14th August, 2014
Integrated Colleges Celebrate Exam Success: Outstanding results for outstanding students
The Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE), Noreen Campbell, welcomed the A level exam successes of students at integrated colleges across Northern Ireland.
Year on year, exam results in integrated colleges are outstanding, this year proving no exception, with students celebrating exceptional A-level results.
Sperrin Integrated College have achieved great success, with an A-level pass rate of 99%. 90% of the grades achieved are at A* to C, and 74.2% of the students achieved 3 or more grades at A* to C. Additionally, one student achieved Distinction in Engineering taken at the local FE (NRC) and grades A and B in subjects taken at Sperrin to gain entry to Queen’s.
Shimna Integrated College are delighted with their A-level results this year. 100% of Shimna students have achieved the 2+ A-levels at A*-E, and they are very proud of them. Immediate examples are Stephen, taking his straight As to study history and politics at Queen’s, Erin taking her straight As to study computing at Loughborough. A* students include Dearbhail taking Film Studies and John Paul creative games development, both at Queen’s. Vanessa, with her A-levels in French, German and Irish heads to study either Chinese or Italian. However, in an enthusiastically all-ability school, they are equally proud of all their students and their many and varied destinations and the courses they are heading to study. They are also proud of the additional experiences their students take with them: Steven, with straight As and a unit of Open University study in Medicine and Molecules and 98% in the University of Ulster essay writing competition; Sinead with her Open University unit in Understanding Human Nutrition and her cake baking business as well as a place to study ICT and business at the University of Kent; Ryan with a successful career in representative politics behind him as he heads to an academic study of politics.
All 150 students at Hazelwood Integrated College achieved 100% success across 27 subjects.
Principal, Mrs Kathleen Gormley said, “Our new sixth form curriculum, which was introduced in September 2013 has clearly had a positive impact on results at A-level. We promise all of our students a seven-year pathway which will leave them University-ready, Further Education-ready or Work-ready. The introduction of this curriculum has led to a 12% increase on last year’s results in students achieving 3+ A2 levels”.
Their varied curriculum offer has led to students obtaining places on new and innovative HE & FE Courses in subjects such as: Cyber Security, Clean Technology and Adventure & Extreme Sports as well as the more traditional subjects such as Nursing, Finance and Leadership & Management. A number of their students have secured employment in areas such as Make-up Artistry, Construction, Retail and Hospitality.
Their top-performing subjects this year are Business Studies, ICT, Sports Studies, Construction, Health & Social Care and Science.
Hazelwood’s integrated status is truly reflected in their results with their top achieving boys and girls coming from the International, Protestant & Catholic communities.
Jill Markham, Principal of Oakgrove Integrated College, says “I am delighted with our A-level results this year. It is testament to all of the hard work and commitment shown by staff and students. I am particularly proud that students of all abilities have experienced success. Several students attended the Cambridge and Eton summer schools gaining invaluable experience and an insight into the rigours of university study.”
Students, staff and parents from Drumragh Integrated College are celebrating some of the best A-level results in the college’s history, with the number of students gaining three A*-C grades nearly 10% higher than predicted. The college is delighted for the many students who have gained entry to the university courses or future options of their choice; this is a momentous next step for each one of them and they deserve their success. The college congratulates them as they are rewarded for their talents, character and months of committed hard work. They also thank them for all they have given to the college community during their years of study here. Drumragh continues to grow from strength to strength, and its 2014 A-level results provide ample evidence of this.
The board of directors and all involved in NICIE congratulate these young people on their successes and pay tribute to the dedicated work of staff in their colleges.
As these successful students move on to the next stage of their education, the debates on education continue. How do we best prepare our young people to play their part as active citizens in a peaceful and diverse society? How do we ensure a system of education which will enable each young person to fulfil her potential?
Many parents will begin the school year agonising about whether their children should undergo the stress of selection tests for entry into grammar school. Successful exam results from the integrated sector prove that such invidious selection is not necessary. All children in every school throughout Northern Ireland, regardless of status, follow the same curriculum. The all ability character of integrated colleges, the high expectations of students and the positive learning environment provided in integrated schools ensure that all children fulfil their potential. In addition, these children have the added privilege of a shared learning of each other’s traditions, backgrounds and beliefs, in an inclusive, all-ability environment committed to reconciliation. This is a privilege denied to many.
Noreen Campbell, NICIE Chief Executive, expressed her delight at the achievements of students across the sector: “Integrated colleges are the most popular and most oversubscribed schools in Northern Ireland. These results tell us why: integrated colleges provide a high achieving environment for all students.”
