Making The Grade by Belfast Telegraph

MAKING MARCH 24 2015 l Belfast Telegraph l

THE GRADE

EXAMS RESULTS OF EVERY SCHOOL IN NI PUPILS AND CELEBS TELL THEIR STORIES TIPS AND ADVICE FOR PARENTS & STUDENTS

Jumping for joy: Katrina McDaniel, Christina O’Boyle and Aoife Thomas who all received straight A* grades in their GCSE results at St Dominic’s last year

How Northern Ireland schools perform at GCSE and A-level

MAKING THE GRADE

Belfast Telegraph MARCH 24 2015

Contents St Dominic’s Grammar was one of the top performers

Monkstown Community School was proud of its results

Monkstown jumps 60 places to go top Top 10 Grammars Top 10 performing secondary schools Pages 6&7 Celebrity interviews Page 10 Advice for parents Page 12

Advice for students Page 13

Student interviews Pages 14&15 STORIES COMPILED BY CLAIRE WILLIAMSON

Pages 4&5

Education Correspondent Rebecca Black takes a look at the latest results and how they compare to other years

ur incredible top Catholic schools have continued their academic dominance, but one community school has turned David to their Goliath by leapfrogging 60 places to take the A-level crown. Eight out of the top 10 top performing schools at GCSE, and six out of 10 at A-level were those with a Catholic ethos. And west Belfast girls grammar school St Dominic’s has proven to be the cream of the crop with 94% of its pupils gaining three of the top A-level grades and 99.3% gaining five good GCSEs (including English and maths). But while St Dominic’s has been at the top of the league tables for several years, they were pipped to the post as top performers at A-level by Monkstown Community School. Last year Monkstown saw 66.7% top grades at A-level in the league tables, this year they are at the top with 94.7%. What makes the school’s tale even more powerful is that this is their last year in existence. From September it will have been amalgmated with Newtownabbey Community High School. It should be pointed out that they had just 19 pupils sitting A-levels, a fraction of the 133 at St Dominic’s. But what a way to go out fighting. There will also be celebrations in Enniskillen where two schools which Education Minister John O’Dowd has proposed merging have turned out equally superb results. The Collegiate Grammar School and Portora Royal School were the joint 16th strongest performing schools in the province at GCSE. Overall this year the general standard has risen even higher than last year. Six schools achieved a perfect 100% of grade A* to C at GCSE, up from five last year. These include Sacred Heart Grammar School in Newry, St Mary’s Grammar School in Magherafelt, Rainey Endowed School in Magherafelt, Lumen Christi College in Londonderry, Rathmore Grammar School in Belfast and Dominican College in Belfast. Three of these schools have seen dramatic improvements to reach the top. The only controlled school to achieve 100%, Rainey Endowed scaled the ranks from 40 to joint first place, Dominican College improved from 49 to first and Sacred Heart scaled the ranks from 22 to first. St Mary’s and Rathmore achieved 100% pass rate for the second year in a row, while Lumen Christi achieved the perfect score for the third year in a row.

The standard at A-level dipped slightly with 94.7% being the highest percentage, lower than the 96.6% peak last year. The top 10 performers were evenly split between the maintained and controlled sectors, with just one non grammar — Monkstown Community School — appearing. First placed Monkstown was followed by St Dominic’s, then Thornhill College, Omagh Academy, Rathmore Grammar, Rainey Endowed, Lumen Christi, Strathearn, Dominican College, St Joseph’s Grammar in Dungannon and Friends School in Lisburn. Girls schools have again excelled led by St Dominic’s, representing four out of the top 10 schools at A-level, with the remaining schools mixed. The top performing all boys school at GCSE was the Christian Brothers Grammar in Omagh. In terms of the integrated sector, Ulidia Integrated College in Carrickfergus was at the top in terms of A-level results with a 79.1% rate of three good A-levels. Next was Sperrin Integrated College in Magherafelt with 75% and then Drumragh Integrated College in Omagh (64%). Lagan College was top in terms of GCSE results in the integrated sector with 56% achieving at least five good GCSEs, including maths and English, followed by Crumlin Integrated (50%) and Integrated College, Dungannon (48.6%). Grammar schools dominated the GCSE results holding the top 67 place uninterrupted. St Patrick’s High School in Keady and St Comhghall’s College in Enniskillen top of the non grammars tied for 68th place (80%). The top controlled grammar was Ballycastle High School (78.3%). However it was a much more mixed picture in the A-level results with the aforementioned Monkstown Community School on top with 94.7%, St Colm’s High School in Magherafelt ranked 16 (83.9%), and St Catherine’s College in Armagh at 18 (82.75%). With so many schools to be congratulated, the other end of the table has displayed some worrying educational outcomes. Just 11.5% of boys at the Christian Brothers School in Belfast obtained five or more good GCSEs, including English and Maths. And the troubled Movilla High School in Newtownards — which is currently in formal intervention — saw just 12.4% obtain five or more good GCSEs, including English and maths.

MAKING THE GRADE

Belfast Telegraph MARCH 24 2015

How we did it ... Rebecca Black explains how the tables were collated

elcome to our annual examination of how post-primary pupils across Northern Ireland have performed in the key GCSE and A-level assessments. We have pored over results list from every school in the province for exams taken in the 2013/14 academic year to provide the only definitive league tables. Both present and past pupils from each of the schools will be fascinated to see how the institutions they attended performed, as well as providing an invaluable guide for parents of primary seven children making that all important decision of which school to pick. The Department of Education collects a range of data on pupils’ performance at A-level and GCSE. With regard GCSEs we, as in the previous three years, decided to use the Government benchmark of five GCSEs, including English and Maths, at grades A* to C as this is the standard required to secure most employment. With regard A-levels, we, as in the previous three years, decided to use three A-levels at grades A* to C as this is recognised as the standard required to secure a place on most university undergraduate degree courses.

We opted to feature all post primary schools for each league table and use the Northern Ireland average for the purposes of comparison. Although we have put the schools in numerical order based on the percentage of pupils achieving three A-levels at grade A* to C, and for GCSEs, the percentage of pupils achieving five, including English and Maths at grade C or above, the picture is generally more complex than the ranking suggest. These state exams are used widely across the UK as a barometer of how schools are performing, but it cannot be doubted that it is an extremely blunt tool with which to evaluate a school. They do not measure pastoral case, or what some educationalists term “value added learning”, where a child has made improvements beyond their expected potential. Also included in both league tables are the location of each school, percentage of children at each school who receive free school meals, percentage with special educational needs, whether the school is classified as a grammar school or non grammar school and their rank from the previous year. The Department of Education does not endorse league tables as a “valid basis for comparing performance between schools”.

MAKING THE GRADE

Belfast Telegraph MARCH 24 2015

Schools at the top of their class for exam results Dominican College and Rathmore are just two of the top performing schools in GCSEs while Thornhill show the way in A-level results

GCSE results

DOMINICAN COLLEGE

Dominican College Belfast has seen a significant increase in the percentage of pupils achieving five or more GCSEs with grades A*-C. The all-girls Catholic voluntary grammar school had 100% of its 150 pupils in year 12 for the year 2013/2014 achieve five GCSEs A*-C including English and Maths. It marks an increase for the north Belfast school as it scored 88% in 2012/2013. It was 1265 pupils in total as per enrolment in 2013/2014. This year the 11-18 school is tied Catherine McNicholl from with four other Catholic grammar Dominican College, Fortwilliam schools in first position, whereas last year it was ranked 61st. The school was founded in the 1930s by the Dominican Sisters.

RATHMORE GRAMMAR Rathmore Grammar Belfast has secured a place within the top five grammar schools for both GCSE and A-level results. The co-educational grammar school in South Belfast maintained its place at the top of the league table as all 183 pupils in year 12 achieved

five GCSEs with grade A*-C including English and maths. While it has performed consistently within GCSE, the past year saw a marked improvement in the number of pupils achieving three A-levels with grades A*-C. This year it was ranked fifth with a score of 88.1% up on the previous year where it ranked 19th with 83.5% of pupils making the grade. The 11-19 school caters for 1260 pupils.

LUMEN CHRISTI COLLEGE Lumen Christi College has maintained its place at the top of the GCSE league table with a 100% pass rate. The co-educational catholic grammar which is open to children of all faiths was founded in September 1997 and has 847 pupils. The Derry grammar school which was founded in September 1997 is located at the site of the old St Columb’s College

It has consistently maintained its place at the top for the past three years. In the year 2013/2014 it had 119 pupils in year 12.

RAINEY ENDOWED Rainey Endowed has enjoyed an increase in pass rate in the league tables as it climbed to tied first position. The voluntary grammar in Magherafelt also made the top five for academic achievement at A-level. The school had a total of 719 pupils, 102 of which were in year 12 sitting GCSEs scored a 100% pass rate for pupils obtaining five GCSEs at A*-C. This was an increase on the previous year where it scored 94.7% and was ranked in 40th position. Which was a drop on 2013 where it was ranked 10th. Rainey Endowed was fifth, with 88% of pupils achieving three A-levels with grades A*-C. This was an increase on 78.7% from the previous year where it was ranked 34th.

