Ballee Principal praises pupil and staff for excellent exam results

BALLEE Community High School pupils were among thousands of other GCSE students who received their results last Thursday.

The process was made less stressful than past years with Northern Ireland and mainland examining boards streamlining results by issuing them all them on the same day. Nevertheless, there were many nervous faces as they opened their envelopes.

Principal Mrs Gillian McCartney was delighted with achievements at GCSE and Entry Level with 100% passes in Science (single and double award] Information technology, Art and design, History, Religious Studies, Learning for Life and Work and Sport Studies. Hospitality, Maths, Business Studies Child Development and English all celebrate over 90% pass rate.

She said: "Special mention and congratulations go to the top achievers this year, Lewis Anderson, Philip Hill, Gary Donnelly, Timothy Curry, Lorna Duff, Bronwyn Hillis, Adam O'Neill, Robin Kilpatrick, Nikita Kirk, David Reid, Laura Small, Cheyenne Churchward, Lauren Young, Tiffany Freeburn, Jemma Luke and Shaun Pedlow.

Standards in Art and design and Construction were so high that CEA have retained work from two Ballee pupils as examples of good practise.
In total 95% of pupils who were entered for GCSE achieved success with 68% achieving five or more GCSE grades. 90% of pupils who were entered for Entry Level qualifications were also successful".

Mrs McCartney continued: "This is a tremendous achievement for Ballee and demonstrates the commitment of the school to raising achievement at all levels.

"The staff have worked intensively with the students to encourage, support, and guide them to achieve their potential and pupils have been justly rewarded for their hard work.

"The school will continue to work in the best interests of its pupils and endeavours to encourage and promote academic achievement as we prepare our young people for tomorrow's world.

"Students should never underestimate the investment of education, it serves as a passport to the world of work and enables young people to take their rightful place in the local and global economy.

"I wish all our students every success as they take the next step in the educational and training process."

Best ever GCSE results for St Patrick's pupils

ST Patrick's College is celebrating remarkable success in this year's GCSE examinations.

With a 52% pass rate at A* - C, the students have surpassed all previous school records in terms of achievement and are also well above the Northern Ireland average.

The Principal, Mrs Magee is delighted with the results and added:
"This year's results reflect the hard work and commitment of both the students and the staff.

"We as a school are working very hard to improve standards and this year we are seeing the benefits of the Performance Enhancement
"Programme which we have been developing over the last four years in order to improve pupil achievement and I would like to thank the North Eastern Education and Library Board for the funding we received in order to develop the Programme.

"We intend to build on this success and I hope that the students who have worked so hard will continue to reach their full potential."

Outstanding exam Results from St Louis Grammar

ST Louis GCSE pupils are celebrating a very successful year with 24 of the year group achieving at least 9 A* or A grades. Special congratulations are due to Laura Graham who gained a remarkable 10 A* grades.

A further 12 pupils got 10 A* or A grades. They were: Ailise Boyle; Meabh Brady; Helen Brogan; Aimee Dillon; Matthew Doran; Aisling Elliott; Breige Jackson; Sorcha Lynch; Tracey O'Loan; Connor Purdy; Niamh Ryan; Declan Whiteford

The following pupils also deserve great credit for achieving 9 A* or A grades: Shannon Devlin; Niamh Henry; Rose Hurrell; Laura McCarry; Fergal McFerran; Mark McFerran; Jane McKay; Aidan McKee; Ellen O'Hara; Gerard O'Mullan; Dara Walsh.

Principal, Mr Cassidy praised the hard work of the pupils and the dedication of staff in achieving these excellent results.
Overall pupils achieved 92.4% 7 grades A* – C or better which is a very high standard indeed.

Slemish pupils rewarded for hard work - Dr Jennings

ONCE again our Year 12 students have produced outstanding results.
We are particularly delighted with the high number of students achieving A* and A grades.

One hundred percent of our students were successful in achieving GCSE passes. Dr R S Jennings commented: " I am very pleased that the efforts of our students supported by their parents have been so well rewarded."

Dunclug students congratulated on results

GCSE students are to be congratulated at Dunclug College for their excellent examination achievement.

