Rockport joins Round Square

Published on isbi School News dated Wednesday 19th of March 2014

After a rigorous, two-year process, Rockport School in 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, on St. Patrick's Day, Simon Reid, Headmaster of Gordonstoun, 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 17 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:

'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 Round Square 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.'

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.