Successful year marked at Glengormley High School

The event was held in the school’s sports hall on Thursday, October 22. The special guest at the ceremony was South Antrim UUP MP Danny Kinahan.

The prize distribution paid tribute to both academic and sporting successes that have been achieved by pupils.

During his address, Principal Lex Hayes stated that the cuts which are currently impacting on the education sector will harm all pupils in Northern Ireland.

He said: “In Northern Ireland, over the next few years, all schools will be failing our pupils unless a fundamental change in our spending on education and a sea-change in our values as a society takes place.

“This will occur in all schools regardless of sector or size as severe funding cuts increase class sizes, stall the development of facilities and subvert the curriculum for all pupils, the most gifted and the most vulnerable.”

Successful exam results were praised by the Principal.

Results in Diplomas, AS Level and A Level courses improved on the results of previous years. Glengormley High School pupils achieved an A – C in almost 80 per cent of exams in all subjects, with over 25 per cent of all A Level grades an A or A*.

Tribute was paid to sporting successes in various fields including, football, judo, wrestling, kickboxing, tumbling, Irish dancing and Taekwondo.

The fundraising efforts made by the school in the past year received special mention, with over £4,000 being donated to a number of charities.

This year saw the completion of the £230,000 refurbishment of the fitness suite, which now provides state-of-the-art facilities for staff, pupils and members of the local community.

There are also plans in the pipeline for a new library, as well as new maths, special needs and toilet facilities.

Mr Hayes concluded his address by stressing that the increased use of social media platforms was having a detrimental affect on the well-being of young people. He called on parents to be aware of the issue.

“We need to make this a safe and caring world for our young people, and to do so we must be aware of what they do virtually, as well as what they do in open view, or we are failing them as a society.

“We are the first generation of parents that has faced this problem so I ask you to get advice from us and others, look online and talk to your sons and daughters about the problems they face and what worries them,” he said.

• See more pictures from the awards ceremony in this week’s Newtownabbey Times, on sale now.