To mark Catholic Schools Week 2022 (23-30 January), the Diocese of Down and Connor, recognising and paying tribute to the inspiring work within its schools, presented nine schools from across the Diocese with the "Spirit of Catholic Education Award" at a ceremony held in St Mary’s University College on Monday, 24 January.

The nine schools received the award in recognition of their outstanding work and commitment to partnership and outreach to support pupils, families, parishes and the wider community and for the priority that they give to promoting and delivering the ethos and values of Catholic education.

The "Spirit of Catholic Education" Awards are presented annually in conjunction with Catholic Schools Week to celebrate outstanding contributions to Catholic Education.

Each year, Catholic Schools Week provides a timely focus on the role and significance of the school family as experienced within the lives of children and young people today. It also provides an opportunity to affirm and pay tribute to the ongoing work of teachers as they seek to form young people in their intellectual, moral, spiritual and social development.

The Catholic Schools’ Support Service (Down and Connor) congratulates each award-winning school. These schools are representative of and showcase how teachers across the diocese embed an ongoing commitment to living out the "Spirit of Catholic Education". Recipients of the awards were:

St Theresa’s Nursery, Belfast

St Colmcille’s Primary School, Downpatrick

St Comgall’s Primary School, Bangor

Holy Cross Boys Primary School, Belfast

Our Lady and St  Patrick’s College, Knock

St Mary’s High School, Downpatrick

Rathmore Grammar School, Finaghy,

Belfast Blessed Trinity College, Belfast

St Louis’ Grammar School, Ballymena

For more information, visit the Catholic Schools Week 2022 website