St Mary’s College has started the school year with new faces at the helm at both staff and student level.

The college’s new Principal is 47-year-old Michael Kennedy from Southport who takes up his role in Crosby from a similar position at Oakhill College, a Roman Catholic co-educational school at Whalley near Clitheroe.

Ormskirk-born Mr Kennedy is the third lay head of St Mary’s which was founded by the Christian Brothers in 1919.

He is a Liverpool University graduate in chemistry and management who began his teaching career at St Thomas More Catholic College in Stoke-on-Trent, before going on to become a teacher and House Master at Stonyhurst College, the well-known Lancashire boarding school.

He moved to St Anselm’s College in Birkenhead in 1994 and had risen to become Deputy Head of the school when he moved to Oakhill College in 2006.

St Mary’s has also appointed a new Head Boy and Head Girl following the normal in-depth selection process at the college.

Initially staff nominate around 30 pupils who they feel should be considered for the roles. Then staff and sixth formers are invited to cast their votes to produce a shortlist of eight.

The final selection is then made on the basis of interviews with the candidates conducted by the Principal and Head of Sixth Form.

New Head Boy Peter Murphy, from Southport, has been recognised for making a very significant contribution to many areas of college life, in particular with the School Council and Chaplaincy Team.  He is aiming to study maths and business at university.

Meanwhile, new Head Girl Alexandra McKenna from Crosby has been selected for playing a similarly important role at St Mary’s, especially in music and the Chamber Choir.  She wants to study medicine at university.

Michael Kennedy commented: “The start of the new school year is a very exciting time for Peter, Alexandra and myself.

“We are all looking forward to building on the proud traditions of St Mary’s and ensuring that this year, as always, is one of notable achievement in all areas of school life.”

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