High School in the quarter final of the U13 Cup.
U12 played BRA in the quarter final of the U12 Cup, and won. Now in semi-final.
Athletics
Ulster Schools’ Qualifiers and Results (those finishing in top 8 positions noted only)
Mini Girls (Year 8) finished 7th in the 4 x 100m Relay.
Junior Girls (Years 9 and 10) Long Jump
Harriet Matchett, 4th
Amy Montgomery, 7th
Junior Boys (Years 9 and 10) 4 x 100m Relay finished 6th.
(Gary Dillon, Stephen Courtney, Andrew O’Hare, Jonny Warke).
Intermediate Boys
Ikenna Nzewi finished in 4th place for 100m and 3rd place for 200m.
Jonny Whan finished 3rd in 3000m.
Young Enterprise
Team of Twist ‘n Spread won the NI Finals. This is the 3rd year in a row that Wallace
has won this competition.
Maths Challenge
Year 8 and 9 pupils took part. Year 8: 3 Gold, 3 Silver and 9 Bronze certificates.
Year 9: 6 Gold, 15 Silver and 18 Bronze certificates.
Scholarship with Seagate Technology
Ryan Wilson has been awarded a scholarship from Seagate Technology. He left
Wallace two years ago having been awarded a STEM scholarship to Queen’s
University, Belfast to study Physics.
Preparatory Department Inspection
A Short Inspection took place on 13-14 May 2013. The findings are impressive. All
areas inspected are either very good or outstanding. A full report will be published
in late June.