Draft:St. Malachy's High School, Castlewellan

St. Malachy's High School/ Ardscoil Naomh Maolmhaodhog is a non-selective, Catholic maintained, all ability, school for girls and boys aged 11–19 years located in Castlewellan, County Down, Northern Ireland.

History
It was founded in 1959 as Castlewellan Intermediate School as one of the first of the new post primaries. It continued to operate in the original building until 2000 when it was replaced with a new building. The new school has a wide range of facilities including an oratory, ICT suites, drama theatre, library, gymnasium, sports-hall, specialist classrooms, laboratories, art and photography studios, design and technology workshops and music tutorial rooms.

It recruits students from primary schools within the surrounding parishes: Castlewellan (Kilmegan); Clonduff (the Cabra area only); Drumaroad and Clanvaraghan; Dromara and Drumgooland; Dundrum and Tyrella; Kilcoo; Newcastle (Maghera).

Curriculum
For Key Stage 3 (Levels 8, 9 and 10) the pupils select courses from a range of subjects, including An Ghaeilge, Art & Design, Business, Citizenship, Drama, Employability, English, Geography, Home Economics, History, ICT, Irish, Mathematics, Music, Personal & Social Development, Physical Education, Science, Spanish, Religious Education and Technology & Design.

For Key Stage 4 (Levels 11 and 12) students study the following core subjects at GCSE level: English Language, Mathematics, Learning for Life & Work, Religious Education, Science (Single award). In addition, all students follow a non-exam course in Physical Education and can choose from the following additional subjects: An Ghaeilge, Art & Design, Agriculture & Land Use, Biology, BTEC Business Studies, Chemistry, Computer Studies, Construction, CoPE (Certificate of Personal Effectiveness), Child Care, Design & Technology, Drama, Double Award Science, English Literature, Geography, History, Hospitality, ICT, Irish, Motor Vehicle & Road User Studies, Music, Occupational studies, Performance Skills, Physical education, Physics, Prince’s Trust: Personal Development & Employability, Spanish and Health & Social Care.

It also has an Irish Medium Unit for instruction in the Irish language. Within the stream, students take up to 50% of their curriculum through the medium of Irish whilst integrating with other students for practical subjects. There is an annual intake of 25 students into the unit.

The exam performance for the school places it high in its performance among non-grammar schools in Northern Ireland with over 50% gaining at least five GCSEs and over half of those taking A-Levels obtaining three or more grades A*-C.

Sport
Students have the opportunity of participating in a range of sports and have a very successful record in Gaelic games. The school's camogie team won the Sr. Máiréad Shield in 2023 and 2024. Likewise, in hurling the boys won the Reihill Cup in 2024. In Gaelic football, the school has won the Markey Cup on seven occasions.

Alumni

 * Roisin Howell - Sinn Féin Councillor, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council ; Chairperson, Newcastle branch Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann
 * James Morgan - victim of sectarian murder in 1997 shortly after his GCSE exams