St Mary’s College in Crosby reported another excellent year at its annual prize day event this week. Guests at the ceremony at Liverpool’s Metropolitan Cathedral heard that the school had maintained its tradition of both academic excellence and encouraging achievement in a wide range of sports and other extra-curricular activities.

Principal Jean Marsh explained that the school had received an excellent inspection report from the Independent Schools Council during the summer, and that this year’s examination results had been particularly pleasing.99 per cent of St Mary’s pupils achieved five A-C grades at GCSE, with 41 per cent of passes at A* or A grade. At A level the St Mary’s pass rate was also 99 per cent, with 58 per cent of passes at A or B grade.

Mrs Marsh also praised pupils for their other achievements in activities as diverse as sport, music, public speaking, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards, the Combined Cadet Force and charity fundraising.  The college’s special achievement award for 2007 was presented to James Boon from Wigan who had been recognised during the year as the top RAF cadet in the country.  The VIP guest at the prize day ceremony was Professor Gerald Pillay, Vice-Chancellor of Liverpool Hope University College.  In his address, Professor Pillay praised St Mary’s College for its educational values. He said that real education was not about setting targets but nurturing the mind, the body and the soul.  He pointed to three high achievers whose faith had been as important, or more so, than their educational attainment - Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela.

Commenting on the last 12 months Principal Jean Marsh said:  ‘We can look back on a year of real achievement by our pupils in a wide range of activities.  This is further evidence of the success of the St Mary’s approach to education which is to focus on helping pupils to discover their individual talents and to work with them to develop these talents to the full’.

Jean Marsh is pictured above with James Boon and (left to right) Professor Pillay, St. Mary’s Chairman of Governors Harry Hitchen and Head of Sixth Form Daniel Magill.

 
   

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