St Patrick's College, Ballymena

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Non-selective school in Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Websitehttps://stpatricksballymena.com/

St Patrick's College is a Catholic maintained co-educational school located in Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

History

The school was opened on 8 September 1959 by Dr Daniel Mageean, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Down and Connor. It was known then as St Patrick's Voluntary Secondary Intermediate School. As the school grew in size and pupils stayed on post-16, it changed its name to St. Patrick's College offering a broader range of courses.^[2]

College Motto

On the college badge are the letters A.M.D.G.. This is an abbreviation of Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam which can be translated as For the greater glory of God.

Academics

A full range of subjects is offered at GCSE, A-Level and BTEC. At GCSE A-level, the students can choose courses from Applied Art & Design, English, Applied Health & Social Care, History, ICT, Performing Arts, Polish and Religious Studies. As part of the Ballymena Learning Together consortium^[3] of schools students can access optional courses in Applied Business, Chemistry, Environmental Technology, Government & Politics, Engineering, Moving Image Arts, Psychology, Physics, Business Studies, Drama, Geography, Mathematics, Music, and Sociology. They can also access several BTEC courses.^[4]

With the arrival of the children of immigrants from Eastern Europe, the school has appointed Polish teachers and Czech, Romanian and Bulgarian teaching assistants.^[5] Students are now able to take GCSE courses in Polish.

Sports

The students have the opportunity of participating in such sports as badminton, volleyball, Gaelic football, soccer, camogie, and hurling.^[6]

Principals

1959 - 1981 Mr Seamus McCracken
1981 - 1986 Mr P O'Hagan
1986 - 1989 Mr M McCrory
1989 - 1993 Mr D Gillan
1993 - 2004 Mr L Raven
2004 - 2017 Mrs Catherine Magee
2017–2023 Dr Martin Knox.
2023-Present Mr P Fitzpatrick (Acting)

Notable alumni

Liam Neeson - actor^[7]
Brendan Rodgers - footballer and football manager

References

^ "St. Patrick's College". Education Authority. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
^ "About us". St. Patrick's College. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
^ "Learning together in Ballymena". Agenda NI. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
^ "Curriculum". St. Patrick's College. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
^ "Newcomer pupils". St. Patrick's College. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
^ "Extra-curricular". St. Patrick's College.
^ Coleman, Maureen (7 October 2009). "Liam Neeson's special movie for his old Ballymena school". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 24 July 2021.