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.
5. Trophy Winners
Lurgan College Trophy Winners: (L-R) Back Row Josiah Ormerod (Full Attendance Award), Bethany Givan (Denhurst Drama Cup), Ben McShane (Full Attendance Award) Front Row: Abbie Wilkinson (Magazine Award), Anna Wylie (Charlene Barr Cup for Hockey), Anna Owens (Katie Crozier Cup for Netball). Photo: Lurgan College
6. Head Boy and Head Girl
Lurgan College Head Boy and Head Girl Matthew Lamont and Bethany Givan. Photo: Lurgan College
7. Headmaster’s award for Academic Excellence
Lurgan College pupil Andrew Kinnen who won the Headmaster’s award for Academic Excellence, Wilson Cup for A Level Politics, Fin Lappin Cup for A Level History, Errol McCready Cup for A level Religious Studies, The Former Pupils Badminton Cup, Robinson Rose Bowl. Photo: Lurgan College
8. Year 14 Prize Winners 1
Lurgan College Year 14 Prize Winners 1Back Row L-R Grace Cochrane (Albert Houston Cup for A level Physics), Science (Rotary Cup for A level Science) Alfie Speer (WD Johnston Cup for A Level Chemistry and Matthews Cup for Boy Contributing most in School), Aimee Wilson (Knox Cip for A Level Health and Social Care) Front Row L-R Lilien Schumann (Kris Turnbull Innovation in Art Award), Jessica Thompson (Norman Emerson & Sons Cup for A level Business Studies and McGurran Memorial Prize for A Level English and Errol McCready Cup for A level Religious Studies), Aimee Brown (McCaw Cup for A level Nutrition and Food Science). Photo: Lurgan College