Rise in top grades atLismore

The Lismore Comprehensive School top achievers in the GCSE examinations. Included are, Mr Joe Corrigan, principal and Mrs Dolores Foster, vice principal. INLM35-103gc

Sixty-four per cent of grades were in the A*-C category, an increase of three per cent on last year’s figure.

A total of 99 per cent of students gained five or more GCSE passes, with 57 per cent achieving five or more passes in the higher A*-C bracket, up two per cent from last year.

The school’s information technology department performed particularly well. Of the 63 students taking the subject, 16 gained A* grades, 26 achieved A grades and 15 scored B grades.

Principal Mr Joe Corrigan described it as “a splendid result especially given that the school’s intake is a non-selective one with a very wide ability range”.

He added, “One of the most pleasing outcomes of this year’s GCSE performances was the fact that yet again this year every single one of the 186 students entered gained some GCSEs with a large number achieving excellent sets of top grades.”

This year’s top achiever was Alana Hughes with four A*s, four As and one B grade. Conor McDaid gained three A*s, four As and two Bs while Conor Connolly and Sarah Massey both scored two A*s, four As and three Bs. Declan McDaid achieved eight As and one B.

Other top achievers included Fionnuala McCorry, Matthew Megoran, Courtney Harbinson, Anthony Lavery, Leah Mackin and Corey McInerney, all of whom achieved a range of A* or A grades.

In all, 30 different GCSE subjects are offered in Lismore and this year 186 students sat a total of 1,530 examinations with a 100 per cent pass rate in 21 subjects.

“This is a nervous time for students and staff alike”, said Mr Corrigan, “and I am delighted that so many students and departments have done so well this year.

“Our sincere congratulations go to this year’s cohort of GCSE examinations students, both to those leaving school now, and to those returning to Lismore to undertake A-Level programmes from a choice of 26 subjects.

We are confident that these GCSE results can be translated into worthwhile A-Level grades in two years’ time.

“I extend my best wishes to our students, my gratitude to our staff for all their dedicated hard work, and to our parent body for its ongoing support.”