Joy and tears as pupils end high school career

Joy and tears as pupils end high school career

19 August 2015

DOWN High School in Downpatrick boasts three of Northern Ireland’s top A-level performers of the year.

Three students from the grammar school have taken an equal share of 15 A* grades, gaining them places at Oxford, Cambridge and Trinity College Dublin.

Georgina Majury, Rebecca Guiney and Mark Hanna were among hundreds of local students to return to their school for the last time on Thursday morning to receive their grades.

Mark, who is from Saintfield, said he was “shocked and chuffed” by his five A* results following several months of hard work before the summer exams.

Looking forward to studying medicine at Exeter College in Oxford in the autumn, the former Academy Primary School pupil said he hadn’t gone out for two months before his tests and said he was delighted that sacrifice had now paid off.

Georgina who is looking forward to reading mathematics and physics at Cambridge University, said that while she had hoped for top grades, confirmation of her five A*s also came as a “pleasant surprise.”

“Even though it was predicted, you do not want to expect it,” she said.

“It definitely came as a pleasant surprise. I have no idea what I will do after university though.”

School principal, Paul Logan, said he took great satisfaction from the strong performances of pupils.

“The performances of our students, including the large number who joined us for sixth form study, have been highly impressive and I would like to express my admiration for the work they have put into making these results possible,” he said.

“As our departing Upper Sixth move onto pastures new, I know they will be fully equipped for the exciting challenges of university life.”

Mr Logan was joined by principals across the district who have unanimously praised their students for their effort and results.

Principal of St Patricks Grammar School, Sean Sloan, has also celebrated his school’s highest ever A-level achievements with 87 per cent of pupils attaining the A*-C grades and almost 50 per cent at A or A* grades.

Her said all boys who had joined the school in year 13 had achieved three exams from A*-C.

“While the headline statistic for the school is fantastic, what we as a community are most thrilled about is that each student has surpassed their personal goals.

“I am sure there are a lot of very happy and relieved parents out there who can now enjoy the rest of the summer.”

Peter Dobbin, who is celebrating his first results since being appointed principal of Assumption Grammar School, said he was thrilled that 90 per cent of grades were at A* to C level with 70 per cent of grades at A or B level.

He said the results, which represented a five per cent increase in pupils attaining top grades, were a credit to pupils, parents and staff.

“It is a fitting end to an outstanding year during which our girls experienced success, not only academically, but in a wide range of extra-curricular activities which enrich their lives and equip them with a well-rounded educational experience.”

At Shimna Integrated College, principal Kevin Lambe, congratulated all of the outgoing year 14 students on their A-level results, which he said was proof of the success of “academically excellent, all-ability education. “ 

He said he had students who were now planning to head off to St John’s College Cambridge, Glasgow University, Queen’s University, the University of Ulster and University College Wrexham as well as students planning to study in America and Canada.

“This was a particularly close and supportive year group who pulled together in the face of family tragedy faced by several students, and we are very, very proud of them all,” he said.

Principal of St Colman’s High and Sixth Form College, Mark Morgan, said students had “torn open their envelopes to reveal a strong continued trend of outstanding achievements.”

“Many students obtained the results they needed to go to further education at their choice of universities including Queen’s University Belfast, University of Ulster, Jordanstown and University of Leeds.”

St Mary’s High School principal Mrs Sheila Darling has also congratulated her students for their hard work, which she said combined with a “can do attitude” had brought rewards with 100 per cent achieving pass grades in their A and AS-levels.

Students of St Malachy’s High School in Castlewellan have also been congratulated on their results with 43 per cent of students achieving an A* or A in one of their subjects.

Staff have thanked parents, guardians, teaching and support staff for their tremendous work in supporting and encouraging the young people and enabling them to look forward to a bright future.