ST MARY’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL St Mary’s Grammar School Magherafelt, a co-educational Catholic voluntary grammar school, has

been at the top of the league table for GCSE results for two years in a row. The school, founded in 1927 by the Sisters of the Holy Family and located on the north side of Magherafelt, scored a 100% pass rate of pupils achieving five GCSE grades A*-C . The current enrolment figure for the school is 1099 and there were 153 pupils in year 12 in 2013/2014. It has maintained its academic success by consistently scoring a 100% pass rate at GCSE. It has climbed in the past two years as in 2013 it was ranked 13th.

SACRED HEART GRAMMAR SCHOOL Sacred Heart Grammar School in Newry has secured a place at the top of the league table by jumping more than 20 ranks. The Catholic girls’ school with 855 students achieved 100% pass rate at GCSE with 118 year 12s. A small but significant increase on the previous year which scored 97.5%. But in terms of ranking it marked a stark increase as it pushed it up 22 places. In the previous year 2013 it was ranked 16. Compared to the Northern Ireland average which is 94.5%, Sacred Heart Grammar School has surpassed it.

MAKING THE GRADE

Belfast Telegraph MARCH 24 2015

Pupils from Dominican College, Fortwilliam, Belfast, which was one of the top performers JONATHAN PORTER/PRESSEYE

A-Level results THORNHILL COLLEGE The all-girls Catholic school has shot up to second place in the top five grammar schools at A-level. The Derry based school saw 91 percent of its year 14 pupils achieve three A-levels with grades A*-C. It is ranked third overall in the league table which is a significant increase from 33rd the former year. The girls school had 1400 pupils in 2013/14 and of those 142 were in year 14. In 2013 the school marked its 80th anniversary on the Culmore Road site.

ST DOMINIC’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL St Dominic’s all-girls Catholic school in west Belfast has topped the grammar leaderboard for the past two years. Founded by the Dominican Order in 1870 and located on the Falls Road it has claimed the top spot with 94% of pupils in year 14 getting three A-levels A*s -C. It is a slight increase on the previous year’s result where it scored 96.6%. However, this year it has been knocked off the top spot on the overall table and is ranked second.

The voluntary grammar school had 1022 in the year 2013/14 with 136 in year 14 sitting A-levels. Principal Mrs Carol McCann said: “I think it’s just a long tradition of success in the school. “Since the school was established in 1870 that long tradition has been there building girls up confidence wise and high academic focus. “But the school would be always has been about much wider than academic focus its always been about developing the individual. “Currently our focus is not just about girls with great results it has to be so much more,” the principal added.

OMAGH ACADEMY OMAGH Academy has soared in to the top five of Northern Ireland’s grammar schools for academic achievement at A-level. The controlled grammar school founded in 1903 had a total of 660 pupils in 2013/2014 of which 92 were in year 14. Overall it is ranked fourth with a 88.6% of pupils achieving three A-levels A*-C. This is a significant increase on the previous year where it was ranked 32nd overall with 79.2 percent. Omagh Academy is a co-educational controlled grammar school which says it is open to all and welcome applications from boys and girls throughout the Omagh area.

Shusma Balaji from St Dominic’s Grammar School for Girls in west Belfast

MAKING THE GRADE

Belfast Telegraph MARCH 24 2015

Non-grammars

All-ability schools on up once-again with many enjoying

St Patrick’s best for GCSEs ST PATRICK’S HIGH SCHOOL In a notable increase, St Patrick’s High School in Keady soared to the top of the leaderboard for the non-grammar schools with an impressive score of 80% at GCSE. Last year, the Catholic maintained school scored 69.6% and was ranked 69th in the league table and this year has risen one place to 68th. This was a further increase on the previous year where the Catholic maintained school for 11 to 18-year-olds moved from 74th position. The Co Armagh school had 1,020 pupils in 2013/2014, 155 of which were year 12 pupils. In comparison to the NI average it far surpasses the non-grammar average of 44.0%.

ST PATRICK’S CO-ED COMPREHENSIVE COLLEGE

St Comhghall’s pupils (top and bottom) were delighted with their marks

St Patrick’s Co-Ed comprehensive college in Maghera is one of the larger non-grammar schools with a population of 1,338 pupils. It has increased on last year with the number of year 12 pupils achieving five GCSEs with grade A*-C. There were 201 pupils in year 12 and increased from 68.2% in 2013 to 79.5% in 2014. The co-educational 11-18 college situated in Maghera, Co Londonderry is currently ranked 71st which is up one place on the previous year. It has far surpassed the non-grammar average for GCSE percentages which was 44.5%.

ST COMHGHALL’S COLLEGE This Catholic maintained school has increased considerably in the past year. It scored an 80% for pupils obtaining five GCSEs grades A*-C and is joint at the top of the leaderboard of non-grammar schools. This was a remarkable increase on the previous year where 53.8% of year 12 pupils achieved

5 GCSEs with grades A*-C including maths and English. In 2013/2014 it had 427 pupils with 68 in year 12 and is ranked in 68th place on the league table which is a steep incline from its rank of 86th in 2013. It far surpasses the non-grammar average for Northern Ireland and is not far from the grammar average which is just 94.5%.

ST KILLIAN’S COLLEGE St Killian’s College, Carnlough has improved again as it continues to improve year on year with GCSE results. The all-ability school was formed in 2010 following the amalgamation of three post-primary schools in the area. It has climbed from 56.7% achieving five GCSEs at grades A*-C including maths and English to 79.8% closing the gap on the schools just above it in the top five. The 11-18 Catholic bi-lateral co-educational college is currently ranked in 70th place an increase on the previous year where it was 83rd. It has 818 pupils in 2013/2014 and of that 114 were in year 12.

ST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE St Catherine’s College in Armagh has made the top five for non-grammar schools for both GCSE results and A-levels. In 2013/2014 it had 1,182 pupils of that 170 were in year 12 and 127 in year 14. For GCSEs it has improved from a 71.7% pass rate of pupils achieving five GCSEs at A*-C to 79.1%. It is currently ranked 72nd in the league table. The school has existed for 40 years in Armagh but its parent school, the Scared Heart Convent existed for many years before that. The school has also made the top five for non-grammar schools at A-level. It achieved a pass rate of 82.7% which was up slightly on the previous year where it scored 80.6%. The school is ranked 18th in the A-level league table which is a significant climb from 30th.

Hard work paid off for the schools

MAKING THE GRADE

Belfast Telegraph MARCH 24 2015

get top marks

rises in pupils gaining A*-C grades in their examinations

Monkstown top for A-levels MONKSTOWN COMMUNITY SCHOOL Monkstown Community School has shot to the top of the A-level league table in a dramatic increase rising from 64th to first place. Monkstown Community School is a co-educational secondary school located on the Bridge Road, in Monkstown, Newtownabbey near Belfast. It scored 94.7% a dramatic increase on the previous year where it scored 66.7% and was ranked 64th. In 2013 it was ranked 161st. In 2014 the school which has 554 pupils in 2013/2014 is earmarked for amalgamation with Newtownabbey Community High School and the creation of a new school for the area. It had 19 pupils sitting in year 14 in 2013/2014. Principal Nigel Pell-Ilderton said: “The increase has been not letting the foot off the pedal. We have increased the entry requirements into sixth form to ensure everybody that goes in with five GCSEs to try to get them doing the right courses, give them the right offer and then it’s down to staff and pupils and efforts they have put in to make it a reality. “It’s about raising expectations.”

Monkstown Community School

ST PATRICK’S COLLEGE St Patrick’s College in Londonderry has secured its place in the top five non-grammar schools at A-Level with more than 70% achieving three A-Levels. The Roman maintained is ranked 55th this year overall, up on last year where it was 94th with 52.6% achieving three A-levels grades A*C. This year it scored 70.4% and has surpassed the Northern Ireland average for a non-grammar school at A-Level which was 47.7%. The school which was opened in 1962 had 280 pupils in 2013/2014 and of those 27 pupils were in year 14.

TOP 5 GRAMMAR A-LEVEL St Dominic’s Grammar School, Belfast 94% Thornhill College, Londonderry 94% Omagh Academy 88.6% Rathmore Grammar School 88.1% Rainey Endowed, Magherafelt 88%

TOP 5 GCSE GIRLS’ SCHOOLS Dominican College, Belfast 100% Sacred Heart, Newry 100% St Dominic’s, Belfast 99.3% Thornhill, Londonderry 99.0% Mount Lourdes, Enniskillen 98.9%

St Colm’s High School in Magherafelt has a consistent record for academic excellence. The Catholic maintained school had 83.9% of pupils achieving three A-levels with grades A*-C. The co-educational school has seen its overall rank rise to 16th on the league table and was second in the top five non-grammar school section. In the 2013/2014 year it had 441 pupils, 32 of which were in year 14.

