| “Naturally I’m pleased we won, but there’s additional satisfaction from knowing that the young people came up with this idea and saw it through, showing initiative, maturity and commitment in the process” he enthuses.
“I’m not saying all young people are perfect but perhaps society is also guilty of focusing on the negative rather than the positive and I think we should maybe make more of the good that they do.
“In addition to the Best Kept award, another group of around 170 pupils recently raised over £7,000 for charity, which is quite phenomenal, yet a few isolated incidents of bad behaviour might be more likely to hit headlines.”
Asked about the background to the award win, Mr McCarthy explained that entering the Best Kept Schools competition was the pupils’ idea initially and that they had subsequently taken full responsibility for the project.
“The group of pupils inspected the school grounds and effectively did an audit to identify what needed done by way of improvements. They even brought in several parents to walk around and offer a second opinion – all of this without me knowing.
“After that they set about raising the necessary funds for their project, organising a non-uniform day which brought in about £500.
“They then finalised their action plan and got down to the hard work – weeding, digging, planting, power-hosing and so forth – even coming in over the Easter holidays.”
The intrepid group were all third year pupils, ready to move on to pastures new, but Mr McCarthy says that the school is grateful for the legacy they have left.
“Pupils in our school finish at 14, but because they’re the oldest in the school, the young people of that age are given responsibilities and most respond really well” he reflects.
“Certainly it has been a delight for me, as principal, to work with such charming pupils and I was very impressed indeed with their initiative and hard work.”
The sponsored four-mile walk, to raise funds for Action MS, took place in Gosford Forest Park. |
