Cambridge House Grammar School
Encyclopedia
Cambridge House Grammar School is a mixed, controlled grammar school
in the County Antrim
town of Ballymena
, Northern Ireland
within the North Eastern Education and Library Board
area.
learning packages. The school also includes a separate Drama and Media annexe and a self contained, Sixth Form Centre complete with both private and communal study areas, a common room and a coffee shop.
In 2011 it became the first grammar school in Northern Ireland to enter a period of formal intervention. The school welcomes the advice given in the
report and will continue in it's efforts to provide a quality education provision.
, having obtained her BA in English
and French
in 1978. Mrs Lisk has had a career with the North Eastern Education and Library Board
, in non teaching roles. Before taking over the headship of Cambridge House, Eileen Lisk worked at Downshire School in Carrickfergus
, where she held the position of Vice Principal.
is based on patrons who are successful in a wide range of expertise, such as sport
s, business
, science
and the Arts
. The ethos behind the house system is that each pupil can relate to a smaller unit within the school and have a sense of identity in such a large school. Each house is allocated a Senior Teacher, and a team of seven group tutors. Houses fosters the development of Leadership skills in the pupils, as House Prefect
s are elected in year 11. Each house has a separate colour, house charity and house ties, with the house crest emblazoned in the middle.
The houses, and their patrons are listed below.
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
in the County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
town of Ballymena
Ballymena
Ballymena is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland and the seat of Ballymena Borough Council. Ballymena had a population of 28,717 people in the 2001 Census....
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
within the North Eastern Education and Library Board
North Eastern Education and Library Board
The North Eastern Education and Library Board is an organisation providing education and library services for the north-eastern Local Government Districts, Northern Ireland, in County Antrim and eastern County Londonderry...
area.
General
The school is located in the Galgorm Road area of the town at a mature site surrounded by gardens and playing fields comprising almost 80 acres (323,748.8 m²). Cambridge House is the newest grammar school in the province, having been opened in September 2001, following the amalgamation of the old Cambridge House Grammar School for Girls (founded 1910) and Cambridge House Boy's Grammar School (founded 1975). The main school buildings are contemporary and the campus was refurbished in 2001 prior to the opening of the new school. The Technology and Design Suite is an award winning building and the most recent addition to the school, and its facilities are among the best in the province. The school has recently invested in the latest computer technology and the pupils and staff have access to the very latest in computer multimedia and InternetInternet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
learning packages. The school also includes a separate Drama and Media annexe and a self contained, Sixth Form Centre complete with both private and communal study areas, a common room and a coffee shop.
In 2011 it became the first grammar school in Northern Ireland to enter a period of formal intervention. The school welcomes the advice given in the
report and will continue in it's efforts to provide a quality education provision.
Principal
Mrs. Eileen Lisk BA, MEd, DASE, PGCE, assumed her position as Principal in February 2004. She is a graduate of the Queen's University of BelfastQueen's University of Belfast
Queen's University Belfast is a public research university in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The university's official title, per its charter, is the Queen's University of Belfast. It is often referred to simply as Queen's, or by the abbreviation QUB...
, having obtained her BA in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
in 1978. Mrs Lisk has had a career with the North Eastern Education and Library Board
North Eastern Education and Library Board
The North Eastern Education and Library Board is an organisation providing education and library services for the north-eastern Local Government Districts, Northern Ireland, in County Antrim and eastern County Londonderry...
, in non teaching roles. Before taking over the headship of Cambridge House, Eileen Lisk worked at Downshire School in Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus , known locally and colloquially as "Carrick", is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is located on the north shore of Belfast Lough, from Belfast. The town had a population of 27,201 at the 2001 Census and takes its name from Fergus Mór mac Eirc, the 6th century king...
, where she held the position of Vice Principal.
The House System
Cambridge House Grammar School (CHGS) is split into six houses (Having previously been four in the Cambridge House Boy's Grammar School- Adair, Eaton, Raphael and Chichester), and the pastoral care of each pupil is enforced by this system. The house systemHouse system
The house system is a traditional feature of British schools, and schools in the Commonwealth. Historically, it was associated with established public schools, where a 'house' refers to a boarding house or dormitory of a boarding school...
is based on patrons who are successful in a wide range of expertise, such as sport
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
s, business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
, science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
and the Arts
The arts
The arts are a vast subdivision of culture, composed of many creative endeavors and disciplines. It is a broader term than "art", which as a description of a field usually means only the visual arts. The arts encompass visual arts, literary arts and the performing arts – music, theatre, dance and...
. The ethos behind the house system is that each pupil can relate to a smaller unit within the school and have a sense of identity in such a large school. Each house is allocated a Senior Teacher, and a team of seven group tutors. Houses fosters the development of Leadership skills in the pupils, as House Prefect
Prefect
Prefect is a magisterial title of varying definition....
s are elected in year 11. Each house has a separate colour, house charity and house ties, with the house crest emblazoned in the middle.
The houses, and their patrons are listed below.
- Jones House: Marie JonesMarie JonesSarah Marie Jones is a Belfast-based actress and playwright. Born into a working class family, Jones was an actress for several years before turning her hand to writing.-Charabanc/DubbelJoint:...
, Belfast born playwright. - Burnell House: Professor Jocelyn Bell BurnellJocelyn Bell BurnellSusan Jocelyn Bell Burnell, DBE, FRS, FRAS , is a British astrophysicist. As a postgraduate student she discovered the first radio pulsars with her thesis supervisor Antony Hewish. She was president of the Institute of Physics from October 2008 until October 2010, and was interim president...
, phyicsist. - Abercorn House: Alexandra Hamilton, Duchess of AbercornAlexandra Hamilton, Duchess of AbercornAlexandra Anastasia "Sacha" Hamilton, Duchess of Abercorn OBE is the wife of James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Abercorn....
- Bell House: Derek BellDerek Bell (musician)George Derek Fleetwood Bell, MBE was an Northern Irish harpist, pianist, oboist, musicologist, and composer, best known for his accompaniment work on various instruments with The Chieftains....
, Late musician and member of the Chieftains. - Patton House: David Patton, local businessman.
- Robinson House: Brian Robinson, former UlsterUlsterUlster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
and Ireland rugbyRugby footballRugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
player and past pupil.
Principals: Past and Present
- Mr. Charles Mills: Principal, September 2001-June 2003.
- Mrs. Elma Lutton (Current Vice Principal): Acting Principal, September 2003-February 2004.
- Mrs. Eileen Lisk: Principal, February 2004–present.
Notable former pupils
- Adrian McCoubreyAdrian McCoubreyAdrian George Agustus Matthew McCoubrey is an Irish cricketer. A right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium bowler, he has played 43 times for the Ireland cricket team since August 1999 including six first-class matches and twelve List A matches...
, Professional Cricketer held the office of Deputy Head Boy 1997/98 - Shane Glynn, Executive Producer for BBC NI Sports and former News Reporter for UTV
- Dr Richard Ball, World renowned chemist with a penchant for making all drinks alcoholic from a wide variety of English apples. His most notable accomplishment is acknowledged almost silently by Bulmers with the addition of the word “Ball” on the side of the 500 ml tin of Stongbow.
- Jamie Smith, Current Ulster Rugby Full-back, Jamie completed five years at the school.