Students celebrate examination excellence

Students celebrate examination excellence

20 August 2014

SCHOOL principals have united to celebrate the success of their A-level students following the publication of this year’s results.

They have unanimously congratulated their students, teachers and parents for their good effort in the examinations.

Some schools have also reported dozens of students achieving straight A grades with many schools bucking the national trend of decreasing A and A* results.

Mr. Sean Sloan, principal of St. Patrick’s Grammar School, was the first to congratulate students and staff who were celebrating a staggering 96% of all examinations passed at A*-C with 37% of all grades at A* or A.

He said 16 students had achieved three or four A* and A grades with the number of pupils achieving higher grades having significantly increased against the overall UK trend of decreasing A* and A grades.

“While we take great pride in our headline statistics, behind every grade is a personal success, achieved by the individual students’ hard work built on the commitment and support from families and school,” he said.

“At this early stage, almost all our students have been placed in the university course of their choice.

“I wish our leaving students every success on the next stage of their life journey.”

Down High School’s principal, Mr. Paul Logan, said over 40 per cent of all grades awarded were A* or A, which he said was significantly above the Northern Ireland figure of 29%.

“It is great to see so many pupils securing places in high demand courses such as medicine, but this year I am particularly pleased that the pupils who opted for a combination of A-levels and our new vocational BTEC courses have been equally successful in gaining university and college places,” he said.

“Two years ago Down High School made it significantly easier for pupils from other schools to join the sixth form.

“I wish to congratulate Down High and South Eastern Regional College teachers who have enabled our students to obtain so many distinction grades.

“I also want to thank our careers department for showing that a combination of academic and vocational courses is a great way to progress to higher education.

“I am looking forward to seeing more pupils than ever before joining our new sixth form next week.”

For the second successive year every Assumption Grammar School student passed all of her A levels with 90 per cent of results at A* to C level and 18 students achieving at least three As.

Mr. Paul McBride, who is departing for his new role as head of St. Malachy’s College, said that although he was sad to be leaving, he was content that students continue to be the best.

“We have succeeded in maintaining an ethos that enables us to care for the well-being of each person in our community, enriching lives through the extracurricular and addressing local and global needs, whilst providing our girls with a curriculum that allows them to excel academically,” he said.

“I have been privileged to be part of such a superb team and I know that Assumption will continue to go from strength to strength under the leadership of newly appointed principal Mr. Peter Dobbin.”

Mrs. Joan McCombe, principal of St. Malachy’s High School, Castlewellan, said she was delighted with their results, which she said reflected the hard work and commitment of students and teachers.

“It is so rewarding when students fulfil their potential and move onwards, with confidence, into the next phase of their educational journey,” she said.

“I am so proud of the students; they have brought tremendous credit to themselves, their families and the school. They richly deserve the top- quality results that have been awarded.”

Mrs. Sheila Darling, of St. Mary’s High School, Downpatrick, said students had achieved a 100 per cent success rate, which was a reward for their determination and “can do attitude.”

Mr. Barry Sharvin, of De La Salle High School, said all A-level students at De La Salle have been accepted for their preferred university courses.

Mr. Mark Morgan, of St. Colman’s High School, Ballynahinch said he was also celebrating news that 87% of students had achieved at least two A*-C grades, with many students gaining entry to third level education.