Wallace holds annual prize day

Mrs Sandra McCabe, Chair of the Board of Governors, Senior Prize Giving Guest, Dr Joanne Stuart, and Principal, Mrs Deborah O'Hare, pictured at the recent Wallace High School Senior Prize Giving.

Principal Mrs Deborah O’Hare reflected on a very busy and extremely successful year which included a school inspection in January and was understandably delighted with the examination results attained by pupils in the school.

She said: “The GCSE results last year were outstanding once again. In a year group of 170, 98 students achieved 9 or more A*-B grades and a very pleasing 75 students achieved 9 or more straight A/ A* grades. At AS level 31 students achieved three or more A grades. The % of A grades last year was higher than the previous years so we expect this group to perform very well at A ‘Level.”

“At A ‘Level 22 students achieved three or more A* or A grades, with Katie Lockhart and Samuel Moore each achieving an outstanding 4 A*. Katie is also a recipient of the 2015 All Ireland Scholarship – The JP McManus Bursary. Looking holistically at the year group 99% of the grades awarded were A*-D. 90% of the grades awarded were at grades A*-C.”

Past pupil Dr Joanne Stuart was the invited guest and proved to be a most engaging speaker.

Having worked in the IT industry for over twenty five years, she was appointed to the role of Director of Development at the Northern Ireland Science Park in April 2015.

She spoke enthusiastically about the importance of entrepreneurs in Northern Ireland and also the STEM subjects, namely Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths which now also encompasses the Arts.

Having spoken to the large crowd she also presented the prizes and certificates to those pupils who recently received their GCSE and A - Level results.

The official part of the day ended with Head Boy Jonny Stewart and Head Girl Bethany Henry thanking Dr Stuart for her attendance and presenting her with some tokens of appreciation.

Mrs O’Hare was understandably delighted with the Senior Prize Giving.

She said: “We have all very much enjoyed celebrating the successes of the young people present and also listening to past pupil Dr Joanne Stuart. I wish to thank her for taking time out of her busy schedule to attend this important event in the school calendar.”

See this week’s STAR for all the pictures.