Cambridge House Grammar School
Coordinates: 54°51′04″N 6°13′37″W / 54.851°N 6.227°W
| Motto | Per Laborem |
|---|---|
| Established | September 2001 |
| Type | Grammar school |
| Principal | Mrs Elma Lutton |
| Location |
Ballymena County Antrim BT42 2EL Northern Ireland |
| Local authority | Education Authority |
| Students | 1400 |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Ages | 11–18 |
| Houses | 5 |
| Colours | Green and red |
| Website |
www |
Cambridge House Grammar School is a mixed grammar school in the County Antrim town of Ballymena, Northern Ireland within the North Eastern Region of the Education Authority.
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 (320,000 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 Internet 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, however in 2013 it exited formal intervention and Elma Lutton was appointed the permanent principal of the school.
The House System
Cambridge House Grammar School (CHGS) is split into five 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 system is based on patrons who are successful in a wide range of expertise, such as sports, 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 Prefects 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 Jones, Belfast born playwright.
- Burnell House: Professor Jocelyn Bell Burnell, physicist.
- Abercorn House: Alexandra Hamilton, Duchess of Abercorn
- Patton House: David Patton, local businessman.
- Robinson House: Brian Robinson, former Ulster and Ireland rugby player and past pupil.
Principals: Past and Present
- Mr. Charles Mills: Principal, September 2001-June 2003.
- Mrs. Elma Lutton: Acting Principal, September 2003-February 2004. Acting Principal, January 2012–May 2013
- Mrs. Eileen Lisk: Principal, February 2004–December 2011
- Mrs. Elma Lutton: Principal, May 2013 - Present
Notable former pupils
- Adrian McCoubrey, 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
- Jamie Smith, Current Ulster Rugby Full-back, Jamie completed five years at the school.