We were very pleased to host a visit on Friday by Rt. Hon. Conor Burns MP, Minister of State for Northern Ireland. Mr Burns was greeted on his arrival by the Head Girl, Lucy Addis, Head Boy Sam Cunningham, Rev P Gamble Acting Chairman of the Board of Governors and the headmaster.

Mr Burns was very interested to learn about the history and ethos of our school and this began by looking at the portraits of Kings and bishops in the concourse and of course ‘McCrum’s chair’ named in honour of Old Armachian William McCrum who invented the penalty kick used in football. After that Mr Burns met with members of the combined Cadet Force at Furlong House and observed some cadet activities.

A fuller tour of the schools facilities took in the World War II memorial, a tour of classroom provision and the art department. At the Reid Hall Mr Burns was entertained by a string quartet and the choir before having a Q&A session with Year 13 and 14 Government & Politics pupils in the cinema in the boarding department.

Mr Burns said that he “thoroughly enjoyed” talking with pupils and staff and described his visit as “delightful”. He said afterwards that we should be very proud of our pupils and that he was, “constantly inspired for Northern Ireland’s future when I meet her great young people”.