Pupils told to ‘shape today and tomorrow’

Guests at Carrickfergus College’s annual prize distribution ceremony heard the school is truly “integrated in all but name”.
Year 14 prize winners at Carrickfergus College. INCT 45-754-CONYear 14 prize winners at Carrickfergus College. INCT 45-754-CON
Year 14 prize winners at Carrickfergus College. INCT 45-754-CON

Principal Hedley Webb made the observation during an address in which he emphasised the school caters towards the holistic development of the child and that as important as results are - “fantastic” at GCSE and A-level - there are many facets of education which they nurture and develop.

Mr Webb drew attention to current year 12 pupils Adam White, Ryan Jeavons and Conor Gascoigne who have been selected for the Ulster development squad in rugby and Connor Malcolmson who is currently goalkeeper for the Glentoran U-17 team.

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Year 13 pupil Shannon Claire McAuley’s five caps for the Northern Ireland U-17 football team were mentioned too and that she is working towards her private pilot’s licence. In the sporting arena the school’s junior members are holding their own as well with Emmalee Turley and Julie-Lee Radcliffe flying the flag for Carrickfergus College in the world of show jumping.

The Duke Of Edinburgh Award scheme continues to be a thriving area of school life with all three levels focused on. Currently, 44 pupils are working towards their bronze award, 13 working towards silver and seven towards gold.

The commitment to charity work was also emphasised and events such as a ‘Onesie Day’ were cited as events which helped the school raise over £4000 for a range of organisations. Pupils, parents and staff were thanked for their hard work and this year’s two charities were highlighted, the Trussel Fund and Habitat for Humanity. Results were celebrated and congratulations extended to the college’s first A-level Technology and Design Class - out of the seven pupils who sat the exam last year there were three As, two Bs and two Cs.

February’s visit by the Commissioner for Children and Young People, Patricia Lewsley Mooney, was recalled as was the opening of the Well Being Centre which has been used at Stormont as an example of the kind of innovation schools ought to show. So impressed by the initiative, Mr Hedley noted, the Public Health Agency gave £3000 towards health and well-being initiatives at the college.

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The principal was keen to acknowledge all the parties who work within and outside for the benefit of the pupils – he noted the links with the community and how the school’s work, and the diverse backgrounds and beliefs of the pupils, show that the college in indeed truly “integrated in all but name”.

Mr Webb stressed that the support of parents is essential and he thanked them for this.

Guest speaker for the event was journalist and author Brian Rowan who told the assembled pupils it was time for their generation to “shape today and tomorrow”. He talked of their plans for the future and told them if they go away to university they should come back quickly because they “hold the key to Northern Ireland’s future”.

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