St Mary’s College Preparatory spotlight achievements with Southport rugby union player

Staff at St Mary’s College Preparatory School organised a special event in Southport recently to put the spotlight on the achievements of its pupils over the past 12 months.

The town’s prestigious Atkinson arts centre on Lord Street was the venue for the junior prize-giving ceremony hosted by the Blundellsands primary school.

The VIP guest at this year’s event was Southport-born rugby union player Stuart Turner who enjoyed a successful career with Sale Sharks as a formidable prop.

Outstanding displays at club level also resulted in him breaking through into the England squad, showcasing his ability to compete at the highest levels of the sport.

In recent years Stuart has coached children’s rugby at Waterloo RFC, mentoring young players, promoting the sport in the community and nurturing the next generation of rugby talent.

In an inspirational speech, Stuart told pupils never to give up on their dreams, to keep working hard and to carry on in spite of any setbacks they face. He left them with some memorable advice: “It’s better to try and fail than to fail to try.”

Elsewhere at the event, the large Atkinson audience heard that the preparatory school had again achieved excellent academic results during the year.

They also watched pupils collect prizes and awards from Stuart recognising their success in a wide range of extracurricular activities including music, drama and sport.

And guests were also entertained by a series of choral and instrumental performances, from a Puerto Rican folk song to ‘You Will Be Found’ by acclaimed singer-songwriter Sam Smith.

In a wide-ranging review of the last year, headteacher Jonathan Webster said that pupils had had the opportunity to take part in four residential trips – including a ski holiday to Austria – as well as more than 20 other visits as far afield as the Imperial War Museum and the House of Parliament.

The school had also supported 15 charities and welcomed a similar number of visitors from outside organisations, focusing on topics as diverse as Spanish dance, Chinese culture and the work of Merseyside Fire Service.

Mr Webster commented: “This annual event is very important for the school because it gives all our families the opportunity to gather and celebrate the achievements of our pupils in so many fields over the last year.

“It is our belief that every child has a gift and as a school it is our role to help them find and nurture it, and in turn to celebrate the successes that result from it.”

Mr Webster added: “I would particularly like to thank our principal guest Stuart Turner who is an inspiring role model for our children and a true ambassador for his sport.”

St Mary’s College principal, Mike Kennedy, said: “This was a truly uplifting event and I would like to pay tribute to the whole Preparatory School community for making the school such a special environment in which to grow, learn and work.”