Exam results delight in Limavady
Thursday, 28 August 2008
Limavady high School pupils Alisa Pugh, Lyndsey Jackson and Michelle Eakin receive their A level results last week.
PUPILS in Limavady have been celebrating after Northern Ireland's GCSE results showed a 1.5% increase in the amount of students getting A or A* grades.
Responding to an excellent set of GCSE results for the school, Principal of St Mary's, Celine McKenna, said she was delighted for the students, the staff and the parents of the young people who have done so well - 91 students obtained five or more GCSEs A* to C, with 17 of them gaining 11 GCSEs.
Mrs McKenna added: "We were so pleased with results last year but a five percent increase in the A* to C grades this year highlights the strong emphasis on securing for our young people the best possible chance of a promising future whether that continues with 'A' level study or students entering the world of work supported with quality training.
“It was obvious from the students and their parents collecting results that they were really pleased."
Commenting on the fact that many of the young people would have been deemed unsuccessful at eleven Mrs McKenna went on to say:
“Selection is clearly wrong, outdated and unethical in judging the ability of our young people.
“Judgements made on so many of these young people at eleven were morally wrong and they have now demonstrated that they can academically perform just as well as any other young person at sixteen.
“Thanks to the dedication and expertise of their teachers, the support from their parents and a commitment to hard work it looks like these young people in St Mary's will have a very promising future".
Meanwhile, the staff and students at Limavady High School were also in a celebratory mood with examination results at both Advanced and GCSE Level being the best ever achieved there. At 'AS' Level over 94 percent of students at the High School achieved two or more pass grades and at 'A2', 91 percent achieved two or more Advanced Level passes. To date, the school is aware that 78 percent of Sixth Form students are leaving school this year having been offered admission to the University of their choice. The remaining 22 percent are either entering employment or transferring to a higher level course at a College of Further and Higher Education.
At GCSE Level, the percentage of students gaining 5 or more A* - C grades at the High School has been the highest ever. Almost 60 percent of all entries achieved at this level of success. The average achievement for schools of similar type in Northern Ireland is 45 percent. Exceptional achievement indeed!
Mr Glenn Reilly, Headmaster of Limavady High School congratulated all the students on their exceptional success and expressed his appreciation to his teaching and support staff for their professional and dedicated approach to the young people in their care.
Mr Reilly was particularly delighted that every student leaving school had gained appropriate external accreditation and the achievement of the students in Year 12 following Vocational/Occupational courses was extremely positive.
The impact of provision through the Partnership (Roe Valley Learning Community) had been most beneficial to students at all levels and those learners accessing courses at a provider other than their base school had achieved commendable results.
Mr Reilly expressed appreciation to his colleagues at North West Regional College, Limavady Grammar School, St Mary's School, St Patrick's College, Dungiven and Roe Valley Community Education Forum for their enthusiastic efforts in the promotion of this Partnership approach to education which is in the best interest of all the learners in the Roe Valley area and an exemplar for provision in other areas of Northern Ireland.
