“Today is about cherishing our past, celebrating the present and creating our future”, the words of Wallace High School Principal Mrs Deborah O’Hare in her third annual Prize Distribution speech last Friday.
Mrs O’Hare used the occasion to talk about the new challenges and opportunities in school life, as well as praising the high academic standards achieved during the previous academic year: “At GCSE our highest ever pass rate of 97% was achieved. Beth Doherty, Tony Gordon and Anna Greenfield achieved ten A* grades, six students achieved nine A* grades and thirty nine students had the equivalent of eight A* grades in points. The increase in overall pass rate saw the school’s highest ever levels of achievement in grades A* to B also.”
“At A’ Level 13% of grades awarded were at A* with approaching 70% of all grades at A*, A and B. Thirty three young people in A’ Level achieved the equivalent of three A grades in points.”
Mrs O’Hare also thanked outgoing Vice Principal Dr James Napier and other members of staff who have departed Wallace, namely, Mrs Jane Wheavil, Mrs Lyn Ryan, Mrs Nichola Watson, Miss Grace Bill, Miss Ross Farr, Mrs Edna Agnew and the two school nurses Mrs Margaret McCann and Mrs Zoe Glasgow, as well as welcoming new members of staff.
She reflected on a busy year inside the classroom with the introduction of iPads for learning at Key Stage 3, as well as the many achievements outside the classroom in Music, Drama, Public Speaking, Young Enterprise, World Challenge and also on the sports field where Wallace have three former pupils in the Ulster rugby squad and where the girls’ 1st X1 hockey team reached the Schoolgirls’ Cup Final for the first time, losing narrowly to Lurgan College on penalty strokes. The large crowd also enjoyed her reflecting on Comic Relief Day where Year 14 pupil Aaron Ritchie took on the role of Principal for the Day and helped the school raise a superb £3000.
The Chairman of the Board of Governors, Mr Graham Sutton, gave a warm welcome to guests, pupils, past pupils, staff, parents and friends of the school and a particular welcome to the Guest of Honour, Mrs Julie Anne Bailie of Lyle Bailie International. He congratulated the pupils on their achievements and commended the quality of teaching and support staff at the school. He concluded by praising the Association for Quality Education who have “worked unstintingly to provide us with the means to continue with a selection process which is essential for the future of our grammar school system.”
Mrs Bailie, a former Wallace pupil and Executive Creative Director of Lyle Bailie International, presented prizes to last year’s Upper Sixth and GCSE students and also addressed the large crowd in the Assembly Hall.
After the conclusion of the formal proceedings, guests and prize winners were invited to stay for tea and coffee where Mrs O’Hare commented: “Students, parents, staff and governors have very much enjoyed celebrating the success of the young people present as well as taking pride in the professional successes of Julie Anne Bailie.”
After the conclusion of the formal proceedings, guests and prize winners were invited to stay for tea and coffee where Mrs O’Hare commented: “Students, parents, staff and governors have very much enjoyed celebrating the success of the young people present as well as taking pride in the professional successes of Julie Anne Bailie.”
Last modified: November 13, 2011
