View source for St Louis Grammar School, Ballymena

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2018}}
'''St Louis Grammar School''' is a school in [[Ballymena]], [[Northern Ireland]].
{{Infobox school
| name         = St. Louis Grammar School
| image        =
| image_size         =
| motto        = ''Ut Sint Unum" ('That they may be one')
| established  = 1924
| closed       =
| type         = [[Grammar school|Grammar]] [[foundation school]]
| religious_affiliation     = Catholic
| president    =
| head_label   =  Principal
| head         =  Mrs Jackie O'Neill
| r_head_label =
| r_head       =
| chair_label  =
| chair        =
| founder      = St. Louis Order
| specialist   =
| address       = Cullybackey Road
| city         = [[Ballymena]]
| county       = [[County Antrim|Antrim]]
| country      = [[Northern Ireland]]
| postcode     = BT43 5DW
| local_authority          =
| ofsted       =
| staff        =
| enrolment   = 1093<ref>{{cite web |title=Annual Report 2020-21 |url=http://www.stlouisgrammar.com/uploads/pages/Annual%20Report%20to%20Parents%202020-2021.pdf |website=St Louis Grammar School |access-date=9 June 2022}}</ref>
| gender       = Co-educational
| lower_age    = 11
| upper_age    = 19
| houses       = {{unbulleted list| {{Color box|Yellow}} Laragh|{{Color box|Red}} Layde|{{Color box|Green}} Lisbreen|{{Color box|Blue}} Lismoyle|{{Color box|Orange}} Lurig|{{Color box|White}} [[Lir]] (added in 2021)|{{Color box|Purple}} Lyndon}}
| colours      = {{color box|Blue}} {{colour box|Yellow}}
| publication  =
| free_label_1 =
| free_1       =
| free_label_2 =
| free_2       =
| free_label_3 =
| free_3       =
| website      = http://www.stlouisgrammar.com
}}
==History==
The school was established in 1924 by nuns from the [[Sisters of St. Louis|St. Louis Order]]. For thirty years the school, which was all-girls, was accommodated within the main convent building. With the increase in student numbers it was decided to build a new school which opened in September, 1954. However, the numbers continued to increase and an extension was added in 1969, providing more classrooms and library. In 1970, the school went co-educational and boys were admitted from September 1970.
The numbers continued to increase necessitating additional temporary accommodation. A totally new building was constructed on the site of the all weather pitch and opened in 1982. In 2019, additional performing arts facilities were built.<ref>{{cite web |title=School history |url=http://www.stlouisgrammar.com/about/school-history |website=St Louis Grammar School |access-date=9 June 2022}}</ref>
In 2020, the [[Sisters of St. Louis|St. Louis Order]] transferred ownership of the school to the St MacNissi's Educational Trust of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Down and Connor|Diocese of Down and Connor]].  This trust was established in 2004 and is responsible for 166 schools established by and associated with the parishes of the Diocese of Down and Connor.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Doyle |first1=Simon |title=Sisters of St Louis prepare to hand over ownership and trusteeship of their schools |url=https://www.irishnews.com/news/educationnews/2020/12/23/news/sisters-of-st-louis-prepare-to-hand-over-ownership-and-trusteeship-of-their-schools-2167566/ |access-date=9 June 2022 |work=The Irish News |date=23 December 2020}}</ref>
==School principals==
* –1987: Sister Sheila Canty
* 1987–2002: Mr. John Stuart
* 2002–2011: Mr. Frank Cassidy
* 2011–2021: Mr Sean Rafferty
* 2022–     : Mrs Jackie O'Neill
==House system==
On entry to the school, pupils are assigned to one of seven houses where they remain for the remainder of their time at the school.  Six of these houses are named after townlands in the [[Glens of Antrim]].  The seventh, [[Lir]], which was added in 2021, is named after an ancient Irish sea god.<ref>{{cite web |title=House system |url=http://www.stlouisgrammar.com/curriculum/house-system |website=St Louis Grammar School |access-date=9 June 2022}}</ref>
==Academics==
Besides the [[General Certificate of Secondary Education|GCSE]] core subjects of English/English Literature, Mathematics, Religious Education and Science the following optional GCSE subjects are offered to pupils in Key Stage 4:
Further Mathematics, Art & Design, Business Studies, Construction, Design & Technology, Drama, French, Geography, History, Home Economics, Information & Communication Technology, Irish, Music, Physical Education and Spanish.