More than two-thirds of a large year group of 124 pupils were entered for 7 or 8 GCSE subjects and 63% of this group achieved 5 subjects at grades A* - C. Of the total GCSE grades in the college, 56% were grades A* - C.

The highest achieving pupils were: Gary Conaughty, Rebekah Martin, Emma McNabney, Kristopher Mills, Eryn Purdy, Keely Lynn, Joanne Hayes, Aimee Beggs, Matthew Armstrong, Dean Archer and Heather Johnston, followed closely by Clarke Davidson, Andrew McIlmoyle, Rachel Rooney and Naomi Thompson.

The Child Development department achieved the highest percentage of pupils passing at grades A* - C with a superb 95%, followed by Business & Communications Systems (94%), Resistant Materials (87%), Design & Technology (82%), Art & Design (77%), Science (67%), Sports' Studies (64%), Business Studies (62%), Drama (57%), Home Economics (56%).

The English and Mathematics departments each achieved the very pleasing standard of almost 50% of all pupils achieving grades A* - C.

The overall figure of pupils achieving 5 grades A* - C was 43%, and those achieving 4 Grades A* - C, (which is the minimum requirement for return to sit A Level), was 54%. The number of pupils achieving 5 grades A – G was significantly increased to 90% and those achieving 4 Grades A – G to 95%. A small number of pupils were entered for Key Skills in English and Information Technology as an alternative to GCSE.
Record numbers of pupils are returning to school to follow 6th Form courses in both Applied and Academic Advanced Level subjects, including a number of candidates from other schools who have successfully met the Admissions Criteria.

The principal, Mrs R Wilson, congratulated all the students who had worked so hard and the parents who gave such support to their children and the school.

She also paid tribute to the teaching staff, many of whom gave willingly of extra time, particularly through the performance enhancement programme, to prepare their students for the examinations, and whose encouragement resulted in many young people, including those lacking in confidence and those with learning challenges, achieving well beyond their expectations.

Cambridge House Grammar students exceed expectations

GCSE students at Cambridge House Grammar School have exceeded all expectations and achieved results reflecting the highest levels of performance in Northern Ireland post primary provision.

The Board of Governors, staff and students at Cambridge House Grammar School are delighted with the 2008 Year 12 GCSE successes.

Principal, Mrs E Lisk, is particularly pleased with the large number of students who have gained up to 12 GCSE subjects at grade C or above.
She said: "Congratulations go to the 22 students who gained six or more A*/A grades with special mention being given to top students Alicia Mason, Emma McConnell, Laura Brimley and Emma McClintock who all gained 11 or more straight A&/A grades.

"Seven students each gained 12 top grade GCSEs, 35 students each gained 11 top grade GCSEs, 44 students each gained 10 top grade GCSEs, 20 students each gained nine top grade GCSEs, 19 students each gained eight top GCSEs and 35 students each gained seven, six and five top GCSEs. Top subjects were: Art, Biology, Drama, Information Technology and Spanish with 100% pass rates. 73% of drama students gained A*/A grades while 81% of Information Technology students achieved grade B and above.

"This has been another outstanding year in terms of academic success which has been complemented by the school's sporting and extra curricular successes, so important in terms of value-added skills and competences.

"Commendations to all students who conscientiously and consistenty applied themselves fully to the academic, extra curricular and community ethos of the school. These results continue to place the school in a highly prestigious position and reflect the high pastoral care and dynamic leadership at all levels.

"With a newly developed Sixth Form Leadership Initiative and Study Programme, the school will be delighted to welcome back many of our successful Year 12 students as well as students from the area who are interested in post-16 provision."

Interviews are currently taking place for entry into sixth form and Mrs Lisk is confident students will continue their success as they further their studies within the strong academic and pastoral environment within Cambridge House Grammar School.

Cullybackey delight with GCSE results

THE Principal and Staff of Cullybackey High School are delighted with the GCSE results gained by pupils in this year's examinations.

At subject level Art and Design, Design and Technology, History and Religious Studies all scored above 90% in grades A*-C. Particular mention must be made of 100% pass rate at C or above in Music and the outstanding performance in Double Award Science which achieved a similar pass rate of 98.2%. Congratulations to all staff and pupils for these excellent standards.

