Merger will not mean end of grammar status for school insists head

2 November 2016

ST Patrick’s Grammar School has never been more successful, the principal told the school’s prize distribution audience last week.

Mr Sean Sloan made his comments amid last week’s reports that negotiations are well advanced for a large super college in Downpatrick made up of the merger of St Patrick’s, De La Salle High School and St Mary’s High School.

The proposed merger has been on the table since 2010 after a review of secondary schooling called for an end to single sex and academically selective education in the town.

The vision was rejected by St Patrick’s Grammar governors several years later who articulated their determination to maintain independent grammar school status.

It is understood the school may now be back on board with the condition that distinctive grammar streams are maintained.

Addressing the prize day audience Mr Sloan said St Patrick’s has been working closely with other schools in a partnership arrangement which should not be confused with an end to grammar status.

“St Patrick’s Grammar School has been leading sustainable development within the Lecale area and we are deservedly proud of our name and reputation,” he said.

“Our partner schools have been able to access an Entitlement Framework, allowing all post-16 students access to over 30 A-level courses and, while we openly work in partnership, this should not be confused with an end to grammar status here in St Patrick’s Grammar School.

“St Patrick’s Grammar School has never been more successful and this was confirmed by a recent visit from the Education and Training Inspectorate where the school achieved the top benchmark grading for schools,” he added.

Mr Sloan congratulated the prizewinners on their achievements, but he emphasised that “all St. Patrick’s Grammar School students were winners, all had achieved personal goals and all students were valued deeply”.

“The results achieved by students were testament to the unique atmosphere and ethos in St Patrick’s Grammar School, which allows students, despite having a range of academic abilities in comparison to students in other grammar schools, to consistently out-perform the students from those schools,” he said.

He identified the relationships established between staff, students, and parents as the recipe behind their successes and he thanked all parents for their tremendous support.

Mr Sloan paid particular tribute to the teachers and staff who he said, ‘left no stone unturned to ensure students not only achieved their potential but surpassed their potential’, and, to the feeder schools where their journey began.

He also paid tribute to recently deceased science teacher, Bro. Fintan Broderick, who he described as a true gentleman and a gifted teacher, and, to recently retired religion teacher, Martin Murphy, who he described as a ‘legend’.

Mr Sloan described the holistic educational experience delivered in St. Patrick’s Grammar School as one which promotes fundamental values such as leadership, public spirit, moral character and service to the community in line with Lasallian values, where the potential and ambitions of all students are encouraged and developed through an extended cross-curricular programme.

Mr Sloan congratulated last year’s A-level class on their “outstanding” A-level results; 80 per cent of students achieved three or more A-levels at A* to C grades, and 75 per cent of entries resulted in A* to B grades. There was special recognition for top A-Level students Gerico Vidanes (4 A* grades) and Conor Wilson (3 A*, 1 A grades).

Three students received special mention: Daniel Coyle who had achieved 13 GCSE awards, and, Fintan Canavan and Daniel Napier, both achieving 11A* grades.

The guest speaker for the evening was Roger Connor, former head boy in 1988, and now President of Global Manufacturing and Supply for GSK (GlaxoSmithKline).

Mr Connor recalled with great affection his time as a student in St Patrick’s and paid tribute to the teachers who had guided and inspired him in his formative years.

He outlined the work of GSK as innovative and aiming to provide access to medicines that are still too expensive for many people worldwide.

Mr Connor highlighted the importance of “great science, technology and leadership: people who can motivate, provide a sense of direction and inspire a team, people who make the complex simple, people who can deliver”.

He commented on the strength of the education system in Northern Ireland and his belief that “the differentiated factor is something that needs to be protected and invested in”

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