St Ronan's College Explained

St. Ronan's College
Motto:Pro Omnibus Excellentia (Excellence for all)
Type:Voluntary Grammar
Religious Affiliation:Catholic
Head Label:Principal
Head:Fiona Kane
Address:Francis Street
City:Lurgan
County:County Armagh
Country:Northern Ireland
Postcode:BT66 6DL
Local Authority:Education Authority (Southern)[1]
Staff:70
Enrolment:1743[2]
Gender:Mixed
Lower Age:11
Upper Age:18
Website:https://stronanslurgan.org.uk/

St Ronan's College (Irish: Colaiste Naomh Ronan) is a voluntary grammar school located in Lurgan, County Armagh, Northern Ireland.

History

The college formed on 1 September 2015 when the three single-sex schools in Lurgan combined: St Paul’s Junior High School, St Mary’s High School and St Michael’s Grammar School. The college initially operated on three sites but in 2021 work began on a new single building on a 36-acre site at Cornakinnegar Road. The total investment on this new building will be £30million. Students will move into the new facility in 2025.[3] It is anticipated that the new college building will accommodate 1750 pupils.[4]

Facilities

The new school will provide greatly enhanced facilities. Besides general classrooms the new school will have specialist rooms for art, science, drama, technology, music, business studies, ICT, home economics and careers. There will also be a sixth form centre, a canteen/dining room, a multi-purpose hall and a library.[5] There will be a range of sporting facilities including grass and synthetic football pitches, a multi-purpose sports hall, a gymnasium/hall and a fitness suite.[6] [7]

Classrooms in the college are currently named after one of seventeen different saints: Gemma, Brigid, Teresa, Elizabeth, Rita, Joseph, John, Paul, Anthony, Mary, Michael, Bernadette, Catherine, Clare, Cecilia, Francis and Peter.[8]

Academics

The full range of subjects is offered. At GCSE A-level, the students can choose from Art & Design, Government & Politics, Biology, Health & Life Science, Physics, Business Studies, Health & Social Care, Religious Studies, Chemistry, History, Spanish, Design & Technology, Home Economics, Sport Studies, Drama & Theatre Studies, Digital Technology, Sociology, Economics, Irish, and Software Systems Development, Engineering and Law. The Education and Training Inspectorate of the college, just one year after it opened, described its achievements and standards as good.[9]

Awards

The Duais na Dúthrachta Award (Dedication Award) is awarded each year by the Board of Governors to the member of staff or pupils who have demonstrated exceptional performance.[10]

In 2021, the college was awarded almost €90,000 in Erasmus+ funding to run a Key Action 2 Strategic Partnership for Schools project with partner schools in France, Italy, Germany, Greece and Austria.[11]

See also

References

54.4617°N -6.3478°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: St. Ronan's College . Education Authority . 21 July 2021.
  2. Web site: Post-primary enrolments 2021-2022 . Department of Education Northern Ireland . 9 May 2022.
  3. News: Work begins on £30m rebuild of St Ronan’s College in Lurgan . 21 July 2021 . Belfast telegraph . 25 February 2021.
  4. Web site: Works starts on £30m new build of St. Ronan's College, Lurgan . Portadown Times . 21 July 2021.
  5. Web site: St Ronan's College . Design Quality Indicator . 21 July 2021.
  6. News: Work begins on £30m rebuild of St Ronan’s College in Lurgan . 21 July 2021 . Belfast telegraph . 25 February 2021.
  7. Web site: Prospectus . St Ronan's College . 21 July 2021.
  8. Web site: Prospectus . St Ronan's College . 21 July 2021.
  9. Web site: St. Ronan's College 2016 . Education and Training Inspectorate . 21 July 2021.
  10. Web site: Prospectus . St Ronan's College . 21 July 2021.
  11. News: Helping St Ronan's College develop digital skills . 21 July 2021 . Erasmus Plus.