TC/0492

Outstanding exam results provide beam of light in the darkness of grief and anguish

THE GCSE and A-level results, