Victoria College Preparatory School in Belfast has achieved the Inclusion Quality Mark’s Inclusive School Award for the fourth time.
Victoria College Preparatory was identified as a place where children want to be by our assessor when they visited the Belfast school ahead of it securing the coveted IQM Inclusive School Award for the fourth time. The ‘inspirational leader’ of the popular school was also very evident during our visit and has been highlighted as one of the reasons parents continue to choose Victoria Prep for their children.
Victoria College Preparatory School in Belfast is a voluntary grammar school for girls founded in 1859 to provide an excellent education for women and is one of the longest-established girls’ schools in the UK. In 1987 Victoria College amalgamated with Richmond Lodge School, a neighbouring girl’s grammar school with a noted emphasis on personal development and involvement in world citizenship. The College has built on the strengths of both schools and has a strong academic record underpinned by a supportive pastoral system. Currently, the school is on two sites. Victoria and Prep are on one site and P8 and P9 are based in another building. There are plans to bring together the two parts of the school onto one site.
School Life is Diverse
Pupil intake is steady (approx. 150) annually and there is a growth in KS2 classes with a view to entry into VCB Senior School. There is no specific catchment area and pupils come from across Northern Ireland. Some family links with VCB old girls still exist but are not predominant in the intake. Students come from a wide variety of backgrounds adding to the diversity of school life. The Boarding department is no longer up and running following the Covid pandemic.
An Inspirational Leader
Victoria Prep is a small school that is part of the Victoria College. They are both situated on one site and work closely together. However, the Prep school has developed its own culture and ethos and is obviously a place where children and adults want to be. The school is led by an inspirational Principal who knows her staff, her pupils, and her parents well. She has the greatest respect for them all and in turn, they are fully supportive of her leadership. Stakeholders trust her to make the right decisions because they know she puts the girls in her care at the forefront of every decision. She is well supported by her Senior Team and by the Governors.
Supported Staff 
Although the school is a private school it is not well funded, and the school is unable to access some of the grants and funding for catch-up available to other primary schools. As a one-form entry school with small classes, this lack of funding will continue to be a challenge. The Principal and her team are all teaching leaders. They know the challenges teachers face and they work with them to ensure pupils are well taught. All the staff feel they are very well supported.
Pupil Voice is Important
Pupil voice is important to the leadership of the school. There are regular pupil questionnaires and a School Council. There is a School Council Suggestion Box and Prefects can also bring any concerns/suggestions to the Key Stage Leader or their own class teacher. Philosophy lessons are part of the Key Stage 2 curriculum where discussion, debate and skills of independent inquiry are promoted. School Council Week is an annual event, and all pupils are asked to respond to a whole school Pupil Satisfaction Survey.
Wellbeing and Mental Health
All of those spoken to were keen to talk about the way the school looks after their wellbeing and mental health. This included staff as well as pupils and it is also something that parents mentioned when they met during the visit. There are regular parent, pupil, and staff surveys around attitudes to school and self. There are Suggestions and Worry Boxes in each classroom.
A Great Achievement
Victoria College Preparatory School works hard to be an inclusive school. Although pupils can only be admitted if parents are able to pay the school fees, they welcome children from all backgrounds and abilities. Their greatest strength is their diversity and openness. Parents want their children to be part of a school that enables children to get to know each other and to work alongside each other. This, within a community that is segregated in so many ways, is a great achievement.
Find out more about the IQM Inclusive School Award
If your school is interested in obtaining the IQM Inclusive School Award or you wish to talk to a member of the IQM team please telephone:
028 7127 7857 (9.00 am to 5.00 pm)
or email: [email protected] for further details.
Want more information on the IQM Award? Click here to request your free IQM information pack