Shimna News - Easter 2026

Dear Parents & Carers,

This term has gone by quickly, and we’re so grateful for the continued support of our families. As ever at Shimna, it’s always satisfying to look back and reflect on how much good work has been done - and the great things that have happened. It has included the Year 12 mocks; interviews with Years 10, 12, 13 and 14; and the commencement of the options process, including the Subject Fair.

Other highlights have included: a programme of activities related to Children’s Mental Health Week; the PSNI Road Safe event, with our Sixth Form joined by their peers from Kilkeel High and St Louis Grammar; great performances and results for girls’ and boys’ sports teams; the brilliant Talent Show; the NIBTS blood donation day; and, as usual, the wide variety of enriching extra-curricular and worthwhile charitable activities.

The introduction of epraise at the start of the year has proven to be a big success, providing greater visibility to student achievement. An increasing number of students have now reached the Gold Award, which we celebrated in year group assemblies last week.

If you need a reminder of how to download the epraise app and keep in touch with your child’s progress, click on this link

Please remember to use the email you have previously submitted to the College.

Shimna Talent on Show

Last Thursday evening, we were treated to a superb Talent Show final. It was organised by Rose McGrady and Marta Forde, two of our Year 14 Student Leaders. They also compered the event, with a script that was inspiring and amusing in equal measure.

Ten acts from across the year groups performed in front of an appreciative audience in the Assembly Hall. Year 8 students Aoife Cox and Abby Scannell danced up a storm to finish in third place, while last year’s winner Emily Nicholls was a more than worthy runner-up. The winner on the night, however, was Emily McClean, whose rendition of Kingfishr’s Killeagh was simply exceptional. Click on the links to see for yourselves.

Thank you to our judges, Pastor Nathan Lyons from Newcastle Baptist Church, and Kelly Allen and Shona Collins from the Newcastle Harbour Heritage Association. I was also on the panel and, frankly, it was incredibly difficult for us to choose between the different acts, such was the high standard of performance.

Thanks also to Mark Cunningham, who captured the event on camera on the night - yet another impressive talent in Year 8.

The event raised money for two great causes. We look forward to presenting cheques to both charities after Easter.

For highlights of Children's Mental Health Week & World Book Day, click on the link 

Key Stage 3 students were also invited to take part in a Ten-Word Tiny Tales of Love & Kindness Challenge, based on the book by Joseph Coelho. The winners were…

New Build Update

After Easter, we will take possession of our new Sports Hall. Although it will provide another significant upgrade in our facilities, it will be sad to see the ‘old’ one demolished. It has served the College and local community very well over the years. Its last few days were memorable: a seagull taking up residence for most of Friday; on Monday morning, GCSE PE moderation; and, at lunchtime, a group of boys having a kickabout, with Year 12 student Reece Gordon winning the last ever impromptu penalty shootout in the Hall!

After Easter, work will continue, with landscaping, resurfacing, the replacement of the main gates and the completion of new car parking spaces.

Given the timing of the handover, students should continue to attend in Shimna sports kit on PE days.

Transform Ed sets out agenda for change

TransformED is the Department of Education's major education reform programme to transform teaching and learning in Northern Ireland. It focuses on the core areas of curriculum, assessment, qualifications, school improvement and tackling educational disadvantage.

Reform of SEN provision is also part of the programme. Please click on the link to see a letter from the Education Authority to parents and carers. The letter provides more information about the proposed Enhanced Support Model.

Schools across Northern Ireland have been given additional Staff Development Days over the coming year. As you will see in Key Dates on page 4, the College will be closed to students on Friday 22 May to facilitate preparatory work. Students sitting public examinations on that date should, of course, still attend.

If you’d like to find out more about the proposed changes, click on the link for a fuller update on Transform Ed 

Shimna Sports Podcast - Episode #3

This month’s edition of Mr Magee’s brilliant podcast features Joanne Mills, former student of Shimna and All Children's and now one of our Maths teachers.

Joanne is also a highly successful athlete, winning numerous titles and competing internationally for Northern Ireland and Ireland at various levels. She recently won a silver medal for the Northern Ireland team at the UK Regional Cross-country Championships in Nottingham. 

Key dates for the Summer Term

Monday 13 April College reopens 

Thursday 30 April Spring Concert - Assembly Hall                 

Monday 4 May Bank Holiday

Thursday 7 May Study Leave begins for Year 12 ( half day ) 

Friday 8 May Study Leave begins for Sixth Form ( from end of school day ) 

Study Leave begins for Year 11 ( from end of school day )

Monday 18 May Year 11 return from Study Leave 

Friday 22 May Transform Ed Day - College closed to students, exc. for public exams 

Monday 26 May Bank Holiday 

28 May - 3 June School Examinations ( Years 8-11 ) - timetable to follow next term 

Tues 9 - Thurs 11 June Looking Ahead’ programme for Year 13 ( 3 days )

Friday 12 June Interviews for next year’s Year 14 Leadership Team

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Sports Day and the Shimna Tennis Open will take place in the week starting Monday 15 June.

Activities Week will run in the last week of term, starting on Monday 22 June. The programme will follow next term.  The College year will conclude on Friday 26 June.

You can access the calendar for academic year 2026-27 here 

Finally, a reminder: please notify us in the event of changes to contact details or medical information pertaining to your children.

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Best wishes to you and your family for a happy and peaceful break over Easter.

Steve Pagan, Principal