St Mary’s University College was once again pleased to partner with the West Belfast Partnership Board (WBPB) to deliver the 2025 Easter School—an academic support initiative aimed at raising attainment among local Year 12 pupils.

Held from 22 to 25 April, the Easter School offered four days of focused tuition in GCSE Mathematics and English (through both English and Irish), specifically designed for students predicted to achieve Grade C or below. Delivered in collaboration with the Department of Education, the programme provided pupils with expert teaching, exam preparation and a motivational learning environment on the College campus.

Seventeen St Mary’s student teachers supported this year’s delivery, bringing energy, care and professionalism to their roles. Their efforts were warmly praised by both pupils and staff, reinforcing the College’s long-standing commitment to community engagement and educational partnership.

Angela Mervyn, Education Programme Manager at WBPB, commended the College team:

“The Easter School was absolutely fantastic. Damien Ball ensured everything ran smoothly and was a huge support throughout. The St Mary’s students were brilliant—such a credit to the College—and every staff member involved made the experience seamless. The pupils reported they ‘learned loads’ and felt genuinely supported throughout.”

Professor Peter Finn, Principal of St Mary’s University College, added his endorsement of the programme:

“The Easter School is a practical expression of our College’s mission to widen access to higher education and support educational opportunity for all. We are proud to work in partnership with the West Belfast Partnership Board and the Department of Education to make a real difference in the lives of young people in our community. This initiative reflects well on our values as a Catholic higher education institution dedicated to social inclusion, academic excellence, and civic engagement.”

Special thanks are extended to Damien Ball, Eilís McAteer, Christopher McCann, Gareth Connolly and the College’s security and canteen teams for their invaluable support. Their teamwork ensured another successful year for this important initiative.

St Mary’s looks forward to continuing to work in partnership with WBPB and playing a central role in supporting students in our local community to reach their full potential.