Principal ‘deeply honoured’ as support is ‘testament to quality of education’

Principal ‘deeply honoured’ as support is ‘testament to quality of education’

1 November 2023

SAINTFIELD High School had a lot to celebrate at its annual prize day last week.

School principal Sarah-Lucy Hinds told students, parents and guests that she was “deeply honoured” to be a part of the students’ prizegiving and was in awe of their accomplishments.

She thanked families and guests for their “on-going support for our school community” and the role they play in their children’s educational development.

“Our day of cerebrating success is a highlight of our pupils’ achievements and successes,” the principal continued.

“Their achievements never fail to make me beam with pride at the hardworking, enthusiastic and enriching school community that is Saintfield High School.”

Ms Hinds noted that there had been an increase in admissions for two years in a row, with this year’s oversubion for Year Eight places standing at 87% — an increase from 68% for September 2022.

“The level of demand for places at Saintfield High is testament to the quality of education we provide,” the principal continued.

“I want to reassure the various representatives from our community here today that the school’s governors and leadership team will continue to fight for an increased enrolment and, importantly, we will continue to ask why it is a fight at all.”

The principal said Saintfield High was “blessed and privileged” to have a staff team who all share the common goal to provide high quality education experiences for all of students.

She said the school was also experiencing a boom in attendance figures, beating the Northern Ireland average attendance for all types of post-primary schools, both selective and non-selective.

“The attendance percentage for last year was 92.4%, with 34 children achieving 100% attendance for the whole academic year,” she continued.

Celebrating top attendance for 2022-2023 was form class 12HE, with an impressive 96.6% with last year’s 8MY achieving second place with 94.6% and 8HU claiming third with 94.5%.

Ms Hinds also paid tribute to staff member Mrs Fletcher who served Saintfield High for the past 24 years. The popular school bursar retired last Friday.

The principal said: “Mrs Fletcher, you have been an integral part of the Saintfield High family for so long and it is difficult to imagine not seeing you in our corridors. We all wish you a wonderfully healthy, happy and long retirement.”

Ms Hinds was full of praise for students’ GCSE results.

She reported that 82% of Year 12 pupils achieved five or more GCSEs at grade C and above, with 65% of those students achieving five or more GCSEs at grade C or above, including English and Mathematics.

“Year 12, I am so proud of all the positive relationships that you developed and enjoyed with all your subject teachers, classrooms assistants and of course your head of senior school, Mrs Bradley,” said the principal.

“Teamwork and togetherness have always been essential ingredients in the Saintfield High School recipe for success and I am extremely proud of all of our Year 12 students.”

She added: “Saintfield High School is a community for all learners, educated together, striving for individual success. Students, I hope you recognise yourselves and all that you have achieved in what you have seen and heard today. Thank you for being you.”