Sporting star is VIP guest as St. Mary’s College salutes achievements of pupils at cathedral event

19 Dec 2022

A former student who has gone on to enjoy remarkable sporting success was the VIP guest when St. Mary’s College celebrated the achievements of pupils at its annual Prize Giving Ceremony recently.

Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral was the spectacular setting for the event which saw the school welcoming Ruth Mwandumba, the current English target shooting champion and British record holder in the Olympic sport.

Ruth is an excellent example of someone who took part in a wide range of activities while at St. Mary’s, including the Combined Cadet Force where she discovered her interest in – and talent for – shooting.

In a passionate and inspirational speech, Ruth focused on the theme of participation and the importance of pupils taking advantage of all the opportunities that come their way.

Addressing students she said: “Every single one of you has something that you’re good at, and every single one of you has something to offer.

“You all have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That’s the opportunity that an education at St. Mary’s can provide.”

Elsewhere during a busy evening Principal Mike Kennedy rounded up the highlights of the last year at St. Mary’s, telling guests that the school had again maintained its tradition of both academic excellence and encouraging achievement in music, drama, sport and many other extracurricular activities. Mr Kennedy reported that St. Marys’ had enjoyed another successful summer in terms of public examinations, recording ‘fantastic results’ including, for example, a quarter of GCSE candidates achieving ten grade 7 (previously A grade) passes or better.

On the sports field the school’s under 18 rugby squad won the Lancashire Plate, the under 14 netball team finished the season as champions of the Sefton league and the school’s under 12 and under 14 football teams both reached the semi-final of the FA smalls schools national cup competition.

Meanwhile, there was individual sporting success for pupils at regional and national level in sports as diverse as hockey and table tennis.

The year also saw the return, after Covid, of the school’s normally annual concert at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, which saw more than 200 pupils demonstrate their musical skills on the famous stage.

Elsewhere in his speech Mr Kennedy highlighted the wide range of extracurricular activities at St. Mary’s – more than 40 a week – ranging from a book club and chess and war games clubs to the Combined Cadet Force and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

There was also praise from the Principal for staff, governors and parents for their contributions to life at the college during the year, and the many successes highlighted during the ceremony.

However, Mr Kennedy also mentioned an event which had cast a long shadow over the school in recent months – the sudden death of Year 11 pupil, Euan McNamara.

He commented: “It is a testament to Euan as a person and to his character that so many members of our community were so deeply moved by his death, and feel his absence so greatly. We will miss him, and not forget his contribution to St. Mary’s. May he rest in peace.”

Returning to his main theme Mr Kennedy concluded: “To all our prizewinners at this event I say congratulations – you have achieved very well and with great credit.

“But at the same time I also want to extend hearty congratulations to all the members of the St. Mary’s community – it is your values, your character, your initiative and your community cohesiveness that are the real achievements being celebrated this evening.”