End of an era as students receive results before new school opens

End of an era as students receive results before new school opens

21 August 2024

LAST Thursday marked an end of an era for three Downpatrick schools.

It was a bittersweet day for St Patrick’s Grammar School, De La Salle High School and St Mary’s High School as they marked their last A-Level results day.

While there was plenty to celebrate and a euphoric atmosphere among many happy students, it was against the back of the schools closing to form the new Lecale Trinity Grammar School.

For St Patrick’s Grammar it was a poignant day as the school received the results in their 90th and final year.

St Patrick’s principal Joe McCann paid tribute to the efforts of the students “for their determination, perseverance and resilience”.

Mr McCann congratulated the graduating class of 2024 on their outstanding performances and was delighted that so many had secured their places in their first choices in some of the most sought courses in the most prestigious universities.

Mr McCann said he was delighted with the high number of A* and A grades, mindful of the fact that awarding bodies made public their intention to return to the outsources of 2019.

He paid tribute to the hard work of teaching and support staff for their unswerving loyalty to the students and their dedication to securing the best outcomes for all.

He also recalled the efforts of the many former teachers in the school for their role in making St Patrick’s Grammar School such an outstanding facility to give students opportunities to learn and grown since 1934.

De La Salle principal Mr Ciaran Maguire praised his students for achieving “amazing results”.

“This cohort of young men have worked extremely hard with staff, who were committed to getting the very best from them,” he said.

“As principal I am very proud of both pupils and staff for overcoming barriers to get the very best.”

Mr Maguire also paid special thanks to parents for their support over the last seven years.

He said the relationship between the parents and school was essential to ensuring the students achieved.

“As principal, I have watched with great delight as our post 16 provision has grown and developed, meeting the needs and aspirations of all those students who chose to stay on in education,”he continued.

“Our collaboration with St Mary’s High School and St Patrick’s Grammar has allowed all three schools to ensure that a Post 16 provision was the envy of most schools.

“As we move now into a new era, Lecale Trinity Grammar will reap the benefits of this well-established partnership.”

Mr Maguire said he also believed Catholic education in the greater Downpatrick area will continue to grow from strength to strength.

“I wish the cohort of 2024 all the very best for the future,” Mr Maguire remarked. “As a Catholic Lasallian school, you have immersed yourself in the values of John Baptist De La Salle – a man who wanted the best for everyone.

“Be proud of your roots as a Lasallian – be proud that you were a pupil of De La Salle High School.”