Holy Trinity College in Cookstown has enjoyed increased academic success in the past year as it took fourth place in the top five of the non-grammar schools. The Catholic maintained school had 959 pupils in the year 2013/2014. Of those 85 were in year 14 and 74% achieved three A-Levels with grades A*-C. This was a marked increase on the previous year as it was 67.4% and ranked 63rd — this year it has climbed to 43. Earlier this month the school was authorised an expansion which will now be able to increase its enrolment to 1,300 pupils including a phased increase in admission over a three-year period starting from September 2016.

SECONDARY/NON-GRAMMAR St Patrick’s High School, Keady 80% St Comhghall’s College, Enniskillen 80% St Killian’s College, Carnlough 79.8% St Patrick’s Co-ed Comprehensive College, Maghera 79.5% St Catherine’s, Armagh 79.1%,

TOP 5 SECONDARY/NON-GRAMMAR Monkstown Community School 94.7% St Colm’s High School, Magherafelt 83.9% St Catherine’s College, Armagh 82.7% Holy Trinity College, Cookstown 74% St Patrick’s College, Londonderry 70.4%

ST COLM’S HIGH SCHOOL

HOLY TRINITY COLLEGE

TOP 6 GRAMMAR GCSE Dominican College, Belfast Rathmore Grammar School, Belfast Lumen Christi College, Londonderry Rainey Endowed, Magherafelt St Mary Grammar School, Magherafelt Sacred Heart Grammar School, Newry — all with 100%.

Monks town Community School pupil Hollie Dillon(18)

Monks town Community School pupil Ross Moore(17)

TOP 6 GCSE BOYS’ SCHOOLS Portora Royal School, Enniskillen 98.5% Abbey Christian Brother’s Grammar School Newry 97.0% St Colman’s College Newry 96.9% St Malachy’s College, Belfast 95.5% Christian Brothers Grammar School Omagh 94.6% Bangor Grammar School 94.6% TOP 5 A-LEVEL GIRLS St Dominic’s Grammar School Belfast 94% Thornhill, Londonderry 91.0% Strathearn School, Belfast 87.5% Dominican College, Belfast 87.3% Loreto Grammar School, Omagh 80.6% A -LEVEL BOYS Christian Brothers Grammar School, Omagh 81.3% St Colmans College, Newry 80.6% St Patrick’s Grammar, Downpatrick 78.2% Bangor Grammar School 71.8% Portora Royal School, Enniskillen 71.4% TOP 5 GCSE INTEGRATED SCHOOLS Lagan College, Belfast 56.1% Slemish College, Ballymena 51.8% Crumlin Integrated College 50.0% Integrated College, Dungannon 48.6% FortHill College, Liburn 47.9% TOP 5 A-LEVEL INTEGRATED SCHOOLS Ulidia Integrated College, Carrickfergus 79.1% Sperrin Integrated College, Magherafelt 75.0% Drumragh Integrated College, Omagh 64.0% Slemish College, Ballymena 60.9% Lagan College, Belfast 57.1%

8 Rank 1= 1= 1= 1= 1= 1= 7= 7= 9 10 11= 11= 13= 13= 15 16= 16= 16= 19= 19= 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29= 29= 29= 32 33 34 35 36= 36= 38 39 40 41= 41= 41= 44= 44= 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53= 53= 53= 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68= 68= 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89= 89= 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102

MAKING THE GRADE School Name

Town

Sacred Heart Grammar School St Mary’s Grammar School Rainey Endowed School Lumen Christi College Rathmore Grammar School Dominican College Friends’ School St Louis Grammar School St Dominic’s High School Loreto College Banbridge Academy Thornhill College Ballymena Academy Mount Lourdes Grammar School Sullivan Upper School Collegiate Grammar School Down High School Portora Royal School Dalriada School Loreto Grammar School Aquinas Diocesan Grammar School Omagh Academy Ballyclare High School Wallace High School Grosvenor Grammar School Our Lady and St Patrick’s College Abbey Christian Brothers Grammar School St Colman’s College Our Lady’s Grammar School Strathearn School Belfast Royal Academy Lurgan College St Louis Grammar School Assumption Grammar School Belfast High School Portadown College St Malachy’s College Victoria College Bloomfield Collegiate Methodist College Bangor Grammar School Antrim Grammar School Christian Brothers’ Grammar School The Royal School Dungannon Limavady Grammar School Coleraine Academical Institution The Royal Belfast Academical Institution St Michael’s College Glenlola Collegiate Hunterhouse College Carrickfergus Grammar School Wellington College St Joseph’s Grammar School St Patrick’s Grammar School Larne Grammar School St Columb’s College St Patrick’s Academy Coleraine High School St Patrick’s Grammar School The Royal School Armagh St Michael’s Grammar Foyle College Regent House School St Mary’s Christian Brothers’ Grammar School Cambridge House Grammar School Dominican College Campbell College St Patrick’s High School St Comhghall’s College St Killian’s College St Patrick’s Co-ed Comprehensive College St Catherine’s College Ballycastle High School St Eugene’s College Our Lady of Lourdes High School Cross and Passion College St Mark’s High School Newtownhamilton High School Dean Maguirc College St Colm’s High School Markethill High School St Colmcille’s High School St Paul’s High School St Patricks & St Brigids High School St Mary’s High School St Patrick’s College Rathfriland High School St Pius X College St Ciaran’s High School Omagh High School Colaiste Feirste Lagan College St Paul’s College St Patrick’s College St John’s Business and Enterprise College St Columba’s College De La Salle High School St Joseph’s College Drumcree College Strabane Academy Saintfield High School St Cecilia’s College

NEWRY MAGHERAFELT MAGHERAFELT LONDONDERRY BELFAST BELFAST LISBURN BALLYMENA BELFAST COLERAINE BANBRIDGE LONDONDERRY BALLYMENA ENNISKILLEN HOLYWOOD ENNISKILLEN DOWNPATRICK ENNISKILLEN BALLYMONEY OMAGH BELFAST OMAGH BALLYCLARE LISBURN BELFAST BELFAST NEWRY NEWRY NEWRY BELFAST BELFAST CRAIGAVON KILKEEL BALLYNAHINCH NEWTOWNABBEY CRAIGAVON BELFAST BELFAST BELFAST BELFAST BANGOR ANTRIM OMAGH DUNGANNON LIMAVADY COLERAINE BELFAST ENNISKILLEN BANGOR BELFAST CARRICKFERGUS BELFAST DUNGANNON DOWNPATRICK LARNE LONDONDERRY DUNGANNON COLERAINE ARMAGH ARMAGH CRAIGAVON LONDONDERRY NEWTOWNARDS BELFAST BALLYMENA PORTSTEWART BELFAST KEADY ENNISKILLEN BALLYMENA MAGHERA ARMAGH BALLYCASTLE ENNISKILLEN BALLYMONEY BALLYCASTLE NEWRY NEWRY OMAGH MAGHERAFELT ARMAGH CROSSGAR NEWRY LONDONDERRY NEWRY LONDONDERRY NEWRY MAGHERAFELT DUNGANNON OMAGH BELFAST BELFAST COLERAINE BANBRIDGE OMAGH PORTAFERRY DOWNPATRICK BELFAST PORTADOWN STRABANE SAINTFIELD LONDONDERRY

Belfast Telegraph MARCH 24 2015

GCSE LEAGUE TABLE %

FSM2

SEN2

Type

100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 99.3 99.3 99.3 99.2 99.0 99.0 98.9 98.9 98.7 98.6 98.5 98.5 98.4 98.4 98.2 97.9 97.8 97.7 97.5 97.3 97.0 96.9 96.6 96.6 96.6 96.5 96.3 95.8 95.7 95.5 95.5 95.4 95.1 94.8 94.6 94.6 94.6 93.8 93.8 93.4 93.1 92.6 92.5 91.9 91.7 91.5 91.3 91.3 91.3 90.7 90.5 90.1 90.0 89.0 88.7 88.3 88.1 87.6 86.5 85.7 83.2 80.0 80.0 79.8 79.5 79.1 78.3 77.8 70.5 66.1 66.0 65.9 64.5 64.4 63.4 63.2 63.0 60.0 59.7 59.3 59.2 58.3 57.6 57.6 57.1 56.1 55.9 55.6 55.2 54.8 54.5 52.9 52.8 52.2 52.1 52.0

9.3 4.6 8.8 7.6 3.8 8.0 * 7.1 19.4 7.6 3.6 18.3 5.2 6.3 * 7.9 4.5 7.6 * 8.9 5.2 7.1 * 2.9 6.2 2.7 5.8 10.9 9.3 * 7.2 4.3 8.5 10.8 4.3 4.9 5.0 9.0 5.8 2.0 9.2 * 16.9 5.2 7.6 6.4 3.8 9.5 5.5 5.8 8.3 7.5 14.6 6.4 4.7 17.1 12.5 5.0 9.2 * 9.7 9.8 6.0 22.8 4.0 10.0 0.0 21.9 34.0 18.4 15.9 20.6 18.0 16.7 24.1 16.5 27.0 * 25.3 12.8 7.1 20.4 28.6 25.4 32.3 41.4 14.5 20.1 17.4 14.5 41.2 17.3 20.5 22.1 35.3 19.5 29.9 38.5 27.1 27.4 9.2 37.4

