Bunclody Community College: the new name for Bunclody Vocational College
From 1st July 2024, Bunclody Vocational College will be known as Bunclody Community College or Coláiste Pobail Bhun Clóidí. This major change for the college comes at a time when the college is growing steadily and moving closer to a major redevelopment of the college offering new state of the art facilities and capacity for increased student numbers. When completed, the new school will provide for an enrolment of 550 students.
Bunclody Vocational College – now Bunclody Community College – offers a broad range of subjects to students at both Junior and Senior Cycle. Recent introductions include Music, Leaving Certificate Physical Education and Physical Chemistry with the introduction of Agricultural Science next year for the first time. These developments, coupled with a unique Taster Programme, allow students to select the subjects they want to pursue, demonstrating the college’s commitment to providing a bespoke educational experience for each student. Its increasing enrolment reflects the confidence of local families in the high-quality education being provided. At the national finals of the BT Young Scientist Competition earlier this year, for example, students from the college were complimented on the quality of their research project and received an award for their research presentation reflecting the high standard of educational achievement.
Principal James Murphy, commended the work of the Parents’ Association, noting the amazing amount of work done on behalf of the school since 2013.The Parents’ Association has raised valuable funds for improvements to resources including a recent investment in interactive TV screens, transforming the teaching and learning experience for students at the school.
Bunclody Community College is delighted to be the music hub for Music Generation Wexford. The college is filled each week with the sounds of keen music performers from the town and surrounding areas learning to play a variety of musical instruments. Changing the name of the school to reflect the importance of the college in the local community and the importance of community in the school, reflects the school ethos.
Bunclody Community College is under the patronage of Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB) and as an ETB school is a state, co-educational, multidenominational school underpinned by the core values of Excellence in Education, Care, Equality, Community and Respect. These values are evident every day in the life of the college and were acknowledged nationally when the school was awarded the status of Champion School of Sanctuary in recognition of the school’s deep commitment to creating a welcoming, inclusive, and safe environment for all students, regardless of their background and differences, especially for refugees and those seeking sanctuary.
The crest for the new school was designed by Billy Phayres, when he was a Transition Year student in Bunclody Vocational College. Billy’s design was selected as the winning entry following an open competition in the local community. Renaming the school and introducing the new crest provides an opportunity to reflect on students, staff and parents who have given so much to the school and community over the years and it allows Bunclody College to reaffirm its commitment to the Bunclody community.
The official launch was attended by schoool management, members of the Parents Association and the Board of Management, and WWETB's Director of Schools, Eimear Ryan. Also in Attendance was Billy Phayres, 6th year student, who designed the fantastic new crest for the school.