Sixth formers make the grades

High fliers at Ulidia: Leah Close, Lauren McIlwrath, Hayley Ferguson and Jane Buckley jump for joy after collecting their results. INCT 34-419-RM

Pupils at the borough’s post-primaries picked up their grades on Thursday morning, with many securing places on their chosen courses.

At Downshire School, principal Jacqueline Stewart was ‘very happy’ with this year’s results. “Nine-seven percent of students have achieved two or more grades at A* to E,” she said.

Top achievers included Lauren Thompson, who achieved one A and two Bs, as did outgoing head boy Jordan Ballentine. Outgoing head girl Alice Wilkin successfully secured a place on the Food Management and Marketing course at Loughry College, while fellow students Danielle Pollin and Joanne Magee achieved A*BC and three B grades respectively.

Meanwhile, 81 percent of students at Ulidia Integrated College achieved three grades at A* to C. “This is as good as any non-Grammar school in Northern Ireland,” said principal Eugene Martin.

Speaking to the Times on Thursday were Ulidia students Shannon Smith and Jamie Morgan, who achieved AAC and BB respectively.

With 135 students having sat the advanced examinations at Carrickfergus College earlier this year, the school achieved a pass rate of 100 per cent of students receiving two or more A Levels at grades A* to E.

Among those celebrating was outgoing deputy head girl Nichole Speers, whose two A grades and one C earned her a place at Stranmillis College. Fellow Year 14 pupils Jemma Hartley and Chelsea Rea picked up results of A*AB and BBC respectively, while friends Elisha Russell and Aimee Montgomery achieved matching grades of A*BC.

Outgoing students Scott Sinnamon (ABB) and Gareth Greenaway (BBC) were accepted onto their chosen university courses, while deputy head boy Adam Colgan collected three A grades.

At Carrickfergus Grammar, more than a third of the year group scoring nothing less than a B grade. “Official pass grades at A Level range from A*-E, and 24 of our 26 subjects achieved a 100 percent pass rate for their pupils,” said principal Kieran Mulvenna.

Securing places at Queen’s University Belfast were students Paulina Obasi, who achieved two As and an A* grade, and Gareth Allen, who earned two A* grades and one A. Fellow high fliers included Matthew Robb, who achieved four As, Ryan Craig and Aaron Hutton, who scored A*A* A and AAA respectively.

Looking forward to an accounting apprenticeship with PricewaterhouseCoopers was Michael Smylie, who achieved an A in Accounting and two C grades in Maths and Biology.