THE new principal of St. Michael’s College has admitted that he has taken up the reins at the Enniskillen school during a time of “significant challenge and change” in the local education sector.

Giving his first prize giving night address since taking up the post this summer, Mark Henry said he felt “extremely privileged” to have been afforded the opportunity to lead the school, but conceded that there were challenges ahead.

He said: “Declining budgets and empty desks in post primary schools across Northern Ireland have resulted in the Department of Education embarking on a strategy of rationalisation to reduce costs. Fermanagh won’t be spared in this process.

“It is my express wish that through working together with my colleagues in the other Catholic post primary schools in Enniskillen we are able to deliver a solution which puts the needs of all of our young people first. It is also absolutely critical to ensure that the needs of the Catholic community across County Fermanagh remain to the fore.

“In the meantime, however long this process might take, St. Michael’s will remain as an academically selective Catholic Diocesan Voluntary Grammar School for boys from all of County Fermanagh and neighbouring parts of Tyrone.”

Praising the college’s continuing academic success, Mr Henry said the core business of any school was to provide its students with the opportunity to excel.

Describing the GCSE results as “outstanding”, he said: “Twenty-five students achieved seven A grades or better, 10 students achieved 10 A grades or better and two students each achieved 10 A*s. In fact nearly 40 per cent of all the grades awarded to our students were A* or A.

“One student has the distinction of coming first in NI in GCSE Geography, joint first in NI in GCSE further Maths and third in GCSE mathematics – a truly remarkable achievement for Conor Owens.”

The principal said it was also important to highlight the achievements of the 2016 A Level students.

“Seventy-six per cent of them achieved A* to C in three or more subjects. Over two thirds of all the grades awarded were grade B or better with more than one third of all the grades awarded A or A*,” he said.

Mr Henry told the assembled guests that a partnership that has been established between the school and Quinn Industrial Holdings was a “significant development” which would bring many benefits.

“All successful partnerships are mutually beneficial and this one has the potential to pay huge dividends to, not only the young people in this school and Quinn Industrial Holdings but to the local economy and by extension the communities which both St. Michael’s and Quinn Industrial Holdings serve,” he said.

Acknowledging that school should not just be about the academic, Mr Henry also highlighted the success of the St. Michael’s cross-country team at Ulster level as well as the continuing fundraising efforts being made by the students.

He recognised the “integral role” played by parents in their child’s education. “St. Michael’s College cannot take all the credit for what our pupils achieve and become. Whilst we can be proud of their achievements and take pride in watching them develop and grow as young men – at the end of the day they are your sons – and you should be very proud of them.

“We want your sons to work, to achieve and to progress but most importantly we want them to be happy here and by and large I think they are,” Mr Henry said.

On the night, musical entertainment was provided before the prize giving ceremony by St. Michael’s College Brass Band.

This year’s guest speaker was Rosslea man, Peter McGinnity, a former pupil and teacher at St. Michael’s and accomplished Gaelic footballer who captained Fermanagh at all levels. “I have enjoyed coaching at school, club and county level and I must say that experience has shaped how I interact with people. The GAA and Gaelic football in particular is now a way of life for me. It is second in importance only to my family,” Mr McGinnity said. Meanwhile, the school’s Head Boy, Tiarnan Bogue, also addressed the audience, before the chairman of the Board of Governors, Monsignor Joseph McGuinness, made his closing remarks.