Pupils at Parkhall Integrated College celebrated receiving record breaking GCSE results on Thursday morning and with good reason!
At the last confirmation of results, over 80% of pupils had reached the target of 5A*-C Grades – an increase of almost 10% from 2014 and an increase of almost 15% from 2013, demonstrating the rising attainment levels within the school.
Principal George Beattie commented, ‘We are all absolutely delighted with the results this year in what are the highest results ever achieved by the school. They have been achieved though hard work from the pupils, quality teaching from the staff and a high level of pastoral support and guidance. The relationship and support of the parents also plays a crucial role in this success. The curriculum that we offer is suited to the needs and aspirations of the wide range of abilities of our pupils and allows them to achieve appropriate progression routes for the future. As with many non-selective schools we will continue to focus on raising standards of literacy and numeracy and aim to raise our performance in these areas in the future’
Pupils achieved the top A* or A grades in many subjects including English, English literature, Maths, Science, RE, Construction, French, Equine Studies, Business studies, ICT, and Horticulture.
Amongst the pupils with 10 A*-C grades are: Natalie Clark, Chloe Ferguson, Lydia Jane McComb, Emma Neal, Victoria Smith and Gina Rutherford.
Other pupils performing at a very high level, gaining 8 or 9 GCSE A*-C grades included Karl Barr, Chloe Green, Charlotte Henderson, Cameron Hodge, Ryan Kirkpatrick and Rebecca Milliken, Thomas Adams, Chloe Allison, Jason Riley, Sophie Jade Jackson, Brittany Field, Rebecca Connor, Lauren Gordon, and Scott McClay.
Head of Careers, Jill Stubbs, highlighted the future opportunities for the pupils in both the academic areas and through the vocational route.
‘Some of our pupils transfer to Grammar School study at ‘A’ Level whilst many seek vocational courses at NRC, Greenmount or Belfast Met. It is crucial that we provide opportunities at GCSE Level for our pupils to fulfil their potential. It is very important to us that all of our pupils also have access to high level Careers advice and guidance to help them to make good career choices’.
Mr Beattie did reflect on his frustration at the educational provision for young people within the town of Antrim.
‘We are delighted that annually some of our pupils have the opportunity to transfer to study ‘A’ Levels and we wish them every success but it is frustrating that so many more of our pupils who are seeking a vocational education have to travel to Ballymena, Newtownabbey or Belfast. This simply makes things a lot more difficult for our young people to succeed and sometimes leads to higher drop out rates than normal’.
The growth of a mixture of academic and vocational courses has provided a platform for considerable success for all pupils within the College as reflected by the excellent results achieved by pupils such as Lewis Hanley, Holly Murray, Brad Fletcher, Brooke Myles, Ryan Shek, Jade Cooke, Shania Boon, Carl Wilson, and Emily Moorman.
‘The Vocational Curriculum delivered by the school and by the NRC helps prepare our pupils for their future and gives them the necessary skills and qualities to follow these courses in the future’ said Vocational Co-ordinator, Alan Cunningham, who was delighted at the performance of a large number of our pupils including Jasmine Foster, Sophie Fox, Tammy Waite, Luke Walker, Rebecca Matthews, Melanie Francey, and Stephanie Barkley.
The College would like to extend a word of congratulations to all pupils who received their results yesterday.
