Mixing it at Bandon

BE WARY - that's the motto of Bandon Grammar School. The headmaster of the Co Cork school, Dr Jack Carter, explains that this strange sounding motto has historical significance. "The school was founded in 1641 by Richard Boyle, the Earl of Cork, in very troubled times of revolution against settlers throughout Ireland, particularly in Munster. It had the effect of creating an extraordinary anti-Irish feeling in England and helped to cultivate the Cromwellian campaign."

This mixed boarding and day school of 377 pupils thrives in an atmosphere of learning and experimentation. An outward-looking school, it has plenty of contact with schools in Europe. Incoming vice-principal Sean Crowley looks after European studies which started at the school in 1989.

"We've been linked with schools all over Europe since," he says. "We study the institutions of the European Union and things like the GATT agreement. At the end of the school year we go to Europe - to the Irish College in Louvain, Belgium, to Second World War concentration camps . . . it's all done through English. We also send a lot of material out on electronic mail."

Carter is keen to point out that the school, although under Protestant management, has a pluralist ethos. One-third of the pupils are Catholic. "A school which is true to Christian values can never be sectarian," he says. "It must be inclusive and I like to think of this school as a community of young people whom we're helping to grow in a responsible way into caring interested people concerned about the world about them.

"Obviously we have to help our students get the best academic results. In my view our results are among the best in the country. However, if you focus exclusively on points, I think you're doing a disservice to young people. So, we try to help them become confident and interesting so that they can get the most out of life after they leave.

Bandon Grammar School stands on 75 acres on a hillside outside the town. Pupils come mainly from the south west, although there are students from Dublin.

The main games are rugby and hockey and there are two physical education teachers. "A very high percentage of our staff are directly involved in coaching," says Carter. "For example, two of my staff are on an overnight trip to a rugby match up the country. Neither of them is a PE teacher, but they like to give their time."

The school maintains "a very good balance between academic achievement and extracurricular activities," he says. "We have loads of societies and we do debating and drama. Sybil Fuller, a former Abbey actress who teaches Irish, gives a drama workshop every week - at the moment there are plans for a production of Arsenic and Old Lace.

The school has a tutorial system as part of its pastoral care philosophy. "I have 377 pupils here, so according to the Department I'm entitled to 20 teachers and myself," says the headmaster. "However, I have 32 teachers, 11 of whom are part-time and paid out of school fees. That permits me to have small classes and to have a very wide range of subjects. My permanent teachers act as tutors."

EACH YEAR is divided into three groups. Each group meets its tutor once a week to discuss all aspects of school life. Topical national or local issues can sometimes be raised. "Everything from wearing a school uniform to games and discipline is up for discussion," says Carter. "If a youngster has a particular problem, he or she can go along to the tutor. Each tutor ends up with a proprietorial interest in his or her little group. We also have counsellors, two matrons and a nurse. The girls live here in Richmount and the boys in Round Hill. Some staff members also live here."

Crowley is particularly excited about a forthcoming trip to northern Germany. "There will be a four-day conference," he says. "About 13 European schools are involved, it has European Union funding and our first project is going to produce a newspaper to which each school will contribute - it will be translated into the language of each school."