Cookstown High School
Coordinates: 54°38′35″N 6°44′13″W / 54.643°N 6.737°W
| Students | 900 (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Location | Cookstown, Northern Ireland |
| Website | http://www.cookstownhighschool.org |
Cookstown High School is a combined High School and Grammar School in Northern Ireland. It is one of the largest in the area, falling within the Southern Education and Library Board area.
Site
The school is situated on the Coolnafranky site in Cookstown. This site is one of the largest in Northern Ireland and contains the two artificial turf pitches used by the school and by Cookstown Hockey Club. It is the only school in Northern Ireland to have two full sized hockey pitches (one sand based, one water based).
The school has five: main buildings:
- Block 1: The 'Upper' Building, housing the Technology, ICT, Art, English, History, Religious Education, Physical Education, Home Economics, Geography, Business Studies and Health and Social Care Departments.
- Block 2: The Morrison (Middle) Building - General Office, Principal's and Vice-Principals' offices, 2 school restaurants, the Music Department and the Sixth Form Centre, comprising a common room and study areas.
- Block 3: The 'Lower' Building - Modern Languages (French, German, Spanish), Maths, and Biology and Physics departments.
- Block 4: The Learning Support Unit and changing rooms for the pitches.
- Block 5: New Science Building (Chemistry Block).
Motto
The school's motto is "Virtus Cum Scientia" which means "character through knowledge". The school hymn is "Lead Me, Lord, Lead Me in Thy Righteousness" by Samuel Sebastian Wesley.
Principals
- Canon Wilfred Young O.B.E. (1971–1991)[1]
- Dr Samuel McGuinness (1991–1997)
- Mr Keith Hamilton (Acting Principal) (1997–1998)
- Mr Barry Freestone (1998–2006)
- Mrs Adele Sloan (2007-2013).[2]
- Mr Graham Montgomery (2015–)
Magazine
Every year Cookstown High releases a publication chronicling the successes of the school, changes within the teaching staff and any significant achievements by the school's pupils. The Editorial Team is led by Mrs Nicola Hagan, who is assisted by a number of pupils. Reports and pictures are included of the Year 8 pupils, Year 13+14 pupils and of all pupils' academic, social and sporting achievements in the school, including the concert band and choirs.
For the school year 2006-2007, the style of the magazine was reverted to its original A4 size, which had been abandoned in 2003.
Sport
Sports offered at the school include football, netball, hockey, rugby union, cross-country running and athletics.
The school is known for its preference for Hockey. In previous seasons (notably 2008–09), the 1st XI have won the McCullough Cup and Burney Cup, both for the second year running, beating Sullivan Upper and Banbridge Academy in the finals respectively. However the boys lost their Irish Schools crown after losing 3-2 to St. Andrews College, Dublin. They were to avenge this defeat at the end of season inaugural John Waring All Ireland Schoolboys Championships, when they defeated St. Andrews College in the final by 2 goals to nil.
In 2007-08, the boy's first team won the All Ireland Schoolboys Hockey Championship when they defeated the holders Banbridge Academy by four goals to two in the final.[3][4] This was followed six weeks later by a penalty shoot-out victory over the same opponents in the Final of the McCullough Cup.[5] The boys capped a terrific season by completing the treble by winning the Burney Cup against Royal & Prior. This marked the first season the school had achieved this feat.
In the 2006-2007 season, the boys first team reached the semi-final of both the McCullough Cup and the All Ireland Schoolboys Hockey Championship, and the final of the Burney Cup.
Prize Day
Prize Day is a tradition within the school, where those pupils who have excelled in their studies, are formally congratulated and rewarded on their successes.
Typically held in the third or fourth week of the new school year, it celebrates those who have excelled in their Year 8, Year 9, Year 10, Year 11, GCSE, AS and A-Level studies, along with those who have surpassed themselves when it comes to sporting achievements and contributions to school life.
Notable former pupils
- Stuart Dallas winger, attacking midfielder for Brentford and Northern Ireland football teams.
- Fulham FC and Northern Ireland central defender and captain Aaron Hughes.
- William McKeown, painter, who exhibited at the 51st Venice Biennale)[6] in 2005.
- Nick Laird, novelist.
- Ernest Walton (1903–1995); Nobel Prize in Physics (1951); known for his part in "splitting the atom".
- Jimmy Kennedy, OBE (1902–1984); songwriter and lyricist.
- Sir Allen McClay, pharmacist and entrepreneur.
- Nigel Eccles, CEO of FanDuel.
Sources
- ↑ "Church of Ireland Press Release citing Mr Young's educational record". Retrieved 2007-04-09.
- ↑ "Mid Ulster Today report of appointment". Retrieved 2007-04-09.
- ↑ "Belfast Newsletter Report on 2007-08 All Ireland Schoolboys hockey final". Retrieved 2007-10-27.
- ↑ "Irish Hockey Association News Report on 2007-08 final". Retrieved 2007-10-27.
- ↑ "BBC Sport 2007-08 McCullough Cup Final Report". BBC News. 2007-12-12. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
- ↑ "Northern Ireland Arts Council press release about The Nature of Things, an exhibition of painters from Northern Ireland" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-07-09.