Post 16 pupils are offered a choice of 3 or 4 A-Levels.
In the 2018 Belfast Telegraph GCSE League Table, it was ranked joint first in Northern Ireland for its GCSE performance with 100% of its 2016/17 entrants receiving five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C, including the core subjects English and Maths.<ref>{{cite web|title=Belfast Telegraph GCSE 2018|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/education/league-tables/gcse-northern-ireland-school-league-table-2018-36708204.html|accessdate=22 September 2018}}</ref> In the 2019 League Table, it was ranked joint ninth with 99.3 of its GCSE entrants being awarded five or more a* to C grades.<ref>{{cite web|title=Belfast Telegraph GCSE League Table 2019|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/education/league-tables/2019/gcse-northern-ireland-school-league-table-2019-37938646.html|accessdate=30 March 2019}}</ref>
In 2019 it was ranked First among secondary schools in Northern Ireland in terms of its A-level performance for the 2017/18 academic year.  A total of 95.4% of its students entered for A-Levels achieved a grade of A* – C.<ref>{{cite web|title= Belfast Telegraph A-Level: Northern Ireland School League Tables 2019|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/education/league-tables/2019/alevel-northern-ireland-school-league-table-2019-37935474.html|accessdate=21 March 2019}}</ref>
== Competitions, Olympiads and Sports Achievements ==
* Winners of [[Mageean Cup]] (Ulster Colleges' Senior Hurling Championship) 2015/2016 & 2022/2023
* Winners of the [https://www.bmquizzing.com/bmqc BM Quizzing Championships] (NI Schools Quizzing Championships) 2022/2023<ref>{{Cite web |title=Champions2022 |url=https://www.bmquizzing.com/bmqc/champions2022 |access-date=2022-12-09 |website=www.bmquizzing.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Finalists of the [https://www.napce.org.uk/ National Awards for Pastoral Care] 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Awards for Pastoral Care - St Louis Grammar |url=https://stlouisgrammar.com/news/national-awards-for-pastoral-care |access-date=2022-12-09 |website=Main |language=en}}</ref>
* Awarded ‘The Investors in Mental Health Award’ at the Aware NI Investors in Mental Health Awards 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Investors in Mental Health Award - St Louis Grammar |url=https://stlouisgrammar.com/news/investors-in-mental-health-award |access-date=2022-12-09 |website=Main |language=en}}</ref>
==Notable alumni==
* [[Mark Cousins (film critic)|Mark Cousins]] (born 1965) – Filmmaker and critic
* [[Michael O'Neill (footballer)|Michael O'Neill]] (born 1969) – football manager and former professional footballer
* [[Michael Hughes (footballer)|Michael Hughes]] (born 1971) – retired footballer and co-owner of NIFL Premiership side [[Carrick Rangers]].
* [[Daithi McKay]] (born 1982) – [[North Antrim (Assembly constituency)|North Antrim]] [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (Northern Ireland)|MLA]] (2007–2016) and Newspaper columnist.
* Andy O'Boyle (born 1983) - Football director, [[Manchester United F.C.]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Past pupil appointed Manchester United’s Deputy Football Director |url=http://www.stlouisgrammar.com/news/past-pupil-appointed-manchester-uniteds-deputy-football-director-813 |website=St Louis Grammar School |access-date=9 June 2022}}</ref>
* [[Tara McNeill]] (born 1988) – musician
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Louis Grammar School, Ballymena}}
[[Category:Secondary schools in County Antrim]]
[[Category:Grammar schools in County Antrim]]
[[Category:Boys' schools in Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:Catholic secondary schools in Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:1924 establishments in Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1924]]