Congratulations all round at Saintfield High School

Congratulations all round at Saintfield High School

28 November 2018

SIXTY years of providing outstanding education are being celebrated at Saintfield High School.

The school proudly opened its doors in 1958 as Saintfield Secondary Intermediate School with 154 pupils and five teachers.

The school has seen many changes, including extensions and additions, the subjects offered to pupils, the varied members of staff and, of course, the generations of pupils.  

Miss Sarah-Lucy Hynds, principal, said the 60th anniversary was being marked “with a real sense of pride in our past, and an excited and positive outlook for the future”.

She continued: “It is an absolute honour and privilege to lead such a thriving and active school community; a school with a highly commended academic, pastoral, sporting and cultural history.”

The school has been instrumental in the development of the wider community during the last 60 years — in the citizens that it has produced and in the many and varied achievements of pupils, both past and present.

Mr Johnston Young was appointed as the school’s first principal in 1958. Under his guidance, the school became established and began to achieve notable success.

When he left to take up a job in Canada, he was replaced by Mr Charles Hull, who was principal until 1971.

Mr William Finlay, his vice-principal, took over as principal until 1975 when he left to become principal of what is now The High School, Ballynahinch.

Mr Finlay’s successor was Mr Ronald Macpherson, who was principal until 1988. He was responsible for an increase in the extra-curricular activities, as well as the school’s name change from Saintfield Secondary Intermediate School to Saintfield High School.

Mr Brian Reilly was appointed principal in 1988 and he remained in position until 1991 when he became principal of Movilla High School. 

In 1991, Mr Robert Mills took up the position of principal. He brought a strong and successful vision to the school, and one that remains today — to build a school with a strong family focus where children enjoy learning and are given the very best chance in the classrooms and in every sphere of the school’s influence.

Many improvements to the school fabric and structure were also made, while several temporary classrooms were added in an attempt to satisfy the increased demand for pupil places.

When Mr Mills retired in June 2004, work was about to begin on a significant new extension to the existing school buildings.

Ms Vivien Watt became principal the following September and her first task was to oversee the building project, which was a huge undertaking. She worked resolutely to ensure that the school had the best facilities possible.

The new extension was opened in September, 2006, and the demand for places continued to grow.

In 2011, the school had a full inspection and in every area inspected, the school was either classified as ‘very good’ or ‘outstanding’ — a testament to the hard work, skill and dedication of every member of staff.

A new sports hall, with accompanying reception area, was opened in February 2016 by the then Education Minister, John O’Dowd, and has since been officially named the Vivien Watt Sports Hall. 

Following Ms Watt’s retirement in January 2017, Miss Hynds — then vice-principal — was appointed principal.

She led the school through a Sustaining Improvement Inspection in June 2018, in which the school achieved the highest possible grading and this summer the whole staff were rewarded by one of the highest sets of results ever achieved.

The school’s 60th celebrations for the current year began with a hugely successful community coffee morning in September, followed by a formal dinner earlier this  month which was attended by past and current members of staff, both teaching and non-teaching, including previous principals Mr Mills and Ms Watt.

A community variety show is also planned for later on in the school year.

Miss Hynds said: “We are a very traditional school with family values,” she says. “We are respecting the past, as that is our firm foundation, but we are also looking to the future.

“The school prides itself on the teamwork that operates between members of staff, students, parents and carers, and members of the community.

“Effective collaboration to further improve outcomes for all of the boys and girls is at the very heart of the school’s vision for the future.

“Saintfield High School is certainly fulfilling its vision statement for 2017-2020 — ‘To achieve and celebrate individual excellence through effective collaboration and care as a community focused school’.

“It is clear that this is a school firmly endorsed by our wider community, and one that is continuing to grow from strength to strength.”