Outstanding GCSE results at Ballymena Academy

'How did you do?' - Finding out their GCSE results at Ballymena Academy on Thursday. (Submitted Picture).

Principal Stephen Black of Ballymena Academy, said: “This kind of success is not accidental and could not be achieved without the support of parents and the dedication of the teaching and support staff. In addition to the terrific individual performances highlighted below, which identify half of the year group as attaining 7 or more A*/A grades, there are also a significant number of high achievers not named here because of pressure of space, who should be commended and can look forward to Sixth Form with confidence.

“Equally as noteworthy is the percentage of pupils achieving 5 A* - C and 7 A* - C grades which will significantly exceed N.I. Grammar School averages in these two measures. These GCSE outcomes sustain the school’s well-deserved reputation, locally and nationally, for enabling pupils to achieve very high standards, in and out of the classroom and examination hall.”

Vital statistics: Over 98% of all grades were A* - C passes; 98.3% achieved 7 or more A* - C, including English and Mathematics; Over 90% of achieved at least one A grade.

Two of Ballymena Academy's 9A* grade pupils, Edison Fairfield and Cameron McNeill, with Head of Science Mr. Christie. (Submitted Picture).

Five young people achieved 9 A* grades – Ryan Donaldson, Edison Fairfield, Jamie Killough, Cameron McNeill and Lyndsey Simpson.

43 pupils achieved a minimum of 9 A*/A grades – Leah Anderson, Jackson Barr, Rebekah Beattie, Sasha Bill, Philip Brown, Catherine Buick, Bradley Campbell, Alexander Clarke, Gina Connolly, Andrew Coster, Tori Coulter, Lauren Cull, Hollie Dickey, Conor Gallagher, Laura Galloway, David Goodwin, James Gourley, Sarah Gregg, Mark Hanna, Jenny Kennedy, Angus Kernohan, Julie Kernohan, Rebecca Lightbody, Vicki Loughran, Rebecca Marcus, Eoin McCorkindale, Lois McCurdy, Rebekah McKay, Abigail McKendry, Victoria McLean, Claudia McMaster, David McNeill, Catherine-Anne Millen, Aaron Murphy, Hannah Murphy, John Poole, Rose Redmond, Rachel Reid, Matthew Robinson, Emily Shaw, Jordan Todd, Adam Wilkinson, Emma-Lee Wray.

They were closely followed by a further 23 young people with a minimum of 8 A*/A grades – Robbie Anderson, Lucy Bill, Julie Boal, Suzannah Brown, Lucinda Douglas, Shane Gibson, Robyn Gillis, Joel Gocher, Ellie Hunt, Samara Kirk, Jamie-Lee Mark, Amy McFetridge, Connell McLaughlin, Emma McMullan, Callie Middleton, Abby Morgan, Jack Morrison, Jonathan Morrow, Samuel Murphy, Lynne Murray, Kathryn Orr, Sarah Quinn, Robbie Watt.

Finally, 19 pupils obtained a minimum of 7 A*/A grades – Emily Agnew, Andrew Atkinson, Caitlin Bartlett, Luke Calderwood, Alex Cowan, Conor Doherty, Sarah Eccles, Zara Gibson, Suzanne Hoey, Ben Kennedy, Scott Keys, Blaze Lambert, James Maybin, Ellie McClean, Benjamin McKendry, Emma Parker, Adam Pollock, Chloe Taylor, Hannah Wylie.