Author: Caroline Payne

“Read On” 2025

Pupils in Years 8 & 9 recently took part in our annual Read-On event to raise money for Cancer Fund for Children.

Well done to all our readers – we raised an amazing £4104.65!

Congratulations to Jenna’s and her team who won the Gaynor Cup Shield placing 3rd out of 27 teams. Unfortunately Jenna sustained an injury early on, but continued to participate in helping the coaches with training and on the sidelines.  

Well done Jenna!

On Monday 2^nd June 2025, the Board of Governors of Saintfield High School met with Mr Mervyn Storey, Chair to the Board of the Education Authority NI, alongside Principal, Miss Sarah-Lucy Hynds, and Vice Principal, Mrs Victoria Derby, to discuss the future development of the school. 

Saintfield High School has been consecutively oversubscribed for more than thirty years with demand rising to 91% above the approved Admissions number for Year 8 enrolment. Currently, for the next academic year, the school is oversubscribed by 66%, and 47% on first preference applications alone. 

Although the school has been granted a temporary variation to enrolment for the last four academic years (including for 2025-2026), Miss Hynds stated that ‘a permanency to a change in approved admissions and overall enrolment must be granted with urgency – for over thirty years Saintfield High School has not been permitted to meet the needs of its community on a permanent basis. Our temporary variations have made a significant impact upon our families within the wider area, but we must be able to grow permanently to cement this impact for the benefits of the young people we serve’. 

Miss Hynds added that, ‘it is an exciting time in Saintfield High School’s history…for the new academic year we have our highest enrolment yet, and our school community simply goes from strength to strength – the Department of Education NI and the Education Authority NI recognise and understand this, and now is the time for action’. 

It is clear that the Saintfield High School community can continue to look forward to a very bright future, indeed.

A big thank you to the following pupils for their dedication to the Music Department during their time at Saintfield High School:-

Emma Pentland, as a keen soloist and trumpet player, as she leaves to go to a new school.

Erin Hillier and Connor Rainey for 5 years devoted service in the school band on trumpet and saxophone.

Marni Cullen for 5 years singing with the choir and all her lovely solos in our events.

James Gallagher for his drum skills during his 5 years at Saintfield High School.

Congratulations to James Gallagher who passed his Grade 5 Drums examination, with merit.

Well done James.

Our remarkable Vice Principal Mrs. Derby, was asked to contribute to the ‘Life at the Crossroads’ Mission hosted by Annalong Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Derby is a true inspiration to all of us within our school community, & we are in no doubt that her words will have resonated with so many.

Our Year 10 students visited Stormont today and took part in a session to learn more about the role of the Assembly and how laws are made.

Congratulations to Katie on her successes at Balmoral Show last week.

Katie’s results were :-

Reserve intermediate junior handler in pigs

3rd in turnout and condition with Joey the donkey

Reserve juvenile in cavy classes

1st and 2nd in lop rabbit class.

Well done Katie!