St. Mary's College in Crosby looked back on a year of success at its annual prize day recently.  Guests at the event at Liverpool's Metropolitan Cathedral heard that over the past 12 months the school has maintained its tradition of academic excellence, strong values and encouraging achievement in a wide range of extra-curricular activities.  

Principal Mike Kennedy took 'achievement of personal excellence' as the theme of his speech, stressing that this can come in many forms.  He pointed out that good examination results and success on the sports field are praiseworthy, but so are making or strengthening friendships, and helping other people to feel more valued.  Addressing the audience he said: "Congratulations to all our prize winners - you have achieved well and with credit.  "But congratulations to everyone at St. Mary's - your values and character are the real achievements being celebrated today."  

Mr Kennedy said that highlights of the year for the school had included excellent results in the summer examinations.  The pass rate at A-Level was 97 per cent, with a rise - to 62 per cent - in the number of successes at the top A*, A and B grades. The GCSE five A*-C grade pass rate was 98 per cent, with around 40 per cent of candidates achieving seven A grades or better.

Two sets of school inspectors had visited St. Mary's during the year and both delivered very positive verdicts. The Independent Schools Inspectorate and the Catholic Archdiocese Inspectors agreed that the quality of education at the school is outstanding.

Another highlight had been the school's success in the Liverpool University Physics Olympiad, which saw St. Mary's win first prize ahead of 28 other top schools from across the North of England.  St. Mary's held its first-ever outdoor Proms in the Park concert in 2011, and there had been significant team successes in rugby, football, netball, hockey and cross country.  Two students had also made their mark in sport at national level - Gavin Griffiths as a member of the England under 19 cricket squad and Daniel Wade as the country's under 15 sailing champion.  Elsewhere, several new clubs and societies had been created to bring the total number of extra-curricular activities on offer at St. Mary's to 44.  

The VIP guest at this year's prize day ceremony was former pupil Tim Quinn who has spent 30 years as a comic book scriptwriter, illustrator and editor.  In this country Tim worked on leading titles like The Beano and The Dandy before heading stateside to work for Marvel Comics on its famous Spider-Man, X-Men and Incredible Hulk publications.  At the end of a well-received, humorous speech Tim had this advice for students: "There is something unique about St. Mary's. Take everything it offers you while you are there. You will find the like in no other school."  Tim Quinn returned to his old school this year to help students create two new school magazines. The first edition of 'Enigma' was launched by students at the senior school last September, whilst this month has seen the launch of 'Rainbow', created by pupils at The Mount, St. Mary's College Preparatory School.