Sacred Heart is top of the class
The Sacred Heart School, Tullamore remains the highest ranked secondary school in Offaly on the Sunday Times Best Schools Guide 2018.
Four schools in Offaly make it into the top 400. The Sacred Heart School, ranked 119, an improvement of 26 places on its 2017 ranking, is the highest ranked secondary school in the county. The others are St. Brendan’s Community School, Birr, Colaiste na Sionna, Banagher and Colaiste Cholm, Tullamore in that order.
A remarkable 90% of the girls who complete their education at the Sacred Heart School go on to third level education. 56% go to university and a further 34% go to other third level colleges.
Only one school in the Midland counties of Offaly, Laois, Longford and Westmeath, Our Lady’s Bower, Athlone, is ranked higher. The Sacred Heart School which is now the seventh highest ranked all girls school in Leinster, outside Dublin.
Acting Principal of the Sacred Heart School, Orla Healy, is pleased that the SHS figures prominently in the list of top schools and is keen to remain grounded and focused on the future.
“We are fortunate in having a great group of talented and committed teachers who are very good at bringing out the very best in our students. Our students are a credit to themselves, their families and the school.
“Secondary education in Ireland is undergoing major change. The new Junior Cycle involves new ways of teaching and learning. We are adapting to that.
“We live in a digital age. Young people are very comfortable with modern technology and in recognition of that we introduced learning devices three years ago. They have become part and parcel of how we teach and learn in our school and we believe will continue to benefit our students as curriculum changes accelerate.
Secondary education is about much more than exam results. “We are delighted that work on the construction of our new sports hall is underway and will be completed in time to put it into use next September," she said.
“I would like to mention a new development we are particularly proud of is the establishment of the Leavy Centre, an ASD Unit. Young people with a diagnosis of Autism can benefit greatly from the extra help at school that enables them to realise their potential to play their full part in society. We now have a special facility in our school that will allow us to play our part in that regard. The extra resources we have been given will be put to good use.
“The past month has been a very difficult time for our school. The sudden death of our esteemed and very talented teacher, Nigel Brennan RIP, shocked and saddened us all. The great support the school has received from the entire Tullamore community has been a great help and a source of strength to us."