Speaking at 153-year-old Lurgan College’s Speech Day, Principal Mr Kyle McCallan welcomed Guest of Honour Simon Fitzpatrick, former pupil and General Manager of Coca Cola Ireland and NI.
“I have to say it adds a whole extra level of ‘fizz’ to the occasion,” said Mr McCallan’. Also attending were the principals of some local primary schools.
Mr McCallan also welcomed the news that the long-awaited School Enhancement Project for the new State-of-the-Art Sports Hall and Teaching Block, alongside upgraded astro-turf multi-use tennis courts is progressing to the construction stage.
Paying tribute to his pupils’ outstanding successes in the 2025-26 academic year, the headmaster revealed that A Level results were ‘excellent’, with 81% of pupils securing three A Levels at the top A*-C grades and a flawless 100% pass rate.
Across NI, 31.6% of entries received top A*–A grades, however, College pupils raised the bar even higher in achieving an impressive 36.4%. Furthermore, with almost 70% of all grades at grades A*–B, pupils also comfortably exceeded the NI average at this benchmark by over 5%.
27 pupils, over a quarter of the year, gained 2 or more A*/A grades. Andrew Kinnen achieved 4 straight A* grades with Igor Juszczak gaining 4 A*/A grades and Lilien Schumann 3 straight A* grades.
Y13 pupils also excelled at AS Level with 82% of all grades awarded at A-C with 28 pupils securing at least two grade A’s each.
At GCSE level, 99.2% of pupils achieved at least 7 A*-C grades including English and Maths. “With almost half of all grades at A*-A and 77% at A*-B, the school is not only well above the NI average for these benchmarks, but I would have no hesitation in saying that we have performed as well as any school in the country,” he said.
Millie Dowds, was the star performer with 11 straight A* grades. 37 other pupils, almost one in three, achieved 8A*-A grades.
Mr McCallan also paid tribute to all the sporting achievements and extra curricular activities of College pupils.
1. GCSE Prize Winners
Lurgan College Year 12 GCSE Prize Winners: (L-R) Isla Carnahan (Howard Abraham Trophy for GCSE Business Studies), Ruby Patton (Irvine Cup for GCSE Religious Studies), Adam Ewart (Compaq Computer Cup for GCSE Digital Technology), Millie Dowds (Cecil Maguire Cup for GCSE English Literature), Andrew Tinsley (David Bell Cup for GCSE Geography and Delport Cup for Further Maths), Daisy Stokes (Tracey Carberry Cup for GCSE Biology and the KIA Award for GCSE PE), Danielius Vitkus (Winston Humphries Cup for GCSE Technology & Design Photo: Lurgan College
2. Year 11 Form Prize winners
Lurgan College Year 11 Form Prize winners (L-R) Back Row Micha McMullen, Luke Wells, Noah Armstrong, Kornell Juszczak, Reuben Verner. Front Row R-L Amy Ellis, Julia Staniszewska, Matilda Collen, Caitlyn McKinstry. Photo: Lurgan College
3. Year 12 Form Prize Winners
Lurgan College Year 12 Form Prize Winners (L-R) (Back) Ruby Patton, Yeva Mykuliak, Lara Owens, Grace Drennan, Olivia Baird, Lucy Geddis (Middle) Austen Gault, Ellie Morton, Lewis Parks, Jacob Brown, Danielius Vitkus, Tyler McCarter, Andrew Tinsley, David Katai (Front) Chloe Hampton, Phoebe Watkins, Cadence Hamilton, Abbie Massey, Rachel Rutherford, Millie Dowds, Daisy Stokes, Zoe Farmer Photo: Lurgan College
4. Year 13 Prize winners
Lurgan College Year 13 Prize winners: (L-R) Back Row Darcey Given, Anna Wilson, Amber Purdy, Naomi Wilson, Abi McAvoy, Chloe Freeburn Front Row Ben Serplus, Nathaniel King, Freddy McTernaghan, Charlie Gault, Alexander McMeekin, Matthew Lamont, Rys Mulholland. Photo: Lurgan College