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.
9. Year 14 prize Winners 2
Lurgan College Year 14 prize Winners 2 Back Row L-R Ciara Gault (Aileen Paul Memorial Shield), Haydn McKinley (The Christine Johnston Memorial prize for girl contributing most to the school), Dawson Hatch (Jill Emerson award), Catherine Walsh (Wylie Perpetual Cup fir Music Endeavour) Front Row L-R Daniel Wilson (Brian Hanna Cup for Rugby Football), Ben Maxwell (Lord Lurgan Rugby Football Plaque), Chloe Gordon (Williams Cup for Hockey), Kianna Smith (Lions Award for Community Service). Photo: Lurgan College
10. 4 Years Full Attendance
Lurgan College pupil Jonathan Verner achieved 4 Years Full Attendance. Photo: Lurgan College
11. KYLE MCCALLAN DELIVERING HIS ANNUAL ADDRESS LURGAN COLLEGE 2.jpg
Lurgan College Headmaster, Mr McCallan delivering his annual address. Photo: Lurgan College
12. Guest of Honour Simon Fitzpatrick, General Manager of Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland 12 Lurgan College.jpg
Guest of Honour at Lurgan College Speech Day was Mr Simon Fitzpatrick General Manager of Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland Photo: Lurgan College