Local Students Perform Well In A-Level Results

Down High School Results Are  ‘Best Ever’ For the second year in a row, the pupils and teachers at Down High School have produced record-breaking A-Level results. More than four out of every five students received at least three top grades and over two out of every five grades achieved was either an A or an A* grade. The percentage of grades awarded A* was 13%, significantly above the Northern Ireland average of 8.6%.

“> The number of pupils achieving more than one A* grade was in double figures and these top performances included three A* grades from Andrew Bryce, Catherine Gilmore, Natasha Lloyd and Kerrie Stevenson. Natasha’s grades enable her to take up her place at Cambridge as do those obtained by Patrick Calvert and Head Girl Megan Wilson. Two pupils, Tara O’Neill and Deputy Head Boy Thomas Turley, secured four A* grades each. Down High School’s Headteacher Mr Paul Logan said that he was delighted that the hard work of pupils and teachers had been so richly rewarded. “It is great to see so many superb outcomes from pupils of all abilities, particularly at a time when university entry is becoming increasingly challenging. Our results at AS-Level are also most encouraging and augur well for next year. I am very pleased that we have been able to significantly improve our results while maintaining our very strong sense of community and extending the excellent programme of extra-curricular activities. I will be congratulating not only our pupils, but also the teaching and non-teaching staff who deserve enormous praise for these record-breaking results”. St Patrick’s Grammar School Enjoys Red Letter Day Principal Sean Sloan was delighted to announce that last Thursday was another red letter day for a hundred A-Level students at St Patrick’s Grammar School when the envelope swere opened. He said, “There were certainly smiles as over 93% of all A-Levels sat resulting in A* – C pass, with an incredible 36% at A* and A grage. ‘Behind the statistics lie numerous individual success stories. 16 students achieved a staggering 3 A’s and A*. “Patrick hgartland and Conor Martin achieved their lifetime ambition of going to Oxford. Eoghan Totten ha sachieved his own ambition of going to Imperial College , London, after gaining an outstanding 4 A*’s. Student Deal Millar achieved full marks in his A Level Maths on his way  to achieving and incredible 5A’s at A-Level. Surely the top student in the whole of Northern Ireland, if not the UK. “The results are even more remarkable considering that he school moved into a brand new building mid-way through the school year. I would just like to wish all of the students the very best for their journey on into university and beyond.” Assumption Grammar School Continue Exam Successes It has been another successful year for Assumption Grammar School A-level students. Again some 99.5% of all A2 level entries were passes with 93% of all grades being between A* and C – that is, out of some 367 entries 365 were passes. 17 students achieved at least 3 A* to A grades.  There were 7 students who achieved 4 A*/A grades.  At AS level, 21 students gained at least 3 A grades with 10 sitting on 4 A grades. Principal Paul McBride has praised the whole Assumption community for its continued success in all areas of school life. He said, “Our ethos demands that we endeavour to search for and nourish the academic and other gifts of our pupils.  Our performances, particularly over recent years, prove that girls achieve highly in a busy and caring Christian environment. “Throughout the academic year we celebrate extra curricular and curricular achievements and new records, almost on a daily basis. The life and social skills developed through our enrichment activities and the excellent delivery of the academic subjects provide our Year 14 students with a passport for the next stage of life. “I do believe that it is our family spirit that gels us together through challenging and changing times, and drives us to continually strive to outdo our previous best.  Therefore, our Trustees, Board of Governors, parents and pupils deserve much praise, and I draw attention especially to the immense contribution of our staff – teachers and support – who illuminate the daily grind of endless routine and smooth the journey towards adulthood.” St Mary’s High School Students Excel The Principal of  St Mary’s High Scool, Mrs Sheila Darling, said, “I am just dlighted for all of our A-Level and A-S Level students this year.They did very well with excellent results adn I extend my congratulations to them and their families. “The success rate achieved at St Mary’s is 100% at A-Level and 97% at AS-level. Many students secured the very top grades of A* and A. Well done all!” Shimna Integrated College Shimna students also celebrated outstanding results at A-Level.  Principal, Kevin Lambe was delighted with the results and mentioned some among the happiest of students with A*s and A’s: Daisy Dillon who heads to Cambridge University to read veterinary science; Liam Baron taking his A*s in maths, physics and chemistry off to Durham University to read engineering; Aisling Murray with her A*s and As goes to Queens University, Belfast to read psychology. Mr Lambe said, “Long distance champion Joanne Mills goes to Birmingham University to read Maths and Sports Science; Ben Cuthbertson had the sense to choose his chemistry degree at Herriot Watt in Edinburgh with a year in Australia included; Suzannah Dunn will study Criminology at Queen’s University. “The list goes on.  Students this year have been under particular pressure, and their success is down to their own hard work and commitment, the skills and commitment of their teachers and the support of their families.  Students have found success across the range of grades and subjects, and have proven once again the nonsense of academic selection and the power of high expectations of all students.” he added.]]>