Posts in category: News

*District Champions*

Congratulations to the Years 8, 9 & 10 Cross Country teams who successfully defended their Cross Country title on Friday to be named District Champions 2025. In addition to Overall Best School, Laurelhill won the following team and individual trophies and medals.

Year 8 Girls

1^st – Kacey C

Year 8 Girls Team Winners

Year 8 Boys

1^st – James D

Year 8 Boys Team Winners

Year 9 Girls

1^st – Mia W

3^rd – Tilly C

Year 9 Girls Team Winners

Year 9 Boys

1^st – Oliver G

2^nd – Matthew S

3^rd – Josh M

Year 9 Boys Team Winners

Year 10 Girls

1^st – Aliyah J

2^nd – Dakota M

3^rd – Tilly S

Year 10 Girls Team Winners

Year 10 Boys

1^st – Jay R

Year 10 Boys Team Winners

Well done to all runners.

The PE Department

On Thursday 6^th February, Year 10 pupils enjoyed a visit from Sean from Holding History.  

Sean spoke to pupils about the topic of the war and weapons used by soldiers during the conflict. Pupils were also given the opportunity to handle a host of artefacts from World War One allowing them to experience living history first hand.

Our Year 13 Environmental Technology students had a fantastic time working in the Science Department, on an experiment to explore the power of biomass! They learned how organic materials can be used to generate energy. It was great to see them applying scientific principles to real world issues, finding that renewable resources like plants and waste can play a role in reducing our environmental impact.

Well done!

Miss McClean & Mr Gray

#sustainablefuture #greenenergy

Match Report – Year 8 Football

Belfast Cup Quarter Final vs. Campbell College

Last week the Year 8s marched through to the Belfast Cup Semi Final with a solid win against Campbell College in the Quarter Final. Having already played Campbell in the NI Plate and scoring a flurry of early goals, Campbell were not likely to make the same mistake twice and so it proved, with the game a tight contest early on.

As is often the case in a tight game, set pieces and corners become vital. Luckily for the team, the Year 8s have Jayden S to take corners; a player who can whip the ball into a dangerous area consistently. Luckily for Jayden, there are a few big lads who revel in the chance to attack a dangerous cross. Archie R was on hand to head in the first, and Caleb J was more than happy to add to his goal tally by heading in the second. The game was put to bed with a superb break from Kai I who scored a composed finish to make it 3-0.

As well as the scorers and assisters, several players deserve a mention. George B was a rare example of someone able to take a composed first touch and play a sensible pass – a calm head amongst the chaos. Brian J is developing into an exceptional and superbly consistent centre back. By his own admission he’s not the quickest, but then that doesn’t matter when you time every tackle to perfection. Noah and James in central midfield were their usual dominant selves. If it’s work rate and good attitudes you’re after, these two have both in abundance.

The Year 8s can now look forward to a Semi Final. Date and venue tbc.

Well done to all who played.

Mr Hillis

Year 8 Football

Belfast Cup Quarter Final vs. Campbell College

Laurelhill 3-0 Campbell

Goals – Archie R, Caleb J, Kai I

Motm – Jayden S

M

The year 9 football team lost 5 -2  to a very capable Colaiste Feirste in the Belfast Cup on Monday 3^rd February. The boys battled well to the end of the match but it just wasn’t meant to be. A special mention to Leyton S who went over and above but my man of the match went to Josh M who was outstanding scoring both Laurelhill’s goals. Now to concentrate on the League. Huge thank you to all who turn up every match and support the boys, it does not go unrecognised and is a massive boost for the team, thank you.

Mr. G Sykes

On Thursday 23^rd of January, some of our sixth form pupils were invited to a talk from SQC Digital, focusing on the Northern Ireland economy and growth of business sectors across Northern Ireland.

It was a privilege to be one of only two schools invited to the event where pupils were able to hear the latest information on the growth of the N.I economy from Ian Snowden, Permanent Secretary of the Department for the Economy. In addition, pupils got the chance to hear from Clare Hanna MP, the Lord Mayor of Belfast Micky Murray, Dr Bill Wolsey OBE Founder and Managing Director at Beannchor Group, John Mathers Head of Barclays Corporate Banking NI and Suzanne Wylie CEO of NI Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

It was a fantastic morning and experience for our pupils, who will hopefully benefit from the advice and guidance provided by the speakers.

Thank you to SQC Digital for the invitation and the kind hospitality.

Mr Smyth

Year 11 English students recently enjoyed an end-of-unit project that combined creativity with language skills. In groups, students were tasked with designing their own restaurant menus, incorporating language devices to describe their dishes. This project ended with students presenting their menus in a mock restaurant setting and rating one another. 

We even had our own waiter! 

Well done Year 11! 

Miss McKee. 

Match Report – Year 8 Football

NI Plate vs. Ashfield

The Year 8’s served up another feast of schools football in the last 16 of the NI Plate, where they were unlucky to draw Ashfield Boys away at a relatively early stage of the competition. The Year 8s have proved already that they can go toe to toe with the best footballing schools in the country and last Thursday was no different.

Unfortunately, despite at one stage being 3-1 ahead in the second half, Ashfield to their credit put on a superb comeback to narrowly win 4-3. The team were told not to be disappointed at the final whistle because the quality of football on show, the dedication and the work-rate demonstrated were all first rate. Along with an Ashfield own goal, goals came from a long range effort from Brian J. and a tidy finish from Caleb J. The Man of the Match was the imperious Noah W. in central midfield.

Next up is Campbell at home in the Quarter Final of the Belfast Cup.

Well done to all who played last Thursday.

Ashfield Boys 4-3 Laurelhill

MOTM – N. Walton

Goals – Brian J, Caleb J

Mr Hillis

Next up for the Year 10 boys was a Lisburn League game against St Patrick’s, with 21 players getting minutes for the side, in what turned out to be a 10 goal thriller.

After a shaky start saw us 3-0 down Jay R managed to keep his composure with a smart finish and give us a goal back to end the first half 3-1.

The second half saw 10 changes to give more boys minutes, and 2 goals from Tristen M brought us to 4-3 before a couple of quick St Patrick’s goals gave them a 6-3 lead. We ended the game strongly and it finished up 6-4 to St Patrick’s, with Matty G striking home a penalty with the last action of the game.

Final score: Laurelhill 4-6 St Patrick’s

Goal scorers: Jay R

Tristen M X2

Matty G

MOM: Tristen M

Jack

U16 Northern Ireland Plate vs Integrated College Glengormley

The u16s progressed to the Quarter Finals of the Northern Ireland plate on Wednesday afternoon after a convincing 4-2 win over Integrated College Glengormley.

Laurelhill took command of the game from the first whistle, with Spencer, Harry and Max exchanging some excellent one-two touch football to win Laurelhill a corner. Billy N’s delivery was flicked on at the near post and smashed home on the volley by centre back Reuben, in the words of the boys “a proper Sportszone lunch time goal”. Laurelhill quickly made it 2-0 on the 8 minute, fantastic determination from Jay B to win the ball in midfield, drive past two players and slip Jay I down the left wing. Jay I played a fantastic ball across goal to Max who took one touch to calmly and confidently place the ball in the bottom corner.

Just before the end of the half Glengormley pulled one back with a terrific strike from the edge of the box. It was only their second shot of the game and their first on target, which highlights the superb defending from Isaac, Reuben, Noah and Spencer.

With Glengormley encouraged by their goal, they raised their game and started to press Laurelhill and put pressure on the players every time they touched the ball. Laurelhill weathered this 10 minute period of constant pressure through excellent desire to break up Glengormley’s attack and not let them get into any sort of rhythm. Credit must go to the midfield trio of Billy N, Billy B and Jay B who covered nearly every blade of grass.

Laurelhill took a 3-1 lead after excellent pressure of our own, led to Jay B finding himself 1-on-1 with the goalkeeper. To some they might have thought the angle was slightly against Jay B, but to no surprise Jay hammered the ball confidently across the keeper and into the bottom corner.

With three minutes left Glengormley found the back of the net with an acrobatic overhead kick which took everyone by surprise, a fantastic finish set the game up for a tense and nervy finish. However the U16s have been in this position before and that experience was telling during the final minutes of the game. While Glengormley were motivated and fired up after their goal, our boys kept their heads and displayed fantastic attitude to not get drawn into any silly behaviour. With Glengormley pushing for an equaliser, the Laurelhill back line stood firmed and dealt with any delivery into the box. The final moment of the game was telling of the attitude of the boys, a long clearance was chased down by James H, instead of letting the full back have time on the ball, James H put him under pressure and made him have to play the ball, instead James H dispossessed him and with the keeper up for the corner, James had an empty net to seal the win. Unfortunately for James, the defender fouled James inside the box just as he was about to shoot. Up stepped Max who smashed the penalty home for Laurelhill’s fourth and Max’s second of the game.

Man of the Match was again a tough decision, but it was decided by staff and opposition staff that it should be awarded to Jay B who’s driving runs and ability to recover the ball for Laurelhill was excellent throughout the game.

Well done lads on a great win.

Final score:

Laurelhill 4-2 Integrated College Glengormley

Goal Scorers: Max x2, Jay B and Reuben

MOTM: Jay B

Mr Smyth