* * 0.0 12.6 7.7 6.7 6.2 4.3 4.5 8.4 3.1 9.9 * 9.5 3.8 6.6 7.5 7.6 4.0 17.7 6.9 15.3 3.8 9.9 11.7 10.8 3.6 * * 23.9 8.1 * 6.1 9.2 * 3.4 36.5 24.6 9.6 8.0 6.2 4.5 13.1 5.2 14.5 9.6 18.9 22.1 8.5 10.7 5.0 8.3 * 8.5 * 17.1 * * 5.0 * 5.5 28.8 4.1 5.6 * 7.1 15.8 21.3 34.0 16.7 6.5 25.3 * 36.7 46.3 24.4 35.0 17.8 16.5 21.8 14.1 30.1 12.2 26.3 32.3 15.5 12.7 14.3 30.4 39.1 36.5 17.3 32.9 44.1 23.5 22.0 34.3 15.4 27.1 24.2 36.8 19.8

G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

2014 Rank 22 1= 40= 1= 1= 61 11= 7 20= 28= 18 13 14 59 6 10 20= 11= 25= 8 39 19 42 15= 34= 9 48 36 1= 15= 45 32 56 32 50 24 31 34= 53 25= 57 15= 51 38 23 66 54 60 30 65 62 46

G G G G G G G G G G G G G G NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG

25= 63 40= 37 28= 52 43 44 47 55 71 58 49 64 69 86 83 70 67 84 176= 77 106 95 122= 120 110 117 76 90 88 78

NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG G NG NG

68 101 93= 105 161 100 80 72 113= 127 133 122= 202= 82 109 89

Rank

School Name

Town

103 104 105= 105= 105= 105= 105= 110 111 112= 112= 114 115 116= 116= 118 119 120 121 122= 122= 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132= 132= 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142= 142= 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156= 156= 158 159 160 161 162= 162= 162= 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174= 174= 174= 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 192 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204

Slemish College St Mary’s College Aughnacloy High School Lisnagarvey High School Crumlin Integrated College St Mary’s College Castlederg High School Holy Cross College Integrated College St Malachy’s High School Dunclug College St Mary’s High School St Aidan’s High School Fort Hill College St Louise’s Comprehensive College Kilkeel High School St Mary’s High School Sperrin Integrated College St Mary’s College Holy Trinity College Magherafelt High School Ashfield Boys’ High School Cookstown High School Dromore High School St Mary’s High School St Joseph’s College Sacred Heart College St Patrick’s College Drumragh Integrated College St Columban’s College Erne Integrated College Newry High School Ulidia Integrated College St Patrick’s Academy New-Bridge Integrated College St Joseph’s High School Fivemiletown College Newtownbreda High School Devenish College St Columbanus’ College St Mary’s Limavady Hazelwood College Glastry College De La Salle College Laurelhill Community College Brownlow Int College Limavady High School Lisneal College Oakgrove Integrated College Shimna Integrated College Larne High School St Colman’s High School St Joseph’s College Dundonald High School Cullybackey High School Glengormley High School St Fanchea’s College Banbridge High School St Joseph’s Boys’ School St Joseph’s Boys’ High School St Genevieve’s High School Ashfield Girls’ High School St Benedict’s College Belfast Boys’ Model School St Brigid’s College Carrickfergus College Lismore Comprehensive School Ballymoney High School Blackwater Integrated College Edmund Rice College Little Flower Girls’ School St Patrick’s College Parkhall Integrated College St Patrick’s College Strangford Integrated College Craigavon Senior High School Corpus Christi College Downshire School Drumglass High School Nendrum College Ballyclare Secondary School St Brigid’s High School City Armagh High School North Coast Integrated College Bangor Academy and 6th Form College Knockbreda High School Dunluce High School Immaculate Conception College St Joseph’s College Belfast Model School For Girls Coleraine College Priory College The High School Ballynahinch Mercy College Monkstown Community School St Colm’s High School Malone Integrated College Newtownabbey Community High School St Rose’s Dominican College Movilla High School Christian Brothers School St Paul’s Junior High School

BALLYMENA LONDONDERRY AUGHNACLOY LISBURN CRUMLIN ENNISKILLEN CASTLEDERG STRABANE DUNGANNON CASTLEWELLAN BALLYMENA DOWNPATRICK DERRYLIN LISBURN BELFAST NEWRY CRAIGAVON MAGHERAFELT BALLYMENA COOKSTOWN MAGHERAFELT BELFAST COOKSTOWN DROMORE ENNISKILLEN DUNGANNON OMAGH BALLYMENA OMAGH NEWRY ENNISKILLEN NEWRY CARRICKFERGUS LISBURN BANBRIDGE NEWRY FIVEMILETOWN BELFAST ENNISKILLEN BANGOR LIMAVADY NEWTOWNABBEY NEWTOWNARDS BELFAST LISBURN CRAIGAVON LIMAVADY LONDONDERRY LONDONDERRY NEWCASTLE LARNE BALLYNAHINCH ENNISKILLEN BELFAST BALLYMENA NEWTOWNABBEY ENNISKILLEN BANBRIDGE LONDONDERRY NEWRY BELFAST BELFAST RANDALSTOWN BELFAST LONDONDERRY CARRICKFERGUS CRAIGAVON BALLYMONEY DOWNPATRICK NEWTOWNABBEY BELFAST DUNGANNON ANTRIM BELFAST CARROWDORE PORTADOWN BELFAST CARRICKFERGUS DUNGANNON NEWTOWNARDS BALLYCLARE ARMAGH ARMAGH COLERAINE BANGOR BELFAST BUSHMILLS LONDONDERRY COLERAINE BELFAST COLERAINE HOLYWOOD BALLYNAHINCH BELFAST NEWTOWNABBEY BELFAST BELFAST NEWTOWNABBEY BELFAST NEWTOWNARDS BELFAST CRAIGAVON

FSM

SEN

Type

51.8 51.7 50.0 50.0 50.0 50.0 50.0 49.8 48.6 48.5 48.5 48.3 48.0 47.9 47.9 47.8 47.6 47.5 46.8 46.7 46.7 46.2 46.0 45.9 45.8 45.7 45.2 44.9 44.8 44.4 44.4 43.2 43.0 42.9 42.1 42.0 41.9 41.8 41.7 41.6 41.6 41.4 41.3 41.1 40.8 40.7 40.0 39.7 39.6 38.8 38.6 38.2 37.5 36.8 36.8 36.2 36.1 35.9 35.8 35.5 35.5 35.5 35.1 34.9 34.6 34.5 34.4 34.2 34.1 34.0 33.7 33.3 33.3 33.3 32.9 31.8 31.7 31.5 30.9 30.8 30.5 30.3 30.0 29.3 28.7 28.4 27.4 27.0 26.4 24.7 24.1 23.0 20.7 20.3 18.7 18.1 15.2 14.7 14.0 12.4 11.5 *

13.8 44.0 * 32.2 28.6 22.9 30.6 30.2 32.1 27.3 24.8 33.3 * 17.2 33.9 12.8 27.7 23.0 28.6 37.8 20.5 24.1 12.1 7.8 37.0 51.4 34.8 21.1 32.1 32.7 20.6 15.7 17.0 26.3 10.5 40.6 13.3 28.4 19.3 17.5 43.5 32.9 9.9 35.6 18.9 28.1 23.1 31.1 36.7 19.1 35.1 33.3 20.5 35.9 18.9 30.9 18.6 20.9 45.3 37.0 37.4 24.8 25.7 43.0 57.1 14.9 29.8 26.0 30.3 32.7 40.0 29.7 16.7 35.9 15.4 19.2 65.9 19.7 16.9 14.6 9.1 39.5 14.3 34.6 15.4 25.3 19.5 48.9 32.2 41.8 50.0 23.3 17.6 56.2 24.3 50.4 48.9 56.8 71.7 31.7 53.6 31.3

18.7 29.1 25.0 5.7 35.7 34.3 16.5 21.0 38.1 24.2 53.1 22.7 59.5 26.4 50.2 21.4 15.4 27.6 10.2 16.2 17.0 21.4 22.3 14.4 40.7 26.4 17.7 33.3 36.6 16.3 51.5 28.9 35.1 18.8 27.9 22.6 21.7 85.3 42.2 8.2 22.6 34.2 * 50.0 8.8 12.5 30.8 31.8 46.9 27.0 24.7 25.4 64.1 56.3 18.2 23.7 31.4 19.4 36.9 37.0 62.6 26.4 9.5 58.5 73.9 29.8 16.3 18.7 37.9 20.0 62.9 15.8 12.5 39.8 27.5 21.0 72.7 6.8 27.7 12.2 24.4 15.8 32.7 16.7 26.7 25.3 18.4 46.7 20.3 31.6 45.5 27.9 50.0 43.8 24.3 60.3 27.0 43.2 32.1 31.7 66.7 31.3

NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG NG

2014 Rank 73 118 74 172= 172= 172= 190 125= 130 116 99 81 108 149 112 75 200 93= 92 154 180 111 87 79 125= 183 134 128= 85 153 130= 119 113= 96 91 145= 102= 162 155 107 137 132 168= 133 128= 179 135= 172= 102= 170 194 98 97 196 181 121 159 124 178 145= 102= 171 143 138 186 167 115 164 156 176= 152 187 160 198 144 150 166 148 141 158 142 192= 185 184 151 157 195 204= 145= 188 189 163 140 182 201 168= 192= 139 197 199 191 204=

Source: 1Summary of Annual Examination Results; 2Annual School Census; n/a - not applicable, no pupils in the final year of an A-level (or equivalent) course; Note: The data referring to SEN and free school meals refers to the total number of pupils in the year for this school. It includes pupils excluded in the SAER figures; * denotes fewer than 5 pupils; The information contained in this table does not provide a valid basis for comparing performance between schools, since it takes no account of the intake of a school or any other factors that may affect pupil perfromance. % = Year 12 pupils achieving 5+ GCSEs grades A*-C (including equivalents) including GCSE English and GCSE maths1. SEN = % year 14 pupils with special educational needs stages 1-52. FSM = % year 14 pupils entitled to free school meals2. G = Grammar school. NG = Non-grammar school.

