St Paul’s High School, Bessbrook is proud to have been presented with the Centre of Excellence Award for Financial Education at a special ceremony in the Great Hall of Queen’s University Belfast on Wednesday 30 September 2026. The award, made by Young Enterprise NI, makes St Paul’s the first school in Northern Ireland to achieve Centre of Excellence status.

The presentation formed part of Ready to Succeed, a Young Enterprise NI event that brought together leaders from education, business and the wider community to consider how young people can best be prepared for the future. Carol Fitzsimons, Chief Executive at Young Enterprise NI, presented the award to Gary McKinley, Lead Teacher for Entrepreneurship Education, and Principal Dáithí Murray.

“Financial education has the power to transform lives.”
Sarah Porretta, Chief Executive, Young Enterprise

Centres of Excellence is Young Enterprise’s whole-school improvement programme. It identifies what children and young people need to learn about money, embeds good financial education practice in the curriculum, and equips teachers with the knowledge, skills and confidence to teach it well. St Paul’s joins a network of more than 110 Centres of Excellence across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Gary McKinley led the school’s work towards the award and compiled the portfolio of evidence on which it was judged. The assessors described it as “an excellent, comprehensive and reflective portfolio”, and found financial education woven through the curriculum, pastoral provision, careers education, enrichment and the Key Stage 5 programme. They singled out the school’s bespoke Year 13 Financial Management programme as a particular strength, and praised partnerships with Bank of Ireland, Citizens Advice and Young Enterprise that bring expert voices into the classroom.

“Financial education gives young people confidence with decisions they will be making for the rest of their lives.”
Gary McKinley, Lead Teacher for Entrepreneurship Education

The assessors also commended the inclusive approach behind the programme. The school’s mapping of provision for pupils with special educational needs was described as an excellent framework for ensuring that every pupil can access high-quality financial learning, and pupils’ own work showed real understanding, careful reflection on their decisions and the ability to apply what they had learned to managing money in everyday life.

Principal Dáithí Murray said: “Gary McKinley has led this work with vision, patience and a real belief in what our pupils can do. Becoming the first school in Northern Ireland to achieve the Centre of Excellence Award is a tribute to his leadership and to pupils who have taken their financial education seriously. In a fast-changing world, knowing how to earn, save, borrow and plan is not an optional extra. It is part of being ready for life, and we are grateful to Young Enterprise NI for supporting us so effectively along the way.”

Gary McKinley added: “Financial education gives young people confidence with decisions they will be making for the rest of their lives. This award reflects the work of colleagues right across the school, who found a place for it in their subjects, and of pupils who took it to heart. I am grateful to Young Enterprise NI for their guidance throughout, and to the school’s leadership for backing this work from the very start.”

Sarah Porretta, Chief Executive of Young Enterprise, said: “Financial education has the power to transform lives. Learning to earn and manage your finances are skills that stay with you throughout your life.”

As the first Centre of Excellence in Northern Ireland, St Paul’s will now share its experience and practice with other secondary schools here, supported by Young Enterprise NI through mentoring and consultancy. A Key Stage 3 financial education programme delivered through Shared Education with local schools is also planned, carrying the work beyond the school’s own walls.

“In a fast-changing world, knowing how to earn, save, borrow and plan is not an optional extra. It is part of being ready for life.”
Dáithí Murray, Principal

Warmest congratulations to Gary McKinley, to colleagues across the school who made room for financial education in their teaching, and to our pupils, whose commitment earned this award. Our thanks to Young Enterprise NI for their expert support throughout.

Ready to Succeed in the Great Hall, Queen’s University Belfast.