Andrews Memorial, a controlled, co-educational Primary school, was established by the South Eastern Education and Library Board in 1973 and has served the community of Comber and district since that time. The current enrolment is around 370 pupils and the present staffing is Principal, Vice Principal and sixteen teachers. Ancillary staff includes the school secretary, caretaker, classroom assistants, cleaners, lunch-time supervisors, a school crossing patrol and meals staff.
The main school building, opened in 1979, contains fifteen classrooms, an assembly hall, a computer suite and a separate dining hall. The Andrews Memorial Hall is an integral part of the school and is not only used extensively by the school, but by a variety of community groups. The hall was built in memory of Sir Thomas Andrews, designer of many famous ships at Harland and Wolff’s yard in Belfast, including, of course, the Titanic.
We aim to provide a broad and balanced curriculum, providing wide-ranging opportunities for all the children within a wholly inclusive environment. Teaching practice embraces new developments while maintaining qualities and standards from the past, which discerning parents still hold in high regard.
The experienced and committed teaching staff is organised within the management structure to meet pupils’ needs through a Leadership Team, Curriculum Area Teams, year group teams and teachers with special responsibilities relating to the curriculum, resources and the safeguarding of pupils.
The Board of Governors delegates the running of the school to the Principal and staff, but retains overall responsibility for its curriculum provision and financial management. The Governors take a keen interest in the school and in promoting its place in the wider community.
For a number of years now, we have been celebrating our links with not just our local Titanic heritage, but also with our town. Comber has many historical legacies and our P6 pupils make several trips each autumn to discover an learn about them ‘on the ground’.
In September 2020, we were asked to contribute to a new BBC series called ‘Outdoor Detectives’, which aims to showcase the work of Northern Ireland Primary schools in the great outdoors. The link below will take you to our film, which combines our Titanic links and our local study. The common theme is ‘memorial’, as you’ll see…
BBC Outdoor Detectives, Autumn 2020
