Welcome To Lurgan Junior High School
Parents, Carers, Pupils
As a school with a strong reputation for academic and sporting excellence, we resolutely believe that our girls and boys deserve every possible opportunity to succeed in all areas of their educational lives and fervently wish for them to go out and change the world for the better.
Over the course of the last 60 years, our school family has encouraged our young people to value the joy of learning and to become confident and productive individuals, able to make the right decisions and determining to always give their best. Our core Christian values remain unchanged and we are unashamedly proud of them - the timeless qualities of humanity, courtesy and empathy for others.
In an ever-changing world, we believe that our consistent promotion of Respect, Responsibility and Resilience in all their forms, along with the myriad of high quality educational opportunities which we afford our pupils, are as relevant to the world today as they were when our school was founded back in 1959. We continue to strive to ensure that our talented pupils make the most of their amazing gifts and give their best in everything that they do.
J. McCoy
Principal
In the heart of Lurgan, where our school proudly stands, there’s a name that carries global recognition — Master McGrath, one of the most famous greyhounds in racing history, and a symbol of determination, resilience, and success against the odds.
Master McGrath wasn’t expected to achieve greatness. Born small and weak, many believed he wouldn’t even survive let alone thrive. He was named after a young boy (Master McGrath) who was upset that the dog was going to be drowned and who convinced its trainer, a friend of Lord Lurgan, to save the pup.
Despite his traumatic start to life, Master McGrath grew into a dog of remarkable speed, strength, and spirit. Against all expectations, he went on to win three Waterloo Cups, becoming an international sporting legend in the 1800s. His fame even reached as far as Queen Victoria’s court, yet his roots remained firmly here in Lurgan.
IIt’s a story of overcoming obstacles, defying expectations, and striving for excellence — values that are at the very heart of our school community.
In January 2025, we proudly launched ‘McGrath’, as our official school mascot, inspired by Master McGrath’s incredible life. We did this not just to honour the history and heritage of Lurgan, but to inspire every single one of our pupils to embrace the same qualities that defined Master McGrath’s journey.
At our school, we are build upon the foundation of the 3 Rs — Respect, Responsibility, and Resilience — and McGrath’s life mirrors these values:
Respect – Just as Master McGrath earned respect from all who saw his determination, we expect our pupils to show respect for themselves, towards others and for their learning.
Responsibility – McGrath didn’t become a champion by chance. Success came through hard work, care, and seizing every opportunity — just as we expect our pupils to take responsibility for their studies, their behaviour, and their contribution to our school’s extra-curricular opportunities.
Resilience – Perhaps most importantly, Master McGrath is a living symbol of resilience. Despite his tough beginnings, he never gave up. That same spirit is what we expect from our pupils when faced with challenges — inside the classroom, outside the classroom and beyond.
Our new mascot comes with a powerful motto: “Swift to Learn; Ready to Lead.”
It reminds us that being part of this school means more than just turning up — it’s about being ready to learn quickly, to adapt, to improve, and to grow. It also means preparing ourselves to lead — whether through setting an example, helping others, representing the school, or striving for personal excellence.
Just like our greyhound, we want every pupil, no matter their background, their starting point, or their challenges to adopt this approach in every area of school life.
Meet Oscar
Meet Maddie
Meet Penny
House Totals
_page-000.png)
0
_page-000.png)
0
_page-000.png)
0
_page-0004.jpg)
0