Belfast Model
School for Girls

It's been a long and winding road but our new school is on its way as the builders intend to start construction on 3rd March. The plan is to build the new school beside the existing school, and in three years time we will move into our new residence. Our sport superstars can show off on a full size synthetic hockey pitch, four tennis courts, a synthetic 300 metre running track with a hundred metre sprint lane which will be surrounded by a hockey pitch.

Then inside it gets better! We will have a large dance studio, a massive sports hall, a new gym and fitness suite, a performing art theatre with pull out seating and orchestra pit, an extra large stage with back stage facilities including showers, toilets, rehearsal rooms and prop stores. This theatre will open out into an enhanced foyer, which will have a refreshments room. The school canteen will be more comfortable and relaxing as it will have plasma screens, sounds system and vending machines. We are also going to have a large hair and beauty salon which will be built to professional standards and can be hired out by businesses as it provides its own reception and waiting area, below the salon there will be a nursery and creche opened to everyone. The library will be improved and we will have a computer hall which will contain 70PCs!

All in all, this will be a fantastic building for us all to enjoy, sadly it will take another 3 years so those of you in year 12 and above will have left long before then. Among the excitement of the new build we encourage pupils to stay safe around the building site and to keep up the standard of the school by maintaining good behaviour around the builders.

We look forward to the building of the new school and hope that its facilities will be enjoyed by all.

Visitors to the school are asked to enter school via Dunkeld Gardens as normal.

The Belfast Model School for Girls is one of three schools in Northern Ireland to receive an award for its response to modernisation and innovation in teaching, learning and supporting practices.

The School has been recognised for this award by the Northern Ireland Best Practice Scheme which aims to showcase public sector and third sector organisations whose activities provide an example of best practice that can be shared with others. The NI Best Practice scheme highlights experiences that others can use to develop knowledge and skills to improve their own service delivery.

The Belfast Model School for Girls is one of three schools in NI to receive a Best Practice Award

The Belfast Model School for Girls has achieved recognition for the development of its excellent and sustainable collaborative partnerships with the community and business organisations. Enabling teachers to work with primary schools in the area, community groups and business representatives is a core outcome of the School's Specialist School status and is one way in which the School has developed its collaborative partnerships. Another is through its involvement in the Full Service Extended Schools programme which supports the School's work with voluntary and statutory agencies and neighbouring communities. Collaboration also takes place with other schools and colleges in terms of provision and sharing best practice to widen curricular choice.

This award is further recognition of the opportunities that the Belfast Model School for Girls offers to its pupils to raise achievement and aspirations.

Transfer time can be stressful for both parents and pupils but choosing the right school for your daughter can also be a time filled with excitement and opportunities.

At the Girls' Model we aim to make the transition from primary school to 'big' school an enjoyable experience for all concerned and the process starts this week! We hope to receive applications from many of the girls we met during the recent Transfer Evening and to make the process more straightforward for the parents of pupils wishing to join us at the Model in September, the following schedule may help:

Monday 4th February - Friday 15th February
Primary school principals discuss Transfer Form and preferences with parents.

Wednesday 12th March
Final date for changes of preference to be received by the Belfast Education and Library Board.

Friday 30th May
Letters advising parents that their daughter has been accepted by the Girls' Model are issued.

Wednesday, 11 June 2008
If you intend to appeal against an admissions decision, this is the last date to do so. Intention of an appeal must be received by the BELB by 4:00pm on this date.

It is very important that parents read and check their child's Transfer Form, making sure they have completed the Parents' Remark Section, all the information regarding their child, the reasons for choosing the schools listed, factors relating to schools' admissions criteria and include all documentation schools have asked for relating to documentary verification and special circumstances.

To help with the completion of the Transfer Form, the Girls' Model admissions criteria can be downloaded using the following link:
Admissions Criteria

This website provides a wealth of information about the Belfast Model School for Girls and it may be helpful to check out some of the pages before making your final decision.