Rank

School Name

MAKING THE GRADE

Belfast Telegraph MARCH 24 2015

Town

A-LEVEL LEAGUE TABLE %

FSM

SEN

Type

2014 Rank

Rank

School Name

Town

FSM

SEN

Type

2014 Rank

Monkstown Community School

NEWTOWNABBEY

94.7

0.0

64=

Lagan College

BELFAST

57.1

8.3

7.3

St Dominic's High School

BELFAST

94.0

13.2

3.7

91=

St Michael's Grammar

CRAIGAVON

55.7

13.2

Thornhill College

LONDONDERRY

91.0

14.1

12.0

91=

Coleraine Academical Institution

COLERAINE

55.7

Omagh Academy

OMAGH

88.6

0.0

19.6

Erne Integrated College

ENNISKILLEN

53.1

19.5

41.5

127

Rathmore Grammar School

BELFAST

88.1

6.4

Lisnagarvey High School

LISBURN

52.9

0.0

54=

Rainey Endowed School

MAGHERAFELT

88.0

9.4

7.3

Belfast Boys' Model School

BELFAST

52.8

25.0

55.4

137= 97=

5 6= 6=

Lumen Christi College

LONDONDERRY

88.0

6.6

14.0

St Mark's High School

NEWRY

52.3

Strathearn School

BELFAST

87.5

0.0

17.7

Dominican College

PORTSTEWART

51.5

9.0

Dominican College

BELFAST

87.3

7.8

5.5

St Mary's High School

NEWRY

51.2

33.3

132

St Joseph's Grammar School

DUNGANNON

87.1

12.3

Lisneal College

LONDONDERRY

50.8

15.9

11.1

117

Friends' School

LISBURN

86.4

3.7

100=

St Joseph's High School

NEWRY

50.0

31.0

118

Dunclug College

BALLYMENA

50.0

19.6

26.1

146

Colaiste Feirste

BELFAST

49.3

28.9

31.6

154= 133

St Mary's Grammar School

MAGHERAFELT

86.3

3.9

100=

Our Lady's Grammar School

NEWRY

86.1

9.6

102

Aquinas Diocesan Grammar School

BELFAST

85.6

12.7

103

St Mary's College

BALLYMENA

48.3

St Louis Grammar School

BALLYMENA

85.2

5.3

104

St Brigid's College

LONDONDERRY

48.1

42.9

78.6

153

Ballymena Academy

BALLYMENA

84.3

3.1

105

Mercy College

BELFAST

47.8

26.5

161=

St Colm's High School

MAGHERAFELT

83.9

0.0

17=

106

Omagh High School

OMAGH

47.7

12.5

29.2

139

Our Lady and St Patrick's College

BELFAST

83.8

10.2

107

Newry High School

NEWRY

47.6

17.7

9.7

100=

St Catherine's College

ARMAGH

82.7

18.1

3.9

108

Ashfield Boys' High School

BELFAST

46.9

16.4

21.8

140=

Banbridge Academy

BANBRIDGE

82.6

109

Little Flower Girls' School

BELFAST

46.7

19.2

42.3

107

Wallace High School

LISBURN

81.8

5.4

110

Cross and Passion College

BALLYCASTLE

46.5

14.7

Christian Brothers' Grammar School

OMAGH

81.3

10.1

10.8

111

Kilkeel High School

NEWRY

46.4

111

Limavady Grammar School

LIMAVADY

80.7

5.2

12.2

112=

Holy Cross College

STRABANE

46.0

32.4

9.8

23=

St Colman's College

NEWRY

80.6

6.3

112=

Ashfield Girls' High School

BELFAST

46.0

9.8

112= 77

23=

Loreto Grammar School

OMAGH

80.6

9.6

12.6

114

New-Bridge Integrated College

BANBRIDGE

45.2

18.2

15.9

Loreto College

COLERAINE

79.8

5.2

9.4

115

De La Salle College

BELFAST

44.9

24.1

41.8

Victoria College

BELFAST

79.6

22.9

116

Fivemiletown College

FIVEMILETOWN

44.8

13.9

108 154=

St Patrick's Academy

DUNGANNON

79.5

14.7

117

St Patrick's College

DUNGANNON

44.4

23.7

13.2

Ulidia Integrated College

CARRICKFERGUS

79.1

11.8

25.5

118

St Ciaran's High School

DUNGANNON

44.3

10.0

18.6

St Patrick's Grammar School

DOWNPATRICK

78.2

4.4

9.6

119=

Integrated College Dungannon

DUNGANNON

44.0

16.2

100=

Sacred Heart Grammar School

NEWRY

77.1

7.5

5.0

119=

Priory College

HOLYWOOD

44.0

30.8

26.9

Belfast High School

NEWTOWNABBEY

77.0

121

Dromore High School

DROMORE

43.3

8.3

130= 136

St Patrick's Grammar School

ARMAGH

76.5

10.3

17=

122

Downshire School

CARRICKFERGUS

42.9

17.2

0.0

Sullivan Upper School

HOLYWOOD

76.1

4.9

123

Sacred Heart College

OMAGH

42.5

30.6

12.9

Ballyclare High School

BALLYCLARE

75.9

9.4

124

Ballycastle High School

BALLYCASTLE

41.9

19.4

150

Coleraine High School

COLERAINE

75.8

125

Cullybackey High School

BALLYMENA

41.5

140=

36=

The Royal School Armagh

ARMAGH

75.3

126

Shimna Integrated College

NEWCASTLE

40.9

20.0

22.0

148

36=

Bloomfield Collegiate

BELFAST

75.3

7.4

40=

127

St Mary's Limavady

LIMAVADY

40.0

19.6

10.9

38=

St Louis Grammar School

KILKEEL

75.0

9.5

128

St Malachy's High School

CASTLEWELLAN

39.7

22.5

9.9

144 151

38=

Sperrin Integrated College

MAGHERAFELT

75.0

18.8

15.6

129

St Patrick's Academy

LISBURN

38.7

Wellington College

BELFAST

74.7

9.2

130

Belfast Model School For Girls

BELFAST

38.3

28.4

6.8

122

41=

Lurgan College

CRAIGAVON

74.3

5.0

131=

St Colman's High School

BALLYNAHINCH

37.5

23.8

13.8

147

41=

Foyle College

LONDONDERRY

74.3

4.8

21.2

57=

131=

Christian Brothers School

BELFAST

37.5

28.2

23.9

158

43=

Holy Trinity College

COOKSTOWN

74.0

34.1

14.1

133

St Mary's College

ENNISKILLEN

37.0

32.3

19.4

133

43=

Methodist College

BELFAST

74.0

9.2

134

Bangor Academy and 6th Form College

BANGOR

36.8

10.4

The Royal School Dungannon

DUNGANNON

73.9

73=

135

St Patrick's College

BELFAST

36.1

0.0

135

Portadown College

CRAIGAVON

73.2

5.5

136

St Joseph's College

COLERAINE

36.0

21.4

143

Down High School

DOWNPATRICK

73.0

3.4

8.8

137

Glengormley High School

NEWTOWNABBEY

35.9

13.8

140=

St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School

BELFAST

72.1

19.8

3.7

54=

138

St Genevieve's High School

BELFAST

35.8

28.4

43.3

115

Assumption Grammar School

BALLYNAHINCH

71.9

9.6

139

Magherafelt High School

MAGHERAFELT

35.5

0.0

128

49=

Bangor Grammar School

BANGOR

71.8

140

St Joseph's Boys' School

LONDONDERRY

34.7

32.1

17.9

105

49=

Dalriada School

BALLYMONEY

71.8

141

St Columbanus' College

BANGOR

34.1

10.9

159 161=

Portora Royal School

ENNISKILLEN

71.4

9.8

73=

142=

Banbridge High School

BANBRIDGE

33.3

0.0

Mount Lourdes Grammar School

ENNISKILLEN

71.3

7.5

15.8

142=

Ballyclare Secondary School

BALLYCLARE

33.3

Carrickfergus Grammar School

CARRICKFERGUS

71.0

5.0

143

North Coast Integrated College

COLERAINE

32.5

20.0

12.0

126 114

Grosvenor Grammar School

BELFAST

70.8

4.4

5.1

144

Carrickfergus College

CARRICKFERGUS

32.1

13.6

St Patrick's College

LONDONDERRY

70.4

22.2

29.6

145

Hazelwood College

NEWTOWNABBEY

31.8

21.2

156

Belfast Royal Academy

BELFAST

70.1

4.9

7.1

146

Larne High School

LARNE

30.4

26.1

161= 123

Larne Grammar School

LARNE

69.9

8.3

147

St Mary's High School

DOWNPATRICK

30.2

25.0

16.7

Dean Maguirc College

OMAGH

69.4

12.2

40=

148

Oakgrove Integrated College

LONDONDERRY

29.9

21.0

32.1

145

St Louise's Comprehensive College

BELFAST

69.3

33.6

39.3

149

Strangford Integrated College

CARROWDORE

29.4

13.5

130=

De La Salle High School

DOWNPATRICK

69.2

40.0

150

Glastry College

NEWTOWNARDS

28.9

17.5

0.0

152

St Patrick's High School

KEADY

68.5

14.7

10.8

151

Lismore Comprehensive School

CRAIGAVON

28.0

17.0

7.0

112=

St Michael's College

ENNISKILLEN

67.8

19.8

152

St Cecilia's College

LONDONDERRY

27.9

38.3

11.3

137=

Devenish College

ENNISKILLEN

67.5

15.9

153

Limavady High School

LIMAVADY

27.3

119

Strabane Academy

STRABANE

67.4

9.4

26.4

154

St Patrick's College

BALLYMENA

26.7

20.6

23.5

Collegiate Grammar School

ENNISKILLEN

67.3

11.1

155

Laurelhill Community College

