Celebrations for Lisburn GCSE students

Fort Hill Integrated College Principal Mrs Marian Getty said she was "ecstatic" with her pupils' success, with students boasting a 99.8% pass rate across the year group.

Congratulating her pupils, Mrs Getty said: "Each year I say how happy I am with the students' results but not this year, because happy could not even begin to describe how I am feeling as we look at the results for our Year 12 students. I simply cannot put my delight into words. I am ecstatic; not only at the standard of the grades that our students have achieved but also at their strong desire to build upon these successes and return to Fort Hill College to study in the 6th Form.

"This year we have our best ever results in the history of the school with many students achieving 100% A*-C. We have an overall pass rate of 99.8% across the year group and an increased number of subjects where students have achieved an A*.

"More importantly we have so many young people who have worked hard and have achieved the grades reflecting that work and effort. Well done to all - staff, students and parents. It has been a stressful week and I hope everyone is now relaxing and perhaps even celebrating before moving onto the next stage in their lives."

Wallace High students were also celebrating with the most commonly achieved grade being either an A* or an A.

Principal Mrs Deborah O'Hare said she was delighted. "The school has increased the number of core GCSE subjects studied from 9 to 10 over the last couple of years," she explained, "our students now study GCSE ICT on a reduced timetable, it is very pleasing to see our 170+ students achieving such high standards in 10 subjects. An impressive 30 students were rewarded with 10 straight A or A* grades."

Mrs O'Hare congratulated each student, thanked their parents and was also keen to share the success with the contributory Primary Schools. "We are fortunate to have a wide and varied group of contributory Primary Schools which prepare our young people extremely well for Wallace, they too should receive credit for these excellent results."

Laurehill Community College Principal, Mr James Martin was also keen to praise his pupils. "The issue of GCSE results is a really important day in the Year 12 school calendar and has a significant bearing on student's immediate choices" he said. "I am gratified with so many results from Laurehill pupils this academic year who continue to impress with their ability, maturity and success. We look forward to welcoming record numbers of both new and returning pupils back into our successful Sixth Form.

"There have been a number of pupils who are to be congratulated on their fantastic results; Ashleigh McKinstry achieved a fantastic set of results gaining 1 A*, 5 A and 1 B grade. Amy Bustard achieved 6 A grades and 2 B grades, Chelsea Gilmore achieved 3 A grades and 4 B grades and Nicole Dickson achieved an impressive set of results with 3 A, 1 , 2 C grades.

Dunmurry High School Prinicpal Mr Mervyn Magee said he was thrilled with his pupils' results and said the school had performed "exceedingly well."

Mr Magee said: "The School is very pleased with the performance of the pupils. The performances reflect a similar level of previous years. Some of the very successful pupils who have done exceedingly well include David Diett, who was the best student in the school with four B's and three C's. Two others, Jade Patton and last year's Head Boy, Gareth Robinson both achieved three B's and three C's, whilst Stephen McDowell got three B's and two C's, Aiden Stewart got two B's and four C's and last year's Head Girl Ellie Jane Cummins achieved two B's and three C's."

Mr Magee added: "The pupils have done very well, it is a credit to them and the hard work put in by them and the staff. Not forgetting that a great many of the pupils hadn't taken the transfer test or didn't do well in the transfer five years ago, yet five years later they have done exceptionally well and are able to move on to Sixth Form studies in other schools.

"The remainder of the students have all achieved the necessary grades to continue their studies at such places as SERC and other Further Education Colleges."

Dr Seamus Quinn, the Principal of St. Patrick's Academy said: "I am immensely proud of the GCSE results achieved by my pupils. An unprecedented 82% of St Patrick's year 12 have achieved 5 or more A* to C grades with 66% achieved seven or more GCSE Grade A* to C. Such results from the premier co-ed maintained all ability school demonstrates the hard work and commitment of the Academy's students and teachers.

"These unprecedented results for St Patrick's students continue to indicate that the Academy is the outstanding centre of all-ability academic excellence in the Lisburn Glenavy and Crumlin area. A tailored program of learning and teaching has been proven, year after year, to meet the needs of every child, and deliver academic excellence for all.

"Taken together with a continued 100% success rate at A level, St Patrick's Academy offers academic achievement for all and 'Success without labels.'"

Hunterhouse College Principal Andrew Gibson commented: "We are delighted with the achievement of the girls this year, with the results for seven plus A*-C's up by 3%. This is recognition of the girls' hard work and also the support provided by their parents and teachers."

Elizabeth Dickson, Principal of Friends' School, said she was very pleased at the attainment of pupils across all subjects at GCSE level.

"The standard of performance said much for the hard work of pupils and the close partnership between home and school," she said. "There had again been many top grades. Nine A* grades had been gained by Caroline Black, Jazmin Campbell, Mark Gilmore, Claire Lloyd, Andrew Scott and Emily Smith, whilst Ruth Clarke and Matthew Patterson had each been awarded ten passes at Grade A*. All of the young people deserved congratulations for all they had achieved and could look forward with confidence to A level and beyond."

Jim Sheerin, Principal of Lisnagarvey High School said there was delight amongst students and parents at the excellent results in the GCSE's.

"The results are inline with the improvement made over the last four years and are a credit to the hardworking pupils and staff" he said.

"The school achieved over 90% A*-C grades in ICT, Music, Technology and Business Communications and well done to all our pupils.

"I would like to thank all of our parents and staff who have worked with real dedication to support our students and their wonderful achievements."