The top individual performers were Ryan Young (4A*, 2A, 1B, 1C) Jonathan D. Scullion, Aaron Gordon, Emma Gillespie, Natasha McAleese, Graeme McCloy, Blaire Nicholl, Laura Riddel, Rachel Reid and Lisa Crawford who achieved A*s and As. Once again pupils who were positive in attitude, behaviour, motivation and application were well rewarded for their endeavours.

The school is equally mindful of the excellent support given by parents to both the young people and to the school and would wish to thank them again for their continued support.

The school now looks forward to engaging some of these pupils in the school's Sixth Form where there is a history of high achievement. We wish all other pupils departing for education at Grammar, Regional Colleges, Training Agencies or to employment every success for the future.

Interviews are being held next week for anyone who would wish to consider Sixth Form studies at Cullybackey High School.


Academy students make the grade

BALLYMENA Academy Principal Ronnie Hassard said that 176 Year 12 pupils received their GCSE results this morning and the vast majority of them had achieved the high grades which had been predicted for them and, in a number of cases had exceeded even their own expectations.

He added: "Sadly, there are always some disappointments but it is fair to say that this year they have been remarkably few, it has been a time of congratulation much more than consolation.

"Nowadays, with only a tiny number going into employment at 16, the school leaving age is really 18. GCSEs are "gateway" examinations, marking the end of compulsory schooling and the beginning of post-16 education. For all but a few of the pupils in Ballymena Academy the gateway is to 6th Form in this school, for a further two years of 'A' level study, prior to taking up a place in university or college.

The importance of GCSE is not that it is an end-point but because it is the foundation for future learning and higher qualifications.

"In Ballymena Academy we are absolutely delighted with the very high levels of success which our GCSE candidates have obtained and we are very proud of their achievements. Over 99% of the year group gained a minimum of six or more A* to C grades – 97% obtained seven or more such good grades.

"These figures are well above the figures for Northern Ireland Grammar Schools and they show that the school's reputation for excellence has been sustained. 1,574 separate GCSE examinations were taken and about 60% of the grades awarded were A* - A. Indeed 87% of the grades were A* - B which represents an exceptionally high pass rate at these grades. 59 pupils, over one-third of the year group, attained a minimum of eight A*/A grades.

"Outstanding attainment of this kind rests squarely on the ability and effort of well-motivated young people; we should also recognise the high-quality expert and professional teaching which underpins learning; it is equally important to acknowledge the support and encouragement of parents.

"Top achievers with nine A* grades were:- Claire Hayes, Matthew Houston, Victoria McDowell, Sara McMullan, Zoe McQueen and Abigail Nelson

"They were closely followed by those with eight A* and one A grade:- Sara Crockett, Hannah Drennan, Rebecca Huston, Mark Johnston, Matthew Kelso, Jenalee Kennedy, Kirstie McKay, Jack Neeson, David Nesbitt and Andrew Swann.

"Other pupils who obtained nine A*/A grades:- Lauren Agnew, Grace Alexander, John Alexander, Andrew Byers, Charles Deane, George Dennison, Laura Eaton, David Evans, Fiona Gibson, Scott Goodrich, Adam Jackson, Kerry Kirk, Matthew J. McBride, Matthew McCall, Sarah McDowell, Steven McIlroy, Rachael McKillen, Lydia Richards, Charles Simpson, Rachel Simpson, Emma Small, Amy Stewart, Nicola Stewart and Fergus Taylor.

"Other pupils who obtained a minimum of eight A*/A grades:- Matthew Blair, James Burrows, Gemma Dennison, Matthew Dick, Amy Finlay, Tom Foster, Elizabeth Graham, Sarah Hamill, Rachel Harkness, Jemma Jackson, Victoria Johnston, Rachael Lightbody, Joy Logan, Robert Martin, Emma McKay, Brian Moorhead, James Russell, Patrick Taylor and Jordan Tweedy.
"There are many other examples of high achievement, too many to mention here, and a number of instances of pupils who, despite having to contend with illness, injury or difficult family circumstances still managed to secure hugely creditable results.

"Our congratulations to all involved, with every best wish for the future."