LISBURN

25.0

18.6

8.6

157

Newtownbreda High School

BELFAST

66.7

12.8

23.1

134

156

Fort Hill College

LISBURN

21.3

12.0

124

Cambridge House Grammar School

BALLYMENA

66.3

157

Edmund Rice College

NEWTOWNABBEY

18.8

19.4

161=

St Columb's College

LONDONDERRY

66.1

15.5

13.1

158=

St Colm's High School

BELFAST

16.7

45.0

50.0

161=

St Malachy's College

BELFAST

65.7

5.2

24.3

48=

158=

Malone Integrated College

BELFAST

16.7

38.0

32.0

160

70=

St Paul's High School

NEWRY

64.6

21.3

7.4

160

St Joseph's College

DUNGANNON

n/a

70=

Hunterhouse College

BELFAST

64.6

97=

161

St Patrick's College

BANBRIDGE

120

Glenlola Collegiate

BANGOR

64.3

4.2

5.9

162

Coleraine College

COLERAINE

38.9

0.0

161=

Drumragh Integrated College

OMAGH

64.0

13.7

33.3

100=

163=

Immaculate Conception College

LONDONDERRY

161= 106

St Rose’s Dominican College

BELFAST

63.6

38.3

29.8

125

163=

St Eugene's College

ENNISKILLEN

City Armagh High School

ARMAGH

62.5

0.0

161=

165

St John's Business and Enterprise College

OMAGH

42.9

St Killian’s College

BALLYMENA

62.3

6.5

166

St Joseph's College

ENNISKILLEN

64.3

109

77=

Cookstown High School

COOKSTOWN

62.2

6.3

167

St Fanchea's College

ENNISKILLEN

64=

77=

St Pius X College

MAGHERAFELT

62.2

168

Corpus Christi College

BELFAST

44.7

42.6

129

79=

St Mary's College

LONDONDERRY

61.4

41.7

12.5

104

169=

Brownlow Integrated College

CRAIGAVON

n/a

79=

Campbell College

BELFAST

61.4

0.0

16.5

110

169=

Drumcree College

PORTADOWN

n/a

St Patrick's Co-ed Comprehensive College

MAGHERA

61.2

11.6

3.4

171

St Joseph's College

DUNGANNON

n/a

Antrim Grammar School

ANTRIM

61.1

5.3

57=

172

St Patrick's College

BANBRIDGE

120

Slemish College

BALLYMENA

60.9

7.4

116

173

Coleraine College

COLERAINE

38.9

0.0

161=

Regent House School

NEWTOWNARDS

60.1

3.9

48=

174=

Immaculate Conception College

LONDONDERRY

161=

Abbey Christian Brothers’ Grammar School

NEWRY

59.4

6.4

174=

St Eugene's College

ENNISKILLEN

106

St Joseph's College

BELFAST

59.1

149

176

St John's Business and Enterprise College

OMAGH

42.9

The Royal Belfast Academical Institution

BELFAST

58.8

7.4

177

St Joseph's College

ENNISKILLEN

64.3

109

St Comhghall's College

ENNISKILLEN

58.5

21.2

19.2

178

St Fanchea's College

ENNISKILLEN

64=

Castlederg High School

CASTLEDERG

57.7

24.2

15.2

100=

179

Corpus Christi College

BELFAST

44.7

42.6

129

Source: 1Summary of Annual Examination Results; 2Annual School Census; n/a - not applicable, no pupils in the final year of an A-level (or equivalent) course; Note: The data referring to SEN and free school meals refers to the total number of pupils in the year for this school. It includes pupils excluded in the SAER figures; * denotes fewer than 5 pupils; The information contained in this table does not provide a valid basis for comparin performance between schools, since it takes no account of the intake of a school or any other factors that may affect pupil perfromance. % = pupils achieving 3+ A-levels grades A*-C (including equivalents)1. SEN = % year 14 pupils with special educational needs stages 1-52. FSM = % year 14 pupils entitled to free school meals2. G = Grammar school. NG = Non-grammar school.

MAKING THE GRADE

Belfast Telegraph MARCH 24 2015

What would I say to my young self? Bronagh Waugh Actress

As the school year heads towards exams, six celebrities who have succeeded in their chosen fields tell us what inspired them through hard times and got them to where they are

I liked school, though we moved around a lot as a kid so I had to adjust a lot — to new systems and try and make new friends. Part of me wanting to act probably stems from this. I am the world’s worst procrastinator. I found everything to do but study. I had a very organised pencil case and coloured in and designed very snazzy study timetables (I just didn’t follow them, unfortunately.) If I could give myself advice I would tell myself stop colouring in so much and just get on with it. I still carry on like that now. I have the most elaborate to-do lists, I just need to get on and do it. I think young people are put under so much pressure these days with exams, I guess I’d say don’t add to that pressure yourself. Give yourself a chance by getting organised early — it makes it less overwhelming. I also found it more productive studying somewhere other than home and my room such as the library or a coffee shop. The most important piece of advice I ever got was choose your battles wisely, throw love at conflict (every time, trust me) and your integrity is one of the most important things that you have. It is better to assert this than to always be liked.

Jordan O’Keefe Singer/Songwriter

My school experience was great, I wouldn’t say I loved getting up every morning to go to school but I didn’t hate going. I didn’t really know what I wanted to be when I was at school, I only properly started singing when I was around 14 hitting 15 and even at that, I still didn’t know if it would ever be a career for me. It was only after I left school I realised I wanted to become a singer/songwriter. When it came to exams, the funny thing here is I didn’t prepare very well. I was never very good at studying, I couldn’t sit for hours and read books. But if you gave me the chords to a song and told me to learn the lyrics I could know it off by heart in 20 minutes (don’t hold me to that!) I guess the way I prepared was by trying my hardest to soak in as much information as I could and go for it. I don’t know what advice I would give to my younger self exactly, however one thing would definitely have been to change my hair cut and lose the glasses. But apart from that I think the only thing I could have said was to have paid more attention and learn a lot more than I did. The best piece of advice I was ever given was don’t live life with regrets and treat others the way you want treated yourself.

Pete Snodden Cool FM presenter

Overall I had a great school experience at primary and grammar school. I loved playing sport at school particularly hockey and to be honest, it probably took up more of my time than education — but I still mustered through and got the results. Exams, they were like they are for everybody, a real pain. I did what I had to do to pass my exams. I had to work for whatever I got in my exams. When it came to studying, I had to write stuff down. I would have spent hours writing notes inthe hope it would go in and stay in. I couldn’t have left it to days before and then crammed everything in because then I could have panicked and nothing would have stuck. I wasn’t last minute, but probably like most people if there was a cupboard that needed cleaned out that I would never set eyes on ever, with two days to the exam, that would have been the ideal time to clean the cupboard out. I would have told myself now, work hard and it will all work out. Don’t worry so much about it. Best piece of advice, the one thing was my parents always said to me was, do your best and not to have any regrets. Do your best and whatever happens and whatever you get at least you can walk away with your head held high.

