The Board of Governors is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Darrin Barr as Principal of Bloomfield Collegiate School from 1 September 2010. Dr Barr will succeed Dr David Neill who is retiring at the end of August 2010.
Dr Barr was educated at Ballymena Academy. His favourite subjects at school were History and Mathematics. While at school he enjoyed many sports and played most of them badly except for hockey, being promoted to Vice Captain of the 1st XI Hockey team. He also played for Ballymena Hockey Club 1st XI. Other interests included motor cross, golf, fishing, hiking and gardening. After leaving Ballymena Academy with 4 A Levels in Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and Further Mathematics, Dr Barr studied Pure Chemistry at Queen’s University, Belfast. After graduating from Queen’s he enrolled as a post-graduate PhD student within the Chemistry Department.
Dr Barr’s first job was as a Production Manager at Galen Pharmaceuticals, however, a career in education beckoned and he commenced a PGCE at Queen’s in 1992. In 1993 Dr Barr was offer the post of Chemistry teacher at Victoria College Belfast where he was appointed as Vice Principal in 2005. He later served as Acting Principal for some months before becoming Deputy Head in late 2007.
Dr Barr has been married to Judy for nearly 23 years. They have 4 children Becky, Sarah, David and Leah. Sarah sadly died after a battle with cancer on 14th February 2007 aged 13 and is greatly missed. Dr Barr currently enjoys gardening, supporting Manchester United and holidaying at home and abroad in his caravan. He is also an active member of Belfast City Vineyard Church.
