THE new principal of Movilla High School in Newtownards, has welcomed the increase in pupils and wants to see more come through the doors. Physicist, Dr Caroline Greer, took over the reins at Movilla following the retirement of Ian Bell, becoming principal of the only non-selective school in Newtownards.
The North Belfast native began her new journey as a school principal on January 4. She now hopes the number of pupils will continue to soar. The year 2023 is starting as a year of firsts for Dr Greer. As well as being a principal for the first time, this will also be the Belfast woman’s first time teaching in a mixed gender school, and in one that is outside of Belfast after 25 years in education.
Dr Greer described her career path: “I am a physicist by trade, I did a PhD in Physics at Queen’s, then I decided after a while, at Queen’s, I would do a PGCE in science. “I taught in Hunterhouse for a very short time. Then I got the opportunity to teach at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution, that was the real passion, it was a fantastic school. I became head of science there, that was about 2004. I was there for many years. “Most of my teaching career was in Inst [Royal Belfast Academical Institute] teaching boys physics. Then I became vice principal of Bloomfield Collegiate in east Belfast. “I spent another 12 years there as their vice principal, that is where I got the opportunity to apply to this job as principal. I thought it was time to take the next step in my career, to take the helm of a school of my own.”
In the first few weeks as a principal, Dr Greer has been warmly welcomed by students and staff. With an open night coming on January 19, the principal notes how all are hard at work to make the evening a success. “Everybody has been very welcoming, it is a very busy place. We are very busy at the minute because we are getting ready for open day. That is a good opportunity to showcase our school and what it offers,” said Dr Greer.
In terms of future plans, the Belfast woman hopes that more will attend the school, which was facing a threat of closure due to low enrolment in the past. “Our numbers are increasing, though we have a smaller number in year 12, only 64, we would have 135 in year eight. You can see that the numbers are certainly growing. We have over 100 in every other year group. “The plan is making it sustainable and growing the numbers back in the full enrolment of over 600. And making sure we have a flexible curriculum that responds to the needs of all pupils. “The school had gotten quite small a few years ago, they were under threat of closure, but that threat was lifted. They started to grow, and this is the largest number of pupils there have been in many years, and there is still room for growth. “Every year the interests and the ambitions of the pupils change, so we have to offer a flexible curriculum to make sure that they all have their own individual pathways that suit them,” Dr Greer added.
Chair of the Board of Governors and Strangford MLA, Mike Nesbitt, echoes the sentiments of students and staff in welcoming Dr Greer. “Finding an appropriate replacement for Ian Bell was always going to be quite the challenge, but the interview panel were unanimous in identifying Caroline as the one,” Mr Nesbitt said. “Since her appointment, I have been struck by the number of people working in education who have volunteered the opinion that we have chosen well and have secured the services of an excellent principal.” He added: “Caroline comes to Movilla at a time when the school has overcome previous difficulties and is now thriving. The next challenge is to build on these successes, with continuous improvement in all the areas every school strives in: pastoral care, academic success, good attendance rates, the whole nine yards of being a great school. “Newtownards needs a successful and flourishing Movilla, not least as we are the only non-selective post-primary in town, with Ards being the seventh largest town in Northern Ireland. As such, I have taken it as a key duty as an MLA for the area to do all I can to support the Movilla community. “I am enjoying getting to know Caroline and teasing out priorities for the coming months and years, with one eye cast forward a decade to the Chair of Movilla’s board of governors, Mike Nesbitt, MLA. school’s centenary in 2032.”
Mr Nesibitt concluded: “I believe we share the ambition of making Movilla High School a reference point whenever non-selective education is up for debate. That begins with her first Open Night, when I look forward to supporting her as she delivers her initial thoughts on the years ahead.”
