Belfast Christian Brothers’ School
Christian Brothers’ School Photos
About Christian Brothers’ School
This expansive all-weather pitch sits on the grounds of Christian Brothers’ School. Located next to the Glen Road it also faces one of its many sister schools, St Mary’s Grammar. More commonly referred to as CBS the school was founded in the late 1950s as an Intermediate institution under the same Christian Brother order. When it was finally completed the doors were opened on 3rd September 1962 with 420 pupils enrolled.
This dining hall just inside the entrance also functions as an assembly hall. Art work by pupils is displayed around the walls. In fact, this theme is very much replicated around the whole complex as part of a wider scheme to reflect positive attitudes and generate creativity.
Along one corridor of this main building are classrooms dedicated to music, art and computer studies.
When the Christian Brothers set out to bring their teachings to Belfast they never anticipated demand for education outstripping their supply of it in such a short period. The school population had risen to 690 and there was every indication that this trend would only continue. Fortunately, when they expanded their reach from the original school in Barrack Street land on the old Airfield House across the road became available. This was designated for St Mary’s School but a short while after they also bought the land on these grounds. ‘In May 1960, work started on the new Intermediate School on the Glen Road at an estimated cost of £125,798. The main purpose of the school was to provide mainstream education to underprivileged children in West Belfast.’1
It must also be remembered that during this initial phase that this area experienced a lot of turbulence and upheaval from the late 1960s for some thirty years. School attendance and pupils’ attitude to education suffered as a direct consequence.
Behind the main building is the school yard with various smaller buildings home to first year pupils, more computer rooms and a library. This mural painted in-house shows the founder of the Christian Brothers Edmund Ignatius Rice in the centre. The other sporting and cultural motifs also call to mind the many similar murals around Belfast.
Quite an unfortunate circumstance to befall the school lay with the fact that pupils were only taught up until Year 12 (5th year), or to 16years old. Whether this was unforeseen or simply not planned for is difficult to confirm. The reasons therefore were due to the structure of the school as it could handle no more than 750 pupils. It meant that when a pupil reached this stage and required to take up AS- Levels and A-Levels they had to enrol again at another school, which more often than not was St Mary’s or De La Salle.
This all changed though in 2004 under the direction of former Vice Principle and temporary Principle, Gerry Scannel. Pupils were then able to stay on for further education in AS or A-Levels. As a result, the school was gradually adapted to accommodate these new Sixth form pupils. The school was even among the first ‘to participate in a new applied GCE science course known as Step-Up to Science.’2
To the right side of the school are the crafts and technical design subjects. Here, more of pupils work line walls and shelves.
A turning point for the school seems to have now been reached. Under the current Principal, Tom Armstrong, CBS has gained a credible reputation. GCSE results are returning better than expected with 2007 being a bumper year for them as many pupils hit the top 5% in the country. This news worthy element was indeed reported by the Andersonstown News. And the hard graft and years of toil finally paid off for the teachers and pupils as the Aisling Awards official website announced that CBS had won the award for Outstanding Education Endeavour.3
References
1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C.B.S._Glen_Road
2 As above.
3 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C.B.S._Glen_Road
External Links