Students celebrate outstanding GSCEs results

Students celebrate outstanding GSCEs results

30 August 2023

PUPILS at local schools were celebrating last week after receiving their GCSE results.

Schools reported outstanding results, which were above the average for the rest of Northern Ireland.

Principals were full of praise for their students and also paid tribute to the support shown by teachers and parents.

 

Assumption Grammar

At Assumption Grammar School in Ballynahinch, 99.2% of students achieved seven or more GCSEs at Grade A*-C, with A100% achieving their GCSE in English and Mathematics.

An impressive 81% of all GCSE grades were Grade B or above, with 55.5% of grades awarded at Grade A* or A. 

A total of 38 students in Year 12 achieved a complete A*-A profile of nine GCSEs or more. 

School principal Peter Dobbin praised the effort and determination of the students, the dedication of the teachers and the commitment of supportive parents. 

“We have a unique school community here at Assumption and I am delighted that the hard work of the pupils, teachers and parents has paid dividends,” he said.

“Our students have achieved at the highest levels academically and have done so while excelling in an array of extra-curricular activities at local, national and international levels.”

Mr Dobbin added: “These results show that they are a confident group, ready to embrace the opportunities and meet the challenges of A-Level studies. I very much look forward to welcoming them, along with our new students, to Sixth Form in September.”

 

Down High

Down High School pupils arrived early at Mount Crescent on Thursday to collect their GCSE results.

There was a palpable sense of delight as they opened their results to reveal an impressive collection of grades.  

An impressive 53% of all GCSE grades were A* or A. Thirty-four pupils gained nine or more A* or A grades with 22 of these pupils achieving straight A* or A grades.

Patrick Maginnis and Oliver Torney both secured 10A* grades while Tom Martin secured 9A* and 1A. A whopping 100% of pupils achieved A-C grades in English and Maths with 98% achieving five or more A-C grades overall. 

School principal Maud Perry lauded the year group for the impressive results they had achieved, particularly given some of the challenges faced on their educational journey. 

 “Once again, we are very proud of our pupils, and they are to be congratulated for their dedication and effort which firmly underpin these superb results,” she said.

“Like those in other year groups, these pupils have had to navigate the challenges of the pandemic during their time at school but have demonstrated remarkable fortitude and focus, and they should take time to enjoy the success these characteristics have allowed them to produce.

“On behalf of the pupils, I also thank our committed teachers and support staff whose dedication creates the environment in which the school community can thrive.”

Mrs Perry added: “We wish our new Year 13 pupils, and those who joined our enlarged Sixth Form over the past few days every success as they move into their A-Level years. Well done to all.”

 

St Patrick’s Grammar

Joe McCann, principal of St. Patrick’s Grammar School, said he was “delighted” with the results achieved by the Year 12 students.

An impressive 93% of students achieved seven or more GCSE grades at A*-C, including English and Mathematics, while 42% of all grades were A*or A.

He said “This is all the more impressive given the widely publicised intention of awarding bodies to take a further step to return to the awarding outcomes of 2019.

“These results are testimony to the hard work of the students and the excellent relationships they have with their teachers who supported and guided them throughout their two years of GCSE study. They afford opportunities for many different pathways at Post-16 and beyond.”

Mr McCann also commented on the “wonderful partnership between school and home which allowed students to achieve their potential, both academically and in extracurricular fields”.

He added: “I am delighted today by the extremely high volume of applications to join our Sixth Form and we are looking forward to supporting our current students and those joining us to study A-Levels over the next year.’

 

St Malachy’s High

GCSE students at St Malachy’s High School in Castlewellan were said to be “jumping for joy” after maintaining the high standards set by the school in previous years.

The school’s principal, Eileen O’Hara, said the outstanding results reflected their “hard work, dedication and perseverance together with the guidance, support and care from the teachers and support staff”.

She remarked: “The outcomes achieved by our students outlines the fact that non selective education continues to deliver excellence for all.  

“Our GCSE students once again produced an outstanding set of results with almost 90% achieving A*-C grades in 5 or more subjects with over 60% of them achieving this including English and Maths. This strong foundation at GCSE will set them up well for their Post 16 studies with us. 

“As an all ability school we celebrate the achievements of all our students and on behalf of the governors and staff of St Malachy’s we congratulate each and every one of them on their tremendous successes. 

“Thanks and praise must go to the parents/guardians for their commitment and dedication to and their belief in our students.

Mrs O’Hara added: “St Malachy’s High School is an amazing place for children to learn and it will continue to grow from strength to strength not only because of the amazing staff and the supportive parents but mainly because of the fantastic children which it serves. 

 

De La Salle High

AT De La Salle High School in Downpatrick, 89% of the pupils in Year 12 achieved five or more GCSEs at Grade C and above. 

The principal, Ciaran Maguire praised the pupils, their parents and the staff for their accomplishments and emphasised the importance of hard work paying off. “The pupils have given their best right up until the end, with school staff supporting them throughout,” he said.

“These results will be life changing for our students, putting them on a power with their peers, in other schools.  Firm decisions will now be made in relation to post 16 choices.

MrMaguire added: “As we move closer to a new school — Lecale Trinity Grammar — De La Salle will work tirelessly to support their students and allow them to achieve their very best.

 

Shimna Integrated College

WITH 20% of all grades A* or A and 72% overall achieving A*-C, Shimna Integrated College principal Steve Pagan said he was “thrilled” to announce the achievements of his GCSE students in the 2023 examinations. 

“As the College enters its 30th anniversary year, these results reflect the unwavering commitment to academic excellence that has been the hallmark of Shimna for three decades,” he remarked. 

“With grading returning to pre-pandemic grading levels, most Shimna students have met or exceeded their targets.  

“While we were fully expecting the grading to be tighter this year, we should not forget the disruption to learning this year group have had to contend with. Their successes are commendable.” 

Mr Pagan added: “I would also like to thank the staff at Shimna team for their hard work and support for our students.” 

 

St Mary’s High

GCSE results at St Mary’s High School in Downpatrick were described as “exceptional”.

School principal Rosemary McLaughlin said students had “proved to everyone that their hard work and commitment to their studies has resulted in high levels of achievement with outstanding individual performances”.

She continued: “The results achieved are a source of pride to the whole school community.

“In the past few years, the girls have shown great resilience which enabled them to achieve their goals. 

“I would like to thank all our staff for always providing excellent pastoral support for all the girls that enabled them to excel.

“We thank our parents for the outstanding home/school partnerships that underpin all we do in St Mary’s as it has undoubtedly contributed to their daughters’ success’.

 

Blackwater College

YEAR 12 students returned to Blackwater Integrated College, Downpatrick, on Thursday to receive their results.

Staff were delighted to congratulate them on their achievements at the end of what has been a very unusual educational journey since the pandemic disrupted their studies in Year 9.

The principal, Stephen Taylor, said: “GCSE results continue to be very strong and there were also very pleasing performances in BTEC courses and vocational subjects.

“Most importantly, the students’ hard work in recent years has paid off and this now allows them to progress to the next stage of their education in a range of local schools and colleges. 

“Moving forward, it remains Blackwater’s aspiration that students would also be able to complete their post-16 studies in a new integrated college in the Mid Down area.

He added: “We are delighted that our students have received fantastic grades again this year and we wish them every success with their future studies. As a year group they have worked very hard in difficult circumstances over the last few years.

“Thanks also to staff for their continued hard work and pastoral support provided to our students throughout their time in the college”.

 

St Colmcille’s High

THE principal of St Colmcille’s High School in Crossgar, Seamus Hanna, said the expression ‘good things come in small packages’ could be used for his school.

Mr Hanna said the high expectations of pupils were met with excellent sets of results

“Pupils celebrated with many of the highest grades of A* and A being seen in lots of subjects,” he remarked.

“The broader curriculum was supplemented with new subjects being examined for the first time this year. This has ensured a wider choice of subjects and has allowed many of our pupils to choose from a range of A-Level and vocational courses.

“Principals were concerned with the announcements from CCEA and the English Examination Boards that a fall in grades should be expected. Thankfully, this did not transpire, and so many of our pupils attained the high grades we expected.

“The disruption to academic life caused by Covid is still being felt by many students and I am very proud of our pupils who maintained their focus and received the highest grades, which were richly deserved.

“The entire school staff share the pride that our parents and carers felt on Thursday in their children’s success, and we have every confidence that they will have bright and successful futures ahead. 

Mr Hanna added: “The high numbers of pupils joining this year, taking our new Year 8 to capacity, reflects the confidence that our local community has in our school. We look forward to celebrating their success in years from now.”

 

St Colman’s High and Sixth Form College

AT St Colman’s High & Sixth Form College in Ballynahinch, GCSE pupils celebrated 100% achievement with 70% achieving seven or more A*-C grades, including English and Mathematics. 

Principal Jennifer King said: “It is with a great sense of pride that we congratulate our class of 2023 on these outstanding outcomes. All have grown in confidence and self-discipline, ready for the challenges of A-Level studies.

“We must thank governors, our team of dedicated teaching staff and committed parents who work in partnership to provide the necessary encouragement and support for our pupils, who have commendably realised their goals and achieved their personal best.”

Vice-principal Cathal Rice said: “It was truly heart-warming to see the smiles and feel the excitement fill the air as GCSE pupils opened their envelopes to celebrate their success alongside proud parents. Their dedication and efforts have paid off and we cannot wait to see where their journey through Post-16 study at St Colman’s takes them next”. 

Director of Post-16 Danielle Kearney said: “As we continue to experience a high demand for places this year, I encourage any student still hoping to enrol in Post-16 study to contact the college for further information regarding the application process. 

“I look forward to welcoming our internal Year 12 students, and those external students wishing to transfer from other schools and join our Sixth Form in September.”

 

High School Ballynahinch

THE High School Ballynahinch is “extremely proud” of its GCSE pupils.

The principal, Paul Marks, said the pupils had “once again excelled in their GCSE results”.

He remarked: “I want to thank the staff and parents who have supported our children in achieving such high grades.

“I want to wish our pupils the very best of luck in their next stage of their lives, and they will always be part of the High School Ballynahinch family.”