62 per cent of students got five GCSEs

LONDONDERRY finished mid-table in the GCSE results league in 2011/12 when almost 62 per cent of school leavers resident in the area achieved five GCSEs at A* to C, or equivalent qualifications, including GCSEs in English and Maths.

By The Newsroom

Published 2nd Aug 2013, 12:46 BST

The city came thirteenth out of twenty-six listed council areas.

The proportion represents an increase of 9.1 percentage points since 2007/08, significantly higher than the increase across the north of Ireland as a whole, which was 5.7 percentage points.

Education Minister, John O’Dowd, commented: “I very much welcome, therefore, these latest figures from the school leavers’ survey for last year which show that pupils from the Derry area are continuing to perform better, year on year.”

The Minister continued: “This upward trend in attainment is testament to the hard work of the young people from the Derry City Council area who have worked so hard towards their exams and also to the dedication and commitment of those around them – parents, family members, teachers and school staff.

“I commend them on their achievements and hope that the trend continues in future years.”