Principal looks to an exciting future

Principal looks to an exciting future

1 November 2017

CONSTRUCTION work on a new multi-million-pound Down High School could get underway early next year.

The school principal, Maud Perry, told guests at the school’s annual prize day last Thursday that with the plans having been finalised by the Department Education and “detailed planning on its way”, work on the ground could begin by February.

Mrs Perry, who was giving her second prize day address as principal, paid tribute to a number of people who had helped with the ambitious project.

She said: “As we visualise our new accommodation and start to anticipate the impact that these fantastic facilities will have on teaching and learning that is already world class, my thanks are due to our own chair of governors, Mrs Avril Heenan, our local politicians and Members of Parliament, and my predecessor, Mr Paul Logan, who worked tirelessly to ensure that the new build project remained high on the agenda. We greatly appreciate the impact that this has had.” 

The guest of honour at last Friday’s ceremony was Mr Pooler Archbold, a leading orthopaedic surgeon and former Down High pupil. Local politicians in attendance included the South Down MP, Chris Hazzard, Roisin Mulgrew, chairwoman of Newry, Mourne and Down Council, and several MLAs.

Mrs Perry said it was a “great honour” for her to present her second prize day report and she congratulated the pupils on their achievements over the past year.

“We are gathered here today to celebrate how much you have achieved, how you have developed your abilities to the full and contributed so much to our community over the past year.

“Having completed my first full year at Down High School, I am very aware of how fortunate I am to lead this unique school; small enough to enable strong personal relationships yet large enough to offer a broad and balanced curriculum equipping our pupils with the 21st century skills they need to compete globally. “

She said the pupils were “committed and resilient learners, who have a true passion for learning and a capacity for independent thinking, developed through giving their very best in and beyond the classroom.”

She continued: “At Down High School the development of core values such as respect, kindness and responsibility are given equal importance to attaining high academic outcomes. However, I’m pleased to report that our pupils do also attain the highest possible academic standards.”

Mrs Perry said the summer exam results once again confirmed Down High’s position amongst the top grammar schools in Northern Ireland.

At GCSE level she reported that 16 pupils gained 10 A* or A grades. One hundred percent of pupils achieved 5 A*-C, including English and maths. In terms of pupils achieving seven or more A*-C including English and maths, this year’s results were the best ever for the school.

At A-level, the percentage of pupils achieving A* to C was above the Northern Ireland average with 21 pupils attaining three A*, A or distinction star grades. Three quarters of all BTEC grades were at distinction or distinction star level, allowing many pupils to access the high-level university course of their choice.

Mrs Perry paid tribute to her staff, who, she said, “ignite a passion for learning that equips our pupils with the confidence they need to make these results possible.” 

In a wide-ranging survey of the past year, Mrs Perry also reported on many other academic and extra-curricular successes.

The biology department took the lead in ensuring that Down High was awarded its second Green Flag in April 2017, while geography students won the regional final of the Geographical Association’s World Wise Quiz and were runners-up in the regional final of the National Schools Geology Challenge.

She also highlighted many of the school’s sporting achievements, not least on the rugby field where Down High’s first XV won the Schools’ Subsidiary Shield for the first time since 1974 and former pupil Tommy Seymour became the school’s first Lion, representing the British and Irish Lions on their tour to New Zealand.