GCSE Results Day 2019

18 students achieve 7 or more GCSEs each!

St Patrick’s College, Ballymena’s Principal Dr Martin Knox today congratulated his students on the outstanding success they have achieved in their recent GCSE examinations, reflecting the strong commitment of pupils, parents and staff to ensuring that all pupils reach their full potential.

Particular congratulations go to Daria Barbu and Emily Hughes, who have achieved nine GCSEs at A*-C. A further seven students have achieved eight GCSE passes, and nine more students have achieved seven GCSE passes, with a significant proportion of their grades being A* or A.

There has been particular success in Performing Arts and Polish, where 100% of candidates have achieved A to C grades. Other subject areas which have seen A*-C performance of over 80% include Art & Design, CACHE, ICT, Learning for Life & Work, and Sport/PE Studies. All students who took the Prince’s Trust Programme have achieved two Grade Bs.

Dr Knox congratulated all of the school’s Year 12 students on their hard work and success. ‘These results are the culmination of a great deal of hard work on the parts of both students and teachers, and I congratulate each of the students, as well as their teachers. I would also like to thank the parents of the young people, for the encouragement and support they have provided to their children during the two years of their GCSE examinations.

‘We are proud of the successes of all of our pupils, who between them have achieved 13 A* grades, 32 A’s, 107 B’s and 53 of the new C* grades. These are excellent results from children who, in many cases, had enrolled in St Patrick’s College five years ago with their confidence severely dented by the Transfer procedure. I am sure their achievements will give them the confidence and encouragement to go onto further success at A level.

‘I also want to recognise the achievement of our Polish students, seven of whom have achieved either an A* or A grade in GCSE Polish, a qualification which will be very useful to them should they return to Poland to continue their studies or seek employment.

‘Overall, these GCSE results, coupled with the excellent results at A Level achieved by our GCE students this year, give us great confidence as a school as we continue to ensure that the students leaving St Patrick’s do so with the highest qualifications they can possibly achieve.’

Dr Knox also praised other successes within the Year 12 group, particularly 23 students who have completed the Prince’s Trust course, gaining a Level Two qualification equivalent to two GCSEs at Grade B. In addition, 25 students have achieved Level 2 qualifications in Occupational Studies, equivalent to GCSEs at A*-C.

‘As a non-selective school, we celebrate success at all levels across the full range of ability. These are vocational courses, many of which our students access through the Northern Regional College, and they aim to broaden the educational experience of the young people, with a view to preparing them for further training or apprenticeships. I am delighted that these students have successfully embraced this opportunity, and I would like to thank the staff of the Northern Regional College for the partnership we enjoy, which is obviously benefiting our students.’

Dr Knox wished all of the school’s Year 12 students success in the next stage of their education and welcomed many of them back to begin Sixth Form studies in St Patrick’s.