St Columb's named 'School of the Year' at NSPCC Awards

By Chloe St John

A primary school in Mid-Ulster has received a prestigious award at the NSPCC’s annual Childhood Champions Awards in London.

St Columb’s Primary which has around 90 pupils, was selected both as School of the Year for Northern Ireland and as the overall award winner, having been nominated by an NSPCC staff member.

The school is based the foothills of Slieve Gallion in the rural Desertmartin area, and has only around 90 pupils.

In her nomination for the school, Lisa Norris, NSPCC Schools Service Advisor wrote:

“From my initial meeting with Patricia Carr, Acting Principal, to being asked to join staff for beautiful refreshments after assembly, I was welcomed into the community that is St Columb's primary school.

“The school kindly supported NSPCC with fundraising and it was with pleasure that I attended their presentation assembly last month [where] a number of children shared their thoughts & reflections on their experience of NSPCC in their school - an experience that was heart-warming and motivating for me!”

Representatives of the school were handed the award by HRH The Countess Of Wessex, the NSPCC’s patron at a special reception at Banking Hall in London last week.

Reflecting on the school’s achievement, Patricia Carr, Acting Principal commented:

“The school and the wider community have been overjoyed to receive this marvellous accolade.

“For a small rural school like ours to have been recognized not only regionally, but nationally is nothing short of incredible. We feel like we could squeal from the top of Slieve Gallion at how proud we are of our incredible community of staff and pupils.”

The school will be marking their achievement with a special assembly and Fun Day on Tuesday 12^th June where they will be joined by representatives of Mid Ulster Council and the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS).