Mike Kennedy, principal of St Mary’s College in Crosby, is set to retire in August 2027 after 19 years in the role.

 

Mike joined St Mary’s from Oakhill College, Lancashire in 2008 and has overseen a number of key developments that have made the school the success it is today.

 

Announcing Mike’s retirement, chair of governors, Hans van Mourik Broekman, noted that the departing principal had helped to create a “thriving school” that was able to celebrate “record results” each summer.

 

To achieve such success, Mike had “assembled and retained a dedicated and experienced leadership team, and talented and dynamic staff in every part of the college”.

 

Most importantly, according to Hans, is the fact that Mike retires from a school that has “kept faith with its mission and purpose by providing an education in accordance with its Edmund Rice and Catholic identity.”

 

Hans added: “As governors, we are very grateful to Mike and to all who have made his leadership so successful, and we are determined to build further on the position of strength he is leaving us with.”

 

Mike regards himself as “incredibly privileged’ to have served as leader of “this wonderful school”.

 

He said that St Mary’s is characterised by “a warm family feel as you enter” and “a welcome that makes you feel at home very quickly”.

 

He also stressed that the college was about much more than the great examination results the students achieve: “It is about the people they become through their consideration for others, their strong Christian values and their many successes beyond the classroom.”

 

Paying tribute to his fantastic staff for their cheerfulness and dedication, and to pupils for their generous and thoughtful approach, Mike said he would follow the progress of St Mary’s with great interest, pride and fondness in his retirement.

 

In the meantime, the St Mary’s governors have said that, prior to his departure, there will be several opportunities for the school community to celebrate Mike’s achievements and express their thanks for his tremendous work over many years.