County Derry School declared best in Northern Ireland

A County Derry school has been declared the top secondary school in Northern Ireland in this year's
'Parent Power' list by The Sunday Times.
St Mary's Grammar School, Magherafelt achieved top spot in the ranking which saw two other County
Derry schools reach the top 10.
Parent Power uses grades achieved by pupils to deliver what they call 'the definitive guide to secondary
schools'.
New principal of St Mary’s, Paul McClean says although he is ‘delighted’ with the accolade, grades are
not his number one goal.
“More important than any set of grades or access to university is leaving St Mary’s with a value system
that sets pupils up for life,” he said.
“It is about respect for others and respect for themselves. There are so many challenges and competing
priorities in young peoples’ lives that the safety and support of parents and schools working closely
together is a necessary element to each pupil reaching their potential.”
The strength of relationships between parents, pupils and teachers and the wider community is key to the
school’s success. No more so than when they gather on the sidelines to cheer on sports teams.
St Mary’s was joined in the list's top 10 by Rainey Endowed School also in Magherafelt and Lumen
Christi College in Derry city.
The ranking is determined by the percentage of exam entrants who achieve A* to B grades at A-level and
the percentage of who achieve A* and A grades, and 9, 8 and 7, at GCSE and iGCSE.
A-level grades are given double weighing.
St Mary's Grammar School in Magherafelt ranked 34 in the whole of the UK. It achieved 92.3% A* to B
grades at A-level and 72.1% in A*/A/8/7 in GCSE and iGCSE.
Lumen Christi College in Derry City ranked 49 in the UK. It achieved 86.6% A* to B grades at A-level
and 77.8 in A*/A/8/7 in GCSE and iGCSE.
Rainey Endowed School, Magherafelt ranked 68 in the UK. It achieved 86.1% A* to B grades in A-level
and 66.9% in A*/A/8/7 in GCSE and iGCSE.
Northern Ireland had seven grammar schools ranked in the top 50 in the UK.
This year was the 30th edition of Parent Power. It is now an online database with more than 1,600 schools
by name, local authority, town and postcode.