Rebekah Shirley Miss Northern Ireland

My parents always told me to enjoy school as they would be the best years of my life, and they weren’t kidding. I had a close group of friends dur-

course thinking I would probably go onto script writing for television. I only had very mild aspirations to be a performer of comedy when I left school as I was a bit shy. I had a decent attitude in school generally, but when it came to revision I just wasn’t interested. I wised up a bit towards the end of school. I did very badly in my GCSES mocks but somehow did amazingly (for me) in my actual exams. I have a far harder work ethic now. My advice to myself would be, raise your expectations of what’s possible. That maybe sounds a bit dramatic, I would also tell my 14-year-old self that dying my fringe peroxide blonde was not a good look. There isn’t a quote that sticks out but my English teacher, Mr McKee, at Campbell spoke a lot of sense to our class. We were seen as an unruly class and he got on our wavelength and provided a fair bit of wisdom. The worst advice I got was from a primary school teacher who told me to “stop trying to be such a joker” on a weekly basis — I do that as a job now I’ll have you know!

The school years were a great time for our celebrities ing my years at school and they are still my best friends today. I really enjoyed my time spent at school and I worked exceptionally hard. Although like every teenager, we do tend to change our career choices quite a lot but I knew in my final two years of study that I wanted to peruse a career in the television and film industry. To get the grades that I needed I knew that I had to work hard. It wasn’t easy at the best of times but I knew that it would be worth it in the end. I found that the most effective way for me to study was to be creative with my study notes, for example using coloured pens and highlighters as well as using visual diagrams. My advice to myself would be, don’t stress. It is only a short period of time to study so it is important to make the most of the time you have. You have to make sacrifices around exam periods, but this isn’t forever and it is important to remember the effort you put it will reflect the results that you get. I think that it is important for each individual to be themselves. Pupils have to choose their GCSE/A Levels at a very young age, so it is im-

portant to not let your group of friends influence your decision. You are planning your future, so it is vital your decision makes you happy in the path you choose to take.

Shane Todd Comedian

I absolutely loved my time at Strandtown Primary, great days. After that I went to Campbell. I struggled academically throughout my entire time there. I left school at 16 to go to Belfast Met having no idea what I wanted to do. After going to an open day I knew I would be a lot more at home in the environment of a college. I did a media studies

Michael Conlan Olympic boxer and Commonwealth Gold Medallist

I loved school, well everything to do with sport in school, I knew I always wanted to be a boxer from a very young age, even then I was into a lot of sports. I revised as much as I could, I knew I had to prepare myself if I wanted to pass my exams. Looking back,I missed some of my important tests due to competing in International duty for Ireland around the world. If I was to give advice it would have been to make sure I was there to complete those tests. On the other hand, would I be where I am now if I had have done that? Who knows. he most important piece of advice I was ever given was, fail to prepare and prepare to fail, always give 100%.

MAKING THE GRADE

Belfast Telegraph MARCH 24 2015

yhyhyhyhyhhy

Avoiding the parent trap Exam time is not just tough on pupils, mums and dads go through the wringer too

HEY may not be sitting any tests – but there is no doubt that parents feel the pressure of exam season, too. While students are up to their eyes in papers, highlighters and post-it notes — they watch powerless from the sidelines. And as the days are scored out on the revision timetable — the stress levels in the household begin to soar — and that’s all before the agonising wait for results. But, while of course you can help with revision by asking questions when called on, the main role of the parent is to make sure the conditions are as comfortable as possible and to act as a sounding board for any worries or fears. There is no right or wrong way to revise but

it’s important to know what works for your child and to avoid trying to force them in to something else because it seems the norm. Check out the different types of learners included in this supplement. Also included in this supplement are the league tables of results for GCSE and A-Level. These tables are a valuable resource in determining the progress of school results from year to year. They include details on exam performance from every post-primary school in Northern Ireland. Annual targets are set each year by the Department of Education for the percentage of pupils it wants to achieve five GCSEs including English and Maths at grades

A*-C and three A-Levels at A*-C. Generally, this is the minimum amount of GCSEs required for a job and also if they want to return to school to do their A-Levels. The league tables offer parents the chance to compare and to hold the school, board of governors and principal to account over why their school is under achieving. But they should not be taken completely at face value as there are a number of other contributing factors. A school may have an excellent pass rate — but perhaps there are fewer pupils at the school, some use academic selection, not all offer the same subjects and some schools are catering for children from disadvantaged backgrounds or special educational needs.

“Exam stress shouldn’t be under-estimated. It is a tough time for teenagers and parents, especially when advice seems to always fall on deaf teenage ears! Here are a few pointers to remember: a certain level of stress is needed to achieve – if a student’s preparation for an exam seems devoid of stress they are likely to under-achieve. To perform at our best we need to be ‘fired-up’. That’s true not just in sport but in work too. The challenge however with exams is that, unlike a sporting event, it is not an hour or two of hard intensive work – the preparation time is longer and one is sitting several exams. And there are also other factors in the mix, such as the quality of the teaching experienced, the demands of part-time jobs, relationships and other siblings sitting exams.” Dr Chris Gibbons is a lecturer in psychology (Education) at Queen’s University Belfast

MAKING THE GRADE

Belfast Telegraph MARCH 24 2015

Fail to prepare . . . prepare to fail

It may be a cliche, but it’s true. Planning for exams is everything

T’S the age old saying ‘fail to prepare, prepare to fail’ — but when it comes to exams it couldn’t be more relevant. For GCSE exams there can be multiple tests for several different subjects in the one day. This takes planning in order to get all the work prioritised, condensed and into the brain in time. If no planning is done, panic ensues, leading to no work being done. For A-levels, there may be less sub-

jects — but there is a far higher volume of knowledge to retain. A clear plan lets you see what is ahead of you which means there should be no last minute surprises. Work out what kind of learner you are: visual, auditory or kinaesthetic, and if you feel it would help, apply what you know about this to your studying. However, if you think you are happy with your current results something must be working, so stick to

your current methods. Get into a routine — while some people work better at night, others work better first thing in the morning. However, try to avoid extreme, sporadic sleep patterns and build up a routine, getting at least eight hours of sleep a night. Set yourself plenty of rewards during the day, even if it’s as simple as half an hour on Facebook, watching television or going for a walk and getting some fresh air.

yhyhyhyhyh

Results in - but what next? The studying is over, the results are in and the envelope has been opened:

What to do after GCSE?

Whether you get the grades you were looking for or not there are plenty of options available to you.

1. RETURN TO SCHOOL FOR SIXTH FORM.

If you decide you would like to follow on to further education, here you can sit your A-Levels.

2. GO TO ANOTHER SCHOOL

If your school doesn’t offer a sixth form or if there is another school that offers subjects you would prefer to study. There is also the chance you might not have the grades required to enter your sixth form but qualify for another.

3. ENROL AT COLLEGE

You may find that you are more interested in studying one of the courses available at a local further education college. Many of the courses at college offer work experience as part of the qualification which, when undertaking a more vocational route, can be more appealing.

4. EMPLOYMENT

When you leave school there are many avenues of employment you can undertake. However, some may require a work placement scheme or a period of work experience beforehand.

What to do after A-level?

Results day can be stressful so make sure you know how the UCAS system works and what to expect. Make sure you have all the logins and passwords required to access your account on UCAS. Hopefully you’ll get the exam grades you need, but if you just miss out, the university/ college might accept you anyway. You might not get a place, but you can search through the clearing service to see what courses still have vacancies. If no decisions are showing, give your universities/colleges a call to find out more. Find information about exam re-marks. You will need to try to arrange the re-mark as quickly as possible, and keep in touch with your university or college to keep them up to date.

OTHER OPTIONS:

You could always take a gap year, work or an apprenticeship, either instead of higher education, or just while you reapply for next year.

ujujyhyh

MAKING THE GRADE

Belfast Telegraph MARCH 24 2015

Studying for exams can often prove problematic

Finding right way to study for exams Catherine McNicholl (16)

North Belfast ,Year 12 Dominican College, GCSE I’m preparing with a lot of revision and study notes. In classes a lot of the teachers are helping us prepare with past papers and giving us time to revise. I make study cards and go over them every night. I use my weekend and sometimes I go to Belfast Central Library to go over maths and sciences. I also ask my friends for advice and help with my revision and sometimes we do group revision. I play football and netball on Tuesday and Thursday in school but I also run outside of school with a club so I manage my time around that. I find it’s easier when you have things outside of school to be able to be prepared – they are a good way to have a break. The most difficult things are the revision and the time management. Making sure you know nearly everything and you are able to answer all the questions. But it’s pretty good because we finish the course quite quickly and are able to go over it all. I would like to go to university and study medicine after my A-levels.

Maeve Tumelty (16)

North Belfast, Year 12 Dominican College, GCSE EVERY night when I finish my homework I would read over what I’ve done throughout the day. So whether that’s history or maths I’ll try and get through as many past papers as I can every week. Also the school offers the library every day after school until 6pm so I would stay in there until six. I find that’s very useful because I get a lot of my homework done and I can go home and then revise. Probably the hardest thing is trying to balance everything out, including the aspects of school life and home life and extra-curricular activities, I find it’s very time consuming.

With GCSEs and A-levels just around the corner, we ask pupils how they prepare for the big tests ahead of them I find trying to fit in sports and piano to be very difficult but you can do it, it’s just very difficult. I think doing extra-curricular activities improves your concentration and focus, especially in school and with school work. I want to do my A-levels and hope to go to university and pursue a career in perhaps journalism.

Hollie Dillon (18)

Newtownabbey, Year 14 Monkstown Community School, A-level I have a lot of coursework divided between three subjects. Currently I have a part-time job as well, so it’s crucial that I use time management skills and organise and prioritise between what is important and what I have to get done first. The most stressful is the deadlines and making sure everything is done in time and making sure you get it all sorted. I just do the work independently. After A-level I’m hoping to go to Queen’s to do nursing. Being able to manage your time wisely is a big help. It is hard but with the help from your teachers and friends you are able to get stuck in and get the work done. The teachers are always willing to stay with you and help you catch up with coursework if you are falling behind and will always give you targets and deadlines.

Amy Ferguson (17)

Newtownabbey, Year 14 Monkstown Community School, A-level I’m revising and trying to keep up to date with coursework and making the best use of my time. A-level is a different workload to GCSE be-

cause you only have three or four subjects and you can concentrate on them. There is a lot of coursework. It is the most stressful part because two of my courses are coursework based. I would stay behind a lot more and get a lot more help one-to-one from teachers and there are more school trips based on your courses. After A-level I’m thinking of taking a year out and getting a full-time job until I decide what I want to do — but university is on the cards.

Cara Smyth (18)

West Belfast, Year 14 St Dominic’s Grammar School for girls, A-level It is very stressful, especially coming up to Easter and the pressure is on. It is manageable but it’s extremely stressful. Finding the motivation to study at night after spending all day at school and instead of lying in bed an extra hour at the weekend, saying ‘no I’ll get up’, that’s the hardest part. I would study in the evenings, the school is very quiet and Mrs McCann has the library very controlled. It’s a very productive environment. I think a mix of writing it down and more working in class kind of when I hear my teachers speak or explain it, After A-level I’d like to do a maths degree at Queen’s.

Rebekah Kane (18)

Glenavy, Year 14 St Dominic’s Grammar School for girls, A-level The work is tough but it has to be done. It’s just powering through every day and keeping your motivation up and your spirits high so you can do well in your exams. It’s just putting it into relative terms, my tests are over in three months but these months are

going to be really hard but after we won’t have to worry about them as much. My style of revision differs but I think doing past papers is a really good help. The most stressful thing is that there is so much work and it’s so difficult no matter what subject you are doing, it’s all difficult there are none easier than the others and it’s just finding the time to do the work and get it done to a standard you are happy with. I play the piano and the flute and I do the choir and the orchestra but for me doing extra-curricular activities is like a release, almost a relief from just constantly being immersed in school work, so regardless of what you are doing you can pour your energy in to that and your mind is at ease because you are enjoying what you are doing and you can go back to studying – and studying more efficiently.

Hannah McMeel (16)

Roslea, Year 12 St Comhghall’s College, Enniskillen, GCSE I started studying two weeks ago because the exams are coming up in a few weeks’ time and the way I like to revise is writing things out over and over again and saying them in my head. It’s already starting to kick in how much stress there is because the teachers are constantly saying that the exams are in a few weeks. Teachers say their subjects are the most important and then another teacher say that their subject is, so it is hard to prioritise. I find coursework more difficult because I’m not very good at that, I’m more an exam based person. I’m more of an independent learner and more self-motivated and wouldn’t have to be told to sit down and revise. I want to study A-levels and would like to go on to study medicine at university. We have after school classes and you are allowed to come in before school and during school at break-time and teachers stay in to help, they give up their time to help us.

MAKING THE GRADE

Belfast Telegraph MARCH 24 2015

Molly McAleenan (15)

North Belfast, Year 12, Dominican College

he biggest advantage at the minute is that we get constant assessment in school. So you always have to keep on top of things and know the topic that you’ve just been studying. For my revision I find repetition to be the biggest help for me — whether it’s just writing it out again or telling someone about it over and over again. I think there are so many different subjects it’s difficult trying to give each one the correct amount of time. There are some you prefer over others and you want to do a bit more of them and being able to say no and go and do something maybe you aren’t so confident with is quite hard. I play the piano and I do Irish dancing as well so even practising just for those things takes up a lot of time, but I think it’s a good de-stresser and gets you away from the task of studying.

Matthew Best (17)

Newtownabbey, Year 14 Monkstown Community School

study a lot independently and try to do most of my work in school so I’m free during the week. I find it hard to manage between a lot of subjects sometimes, but it all gets done in the end. I do a lot after school. I work most days and have rugby three times a week so I do find it difficult sometimes but if you stay relaxed it’s probably best to get it done. We have a lot of support for deadlines and if you can’t get it done they will help you throughout. There is a lot of competition between everyone who can do the best. I think because everyone is doing so well we’re all more determined to do even better in the next year and want to keep it up as much as we can. I have an offer for Liverpool and would like to take that on for next year to do business and public relations.

Ryan Moran (16)

Lisnaskea, Year 12 St Comhghall’s College

hen I get home from school I do an hourand-a-half studying every night except for Saturdays. The most stressful bit would be the coursework and the last bit of studying as I come up to the exams. I play a lot of sport outside of school but I have my timetable. The school puts on a lot of help and support. After school on Monday to Thursday there are English and maths revision classes, then there are blocks in the middle of them — so the likes of PE and all the different subjects in there as well. Friday is for general knowledge and so that’s five evenings a week and you can come in early on a Wednesday. At the minute compared to last year I think I’m on top of things, because of all this work.

PARENT INTERVIEWS Mary Reid

Mother of Ellen Reid (17), Dominican College Ellen is pretty organised and always would work quietly and independently but during her GCSE examinations she would have come down and asked for some help for her Spanish oral. She did go to school and make use of all the support systems in school and went to Easter revision classes. It is a stressful time and a very busy time because you are still trying to keep up their extra curricular activities. She would have been into her music and sport and weekend work, it was busy, there is no doubt about it, and I felt sorry for her because I just thought at the end of it she looked like she needed a massive break. I actually think that would have been very stressful, those few days before the results. But even though you see them working hard and you are confident they will do well they don’t seem to realise that, they don’t seem to have that confidence until they see that result sheet. You just have to say whatever you get is fine and you have worked hard and done your best.

Gail Best

Mother of Matthew Best (17), Monkstown Community School I think watching Matthew go through his A-levels is much more stressful than GCSE. You think because they are only doing so many subjects that it couldn’t be anywhere near as bad — but it is really stressful. He would be more independent with his revision, I was able to help up until GCSEs but it’s beyond me at the minute. I tell him don’t panic, just relax, take it as it comes. It’s too stressful for him for me to make matters worse, I just try to play things down a wee bit to him. There is a lot of pressure on school kids — far too much pressure if truth be told. The kids now are all doing their A-levels, they are all working and trying to have a social life, things are pretty hectic for them. We tend to give him peace and quiet and let him get on with it. We are always there if he needs us, but as far as the work is concerned he seems to just get on with it himself.

Top tips to help boost your results Not all pupils study for their exams in the same way, so here’s an array of useful information to help ease the stress The light bulb effect can switch on your brain to new thinking

Fun facts: 1.The first pupils to sit GCSEs were in 1988. 2.There are 206 post primary schools in Northern Ireland. 3.There are 138 secondary schools.

Start a discussion with friends/family on the topic Talk to yourself — read past paper questions out loud and then answer Make poems, rhymes on the topics

Kinaesthetic

4.There are 68 grammar schools in Northern Ireland.

Use a stress ball/blue tac to occupy your hands prepare a presentation/powerpoint on a topic study with others role play and act out topics

What kind of learner are you?

Exam techniques from AQA

There are three main types of learners that students fall in to — Visual, Audio and Kinaesthetic. Some may be a mixture.

If you feel you’ve forgotten everything, it may be just nerves. Take a few deep breaths to help you stay calm.

1. A visual learner likes to learn through written language through reading or writing tasks. They remember what has been written down without having to read it more than once. They may also do better with charts demonstrations, videos and other visual materials.

l Read the instructions; make sure you know how many questions to answer.

2. An auditory learner is where a person learns through listening. They need to be able too hear what is being said in order to understand and may have difficulty with instructions that are written. 3. Kinaesthetic learners remember things better by actively doing them. They are good at assembling and making things and tend to be good at demonstrating how things work.

Visual

Display your work using visual aids such as tables/charts Use drawings and mind maps Use post=it notes with important facts Colour code your work using highlighters and coloured pens

Auditory

Read through your notes out loud — at the end of a topic, talking about what you have learnt — this can be done on your own or with other people

l Take your time, read all the questions carefully until you understand exactly what is needed. Look for the command words. Identify key words before you answer the question.

l Use your answer book to brainstorm and mindmap content or ideas as you go. This will also help jog your memory if you ‘draw a blank’. l Remember to cross out any draft work you don’t want marked. l Write neatly. l Answer the questions given on the paper, not the questions you were expecting. l Use the allocated marks to guide how much time you spend on each answer.

l If you can’t answer a question, move on to the next question and come back later.

l Leave space between answers so if you want to expand on any later, you can add to them neatly. l Allow time to check back over your work.