Sacred Heart Grammar School Explained

Sacred Heart Grammar School
Coordinates:54.1887°N -6.3277°W
Motto:Deus Meus et Omnia (My God and my all)
Established:1930
Type:Grammar School
Religious Affiliation:Roman Catholic
Head Label:Principal
Head:Shane Comer
Founders:Sisters of St. Clare
Address:10 Ashgrove Avenue
City:Newry
County:County Down
Country:Northern Ireland
Postcode:BT34 1PR
Local Authority:Education Authority (Southern)
Enrolment:855
Gender:Girls
Lower Age:11
Upper Age:18
Colours:Dark green, light green & gold   
Website:http://www.shsnewry.com/

Sacred Heart Grammar School, Newry, County Down, Northern Ireland, is a grammar school with 855 students and 51 full-time teachers. Established in 1930 by the Sisters of St. Clare.[1] It is one of Northern Ireland’s top grammar schools.

Brief history

The school was established in 1930 by the Sisters of St. Clare on a site adjacent to the Poor Clare Convent in Castle Street, Newry.[2] Due to steady expansion of student numbers the school rapidly outgrew the original six classrooms and by the 1980s teaching required over 30 mobile classrooms.

The school relocated to a new state-of-the-art complex at Ashgrove, Newry in 1985. It now occupies a 17acres site on the Northern side of the city and has views of the Mourne Mountains to the East. It was formally opened by Mr J. Parkes, the then Permanent Secretary to the Department of Education. A further Science and Technology Block was opened in 1997 by Mr J. Smith, Assistant Secretary to the Department.

Academics

The school offers instruction in a full range of subjects through to A-level. 84.2% of its students who sat the A-level exams in 2017/18 were awarded three A*-C grades.[3] In 2018 it was ranked 19th in Northern Ireland for its GCSE performance with 98.4% of its entrants receiving five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C, including the core subjects English and Maths.[4]

Activities and Clubs

In addition to these, there is also a wide range of educational visits, expeditions and field trips.

Musicals and Operas

There is a strong tradition of musicals within Sacred Heart dating back to 1956; recent productions have been:

Principals

No. Name Tenure
1 Angela Chambers1930–1932
2Sr. Marie Celine Turley1932–1954
3Sr. Teresa Mary Fitzpatrick1954–1961
4Sr. Imelda Fahy1961-1965
5Sr. Máire O'Hara1965-1972
6Sr. Anne Thérèse O'Shea1972-1977
7Sr. Mark Hollywood1977-1989
8Sr. Patricia Rogers1989-2000
9Sr. Julie McGoldrick2000-2017
10Paul Kane2017-2022
11Shane Comer2022-present

Notable former pupils

References

  1. Web site: Sisters of St. Clare. 12 November 2019.
  2. Web site: Newry Cathedral Parish - Sisters of St. Clare. 12 November 2019.
  3. Web site: Belfast Telegraph A-Level: Northern Ireland School League Tables 2019. 21 March 2019.
  4. Web site: Belfast Telegraph GCSE 2018. 22 September 2018.

External links