Rockport School named as 1st school in Northern Ireland to be accepted to the International Round Square Association

AFTER a rigorous, two-year process, Rockport School in Craigavad, Holywood,
has been announced as the first and only school in Ireland - both North and 
South - to be accepted into the Round Square worldwide association of schools.


At Rockport's annual Founder's Day*, Simon Reid, Headmaster of the
prestigious Gordonstoun School in Scotland , a founding Round Square school
and the home of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme, joined Rockport's
Headmaster, George Vance, to officially mark the affiliation. Through the
Round Square network, Rockport will now be connected to over 120 Round
Square schools in 14 countries across the globe.


Created in 1966 by Educator and philosopher, Kurt Hahn, who also
established Gordonstoun, Round Square schools share a commitment beyond
academic excellence, to the personal development and responsibility of
their students.

Rockport already offers a unique educational and learning experience to its
pupils explains George Vance, Headmaster of Rockport School:


*"We are the only truly independent school in Northern Ireland and our aim
has always been to prepare for our students for life after school. We offer
a more holistic approach to education whereby every student's talents are
uncovered and encouraged. This is evident from the careers of our alumni,
which includes International musicians, accomplished sports stars and some
of the country's most-respected academics."*

A number of years ago, Mr Vance and the management team from Rockport
identified the similarities between the core values of the school and the
Round Square association. Offering huge international opportunities, the
school has worked hard over the past number of years to ensure its
acceptance to the Round Square association.

Mr Vance continues:


*"Our school's ethos was very similar to that of the Round Square ideals of
learning - Internationalism, Democracy, Environment, Adventure, Leadership
and Service. I could clearly see how becoming part of the Round Square
Association would deliver international opportunities for both our students
and staff. Membership was a goal for the school and one which I felt would
add a global dimension to our students' learning."*


To become part of the Round Square worldwide association of schools, the
entire team at Rockport was galvanised to help meet the requirements of the
association. After a number of assessments from Round Square delegates, the
final aspect was a presentation, delivered by Rockport's Headmaster at
Aiglon College in Switzerland, in January 2014.


On welcoming the first Northern Irish school to the Round Square network,
Principal of Gordonstoun, Simon Reid, adds:


*"Round Square schools are among the finest in the world and for many years
it has been hoped that the organisation would widen its network to include
Ireland. The link with Rockport was an obvious one due to the similarities
between the school's ethos and Round Square ideals, however it was not a
given that a small, independent school such as Rockport would be accepted.*


*"The entire team at Rockport, under George's leadership, should be
congratulated for its efforts over the past two years in ensuring that the
school met the organisational criteria of the Round Square
organisation.  The network will be hugely beneficial to students,
especially in helping to mould their future careers, and Rockport pupils
will now be the first in Ireland to reap the benefits of attending a Round
Square school."*


International opportunities include world-wide exchanges. This autumn, two
pupils will be traveling to the Round Square International Conference in
Jordan and in just a few weeks' time, a Bavarian exchange will commence
with a Bavarian student attending Rockport.


 A major element of the Round Square movement is offering pupils the
opportunity to participate in international community service projects with
people of other nationalities. Projects include helping to with food
production and irrigation in Sinai and helping to deliver humanitarian aid
in Romania.

Rockport School is an independent Junior and Senior School with
approximately 200 students.  It's synonymous for its academic and sporting
achievements, and its successful and varied alumni is a testament to the
level of quality teaching at the school.