St Mary's College reported another excellent year at its annual prize day event.  Guests at the ceremony at Liverpool's Metropolitan Cathedral heard that the school - which will be 90 years old next year - has maintained its tradition of both academic excellence and encouraging achievement in a wide range of sports and other extra-curricular activities.  New Principal Michael Kennedy, making his first prize day speech, stressed that the role of St Mary's was to equip children with both skills for life and the values they need to guide their lives.  He said this year's public examination results had been very pleasing.  At A level the pass rate was 98.4 per cent, with 55 per cent of passes at A or B grade.  At GCSE level, the 96 per cent pass rate included six pupils who had gained nine A* passes or better.

Left to right: Head Boy, Guest Speaker, Principal, Chair of Governors and Head Girl

Mr Kennedy also praised pupils for their other achievements in activities as diverse as sport, music, drama, public speaking, the Duke of Edinburgh's Awards, the Combined Cadet Force and charity fundraising.  In doing so, he also thanked the school's staff for the commitment and dedication, over and above their teaching roles, which made such a wide-ranging programme of activities possible.  The VIP guest at the prize day ceremony was linguist, academic and author David Crystal, a former pupil of the school, who is Honorary Professor of Linguistics at the University of Wales.  Professor Crystal has written more than 100 books on a wide range of subjects including linguistic diversity, Shakespeare's language and the application of linguistics in an internet context.  In a witty speech Professor Crystal reflected on the impact of new technology on language including Google, blogging and texting. 

Mr Kennedy commented: "Prize day gives us the opportunity to celebrate the successes of our pupils over the past 12 months.  However, what is particularly striking is not only the number of such achievements, but their range and variety.  These successes, are I believe, further evidence of the success of the St Mary's approach to education which is to focus on creating well balanced and rounded individuals with the personal skills and confidence to make their mark in the world."