Senior Prize Day 2026

The Wallace High School community came together to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our pupils at this year’s Senior Prize Day. Traditionally held in December, the event was moved to the first full week of the new term, providing an opportunity to recognise and celebrate success at the very beginning of the academic year.

Prize Day 2026

The proceedings began with opening remarks from Chairman of the Board of Governors, Mr Neil Lucas, who reflected on the school’s ability to embrace change and thrive in new circumstances. This year’s event featured an inspiring address from Wallace alumna Hilary McGrady CBE, exceptional musical performances from pupils and reflections on a remarkable year for the school community. It was a fitting celebration of talent, dedication and achievement, honouring both our prize winners and the wider contributions of pupils across all aspects of school life.

Principal’s Address

Wallace High School’s Senior Prize Day celebrated a remarkable year of achievement across academic, sporting, creative and leadership endeavours. Mrs Reid noted that while Prize Day recognises excellence, it also reminds us that “success takes many forms” and reflects the journey of pupils as they “discover their interests, develop their talents and begin to find the pathway that is right for them.” Academic results were excellent, with 94% of A Level grades awarded at A*-C and 96% of pupils achieving five or more GCSE grades at A*-C.

The report also highlighted extensive success in the arts, STEM, languages, sport, leadership and service, showcasing the breadth of opportunities available at Wallace. Reflecting on the year’s achievements, Mrs Reid described pupils as carrying “many possibilities, interests and talents” and praised the “character, confidence and commitment” demonstrated throughout the school community. She concluded by expressing confidence in the future and pride in all that pupils have accomplished.

Guest Speaker and Wallace Alumna

We were delighted to have Hilary McGrady CBE as our guest speaker for Senior Prize Day. Hilary left Wallace in 1984 to attend Art College, where she studied Graphic Design. This pathway led her into marketing, where she was responsible for a number of arts and business initiatives. She joined the National Trust in 2006 as the Regional Director for Northern Ireland. In March 2018, Hilary began her role as Director-General of the Trust. The National Trust is the largest conservation charity in Europe and has over 5.5 million members.

During her engaging and personal address, Hilary informed everyone that she had never set out to become the Director-General of the National Trust. Rather, she was an aspiring artist with ambitions to take this passion further. She told our pupils that, at their stage, “it’s okay not to know where you are going”. She encouraged them to “know what you are good at and lean into it”, to be willing to “take risks”, and to understand that not all risks work out, but that young people should “be willing to fail”.

Her talk inspired our Leavers and Year 13 pupils to “be curious”, to “invest in themselves”, and to “become resilient”. She went on to explain that success, for her, has been about how you work with other people and being genuinely invested in their success.

She concluded with a quote from Dolly Parton: “If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.”

Music Rises to the Occasion at Senior Prize Day

As Chairman of the Board of Governors, Mr Neil Lucas noted in his opening remarks that The Wallace High School excels at embracing change. The move of Senior Prize Day from December to the first full week of term presented a challenge for our musicians, but also a valuable opportunity. The newly formed Honours Choir rose superbly to the occasion, mastering a six-part arrangement of That Lonesome Road by James Taylor in a remarkably short space of time. The beautiful tenor lines sung by Charlotte (Charlie) Nicolls and Sam Norris were complemented by the resonant bass notes of Year 12 pupil Joel Moore. The 2026/27 Honours Choir is already proving to be an exceptional ensemble, and we look forward to hearing them again at the Carol Concert on 9 December.

It was a busy day for Head Girl Lauryn Harper. Her responsibilities included greeting guests, delivering a speech, presenting gifts and, as a member of the Honours Choir, performing as part of the musical programme. In addition, Lauryn performed one of Chopin’s most demanding piano works, Fantaisie-Impromptu in C sharp minor, Op. 66. This achievement is a testament to the dedication, stamina and musical maturity required to perform such a demanding piece. That she did so with such apparent ease and musicality reflects her exceptional ability and accomplishments as a musician.

Ben Falconer, the current Lisburn and Castlereagh Young Artist of the Year, demonstrated why he is such a worthy ambassador for jazz through his captivating performance of Misty by Erroll Garner. Accompanied by his father, Mr Falconer, Ben opened with a short cadenza before showcasing the full range of the clarinet, from its soaring upper register to its rich lower tones. His performance thoroughly captivated the audience. We are extremely fortunate to have heard two such outstanding young musicians and look forward to seeing what they achieve in the year ahead.

Coming Together and Celebrating as a Community

Following the award ceremony, pupils, staff and parents came together to celebrate the achievements and successes of our young people over refreshments and sweet treats. It was a wonderful opportunity for the Wallace community to reflect on a year of hard work, dedication and accomplishment, while sharing in the pride of all that our pupils have achieved.

We extend our warmest congratulations to all prize winners and wish our Leavers every success and happiness as they begin the next chapter of their journey. They leave Wallace with much to be proud of, and we look forward to seeing all they will accomplish in the years ahead.

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