St Patrick's College, primarily serves those students who live within the Maghera parish - particularly those from the local feeder schools - but also those in the wider catchment area from towns including Randalstown , Dungiven and Glenullin It consists of two sites, the main site for - those in Years 9 to 14 - and a separate site known as the "St Mary's Building" - for those in Year 8.

Access to kitchenware is provided but some fee is usually asked for to cover the cost of the ingredients in practicals.

Departments in this building include Technology + Design, Art, Sciences (Chemistry, Biology, Physics), Languages (Irish, French, Spanish), English and I.T.

Pupils enrolled in years 8–10 will take 15 mandatory subjects: English, maths, junior science (a compound subject including biology, chemistry and physics), religious studies, art, home economics, information technology, technology (and design), history, geography, Irish, and a choice between French or Spanish.

Pupils also attend non-exam classes such as physical education, citizenship, and employability.

In Years 11 and 12, pupils will sit their GCSE examinations, with compulsory classes of: English language, maths, a choice between single, double or triple award science, and religious studies.

Dependant on what level of science is studied, pupils may select an additional 4, 3 or 2 GCSEs, respectively.

These choices are made from the CCEA specification, although a few subjects - such as German - are not offered.

These year groups also sit non-exam classes such as physical education, citizenship and employability.

Some pupils may not be offered English language, maths or dDouble/triple science, and will opt for essential skills English, essential skills maths and single award science, or a mixture of the three.

According to the ETI assessment of the school in 2015, the academic performance was rated as either "very good" or "outstanding".

It noted that "the percentage of pupils progressing to higher education courses is well above the NI average for non-selective schools".

[2] In the academic year 2016/2017, 85.9% of its entrants received five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C, including the core subjects English and Maths.

The college have been crowned All-Ireland Champions on 5 occasions, winning the Hogan Cup, most recently in 2013.

More recently the senior Camogie team reached the finals in 2022-2023 for the all Irelands.

The choirs tend to jointly perform at school events such as the Christmas Carol Service or the school's Easter mass, but in recent years the Senior Choir has participated in competitions such as BBC School Choir of the Year (2020) [4] St. Patrick's presents opportunities for pupils to use their voice through the roles of Junior and Senior Head Boy and Head Girl, as well as their deputies.

Opportunities are presented for those in Years 8–14 to be elected to the School Council, with roles such as chair and vice-chair.

The school runs School Aid Romania, in which a selection of students from year 13 travel to regions of Romania to provide aid work to the locals, bringing donations of cash and toys for children.