Young people excel amid challenges from Covid

Young people excel amid challenges from Covid

18 August 2021

STUDENTS celebrated receiving outstanding results in GCSE and A-Level exams last week following the most challenging two years of their school careers.

Grades were awarded through school/teacher assessments instead of the traditional end of course tests due to students having both years of their courses severely interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Year 12 and Year 14 students and schools succeeded — despite working at home remotely for the majority of last year and having to abide with mask wearing and covid restrictions when they were in school.

Down High School in Downpatrick reported that for the third time in five years every pupil at GCSE level achieved at least seven grades at A*-C,  including English and Mathematics when the grades were released last Thursday.

Seven Year 12 pupils — Reuben Burtney; Jake Cairns-Dickson; Catherine Martin; Kate McConnell; Grace Simpson; Sarah Taylor and Sasha Wilkinson — were each awarded 10 A* grades. 

The school also celebrated with 55% of all grades being A*/A/Distinction*/Distinctions at A-Level released on August 10. 

Four students received four A* grades: Jamie Adams (who will now read Medicine at University College, Oxford) along with Daniel Earnshaw; Sam Moore and Jack Whiffen.

The principal, Mrs Maud Perry, said: “Our pupils have shown remarkable flexibility and resilience to pursue their learning in a range of innovative ways during this most challenging year.”

She said that the school’s partnership with South Eastern Regional College in Downpatrick provided extra benefits for pupils, with BTEC outcomes in Sport, ICT and Engineering continuing to be outstanding.

At St Mary’s High School in Downpatrick, the principal, Miss Rosemary McLaughlin, confirmed 93% of girls achieved five or more GCSEs at grades A*-C and 86% achieved five or more  GCSEs at grades A* - C. including English and Mathematics.

The school’s A—Level results were also impressive.

“Over three quarters of students, 77.1%, of the A-Level cohort achieved three A Levels at grades A*-C,” she said.

“The results obtained reflect the school’s upward trajectory in school performance that has taken place since 2019 and established pre—pandemic.

“It’s important to focus on the achievements of our young people as they were dealing with a very unique situation that was very fast changing.” 

St Patrick’s Grammar School principal, Mr Joe McCann, paid tribute to the school’s A-Level, AS and GCSE pupils who “achieved great academic success while coping with extremely challenging circumstances in an unprecedented year”. 

Overall 97% of all GCSE grades awarded were A*-C.

Louis Sheridan was the top performer, achieving 11 A* grades and 22 other students achieved nine A*/A grades.

At A-Level, Head Boy Cormac Savage achieved four A* grades, while Head Girl Ruby McNiff, Rory Fay, James Kane, Fearghus Kennedy and Daniel Rafferty all achieved three A* grades. 

For those following vocational qualifications, 86% of all grades awarded were Distinction*, with Odhran Sherry the top achiever with three Distinction* grades. 

“This success was made possible by a very strong partnership between teachers, pupils and families,” added Mr McCann. 

Mr Ciaran Maguire, principal of De La Salle High School  in Downpatrick, praised his students for their effort and the way they applied themselves since returning to school in January. 

He said: “The school has continued to build upon the already high attainment levels at GCSE. 

“This year was no different, with expectations set even higher.  While this year was unconventional in terms of awarding final GCSE grades based on Teacher Assessments, the focus for De La Salle High School was to ensure that students were not disadvantaged and to maintain the high expectations and standards that are expected.”

He also praised the “great results” for A–Level students, adding: “Many university courses have already been secured both at home and across the water.”

Assumption Grammar School in Ballynahinch, similar to Down High School, reported that every GCSE student achieved at least seven GCSEs as A*-C grades with 22 of the Year 12 girls  achieving all A*or A grades.

The school said that at A-Level, 100% of students passed at least two A’level subjects, with 96% of all students achieving three A-Levels at grades at A*-C. 

An impressive 31 students achieved at least three A*-A grades.

Principal Mr Peter Dobbin said: “Academically our students have surpassed even our highest expectations. These results are proof that our commitment to ensuring every student reaches their full potential remains at the forefront of the Assumption experience.”

Blackwater Integrated College reported that 90% of students achieved grade C in their courses with 69% achieving five or more grade Cs including in English and Maths.  

Fabian Lowry, Head Boy, exemplified the excellent results, achieving a range of A* and A grades.

Principal Mr Stephen Taylor commented: “The Class of 2021 were always going to be high achievers and they have proved this to be the case.” 

He added it was the college’s aspiration that students would also be able to complete their post-16 studies in a new integrated college in the Mid Down area.

Stephen Hanna, principal St Colmcille’s High School, Crossgar, said that over 90% of students will leave with over seven GCSE grades, including English and Maths GCSEs.

“Today has been a celebration for St Colmcille’s High School in the true sense of the word.  Students have been overjoyed with their success, and given the disruption to their education in the past two years, this has been a well-deserved moment for our pupils and their families.”

Celebrations continued at St Colman’s High & Sixth Form College i Ballynahinch.

The principal, Mr Mark Morgan, said: “Overall 96% of pupils were awarded A*-E grades in all A-Levels studied, securing their places at a range of universities; 96% achieved five or more GCSEs at grades A*-C and 75% achieved five or more A*-C grades including English and Maths”.

The vice-principal, Mrs Jennifer King, said she was looking forward to welcoming the vast majority of students back for the college’s Post-16 courses.

Mr James Hay, principal of St Columba’s College in Portaferry, congratulated the school’s Year 12 pupils for “another set of outstanding GCSE results”.

He said: “This has been a difficult and disrupted 18 months but our pupils have shown that they are exceptionally resilient and talented young people. With the support of their families, teachers and classroom assistants, our Year 12 pupils have achieved results that they can be justly proud of.”

Karen Caulfield, acting principal of Shimna Integrated College in Newcastle, described the school’s results as “exceptional”.

She said: “The Year 14 class of 2021 have done themselves, their families, their school, and their community proud with an extremely impressive 85% of the pupils achieving three or more A Levels at grades A*-C, a statistic which is well in excess of the NI average for all schools. 

“At GCSE, 7 students achieved all A*/A grades including Emily Prosser, past student of Newcastle Primary School, who achieved a fantastic 10 A* grades.”

The principal also mentioned Noah McNamara, past student of All Children’s Integrated Primary School, who achieved three A* grades at A Level in mathematics, philosophy and ethics and software systems.

Miss Sarah-Lucy Hynds, principal of Saintfield High School, congratulated the pupils on their superb GCSE results after a “turbulent year”.

“Our pupils have shown incredible determination and resilience in recent months and it is a joy to celebrate their individual successes and achievements,” she added.

Students at South Eastern Regional College’s Downpatrick Campus also achieved success in their BTEC qualifications.

Many achieved triple distinction stars (D*D*D*) which is the equivalent to three A* grades at A Level. 

Sentana Gorman-Crane (18) achieved triple star distinction in the Level 3 Extended Diploma in IT, Georgia Lynn Kirkwood (19), from Ballynahinch, completed the Level 3 Extended Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment and achieved triple star distinction while Philip Gargan (20) from Newcastle, achieved triple star distinction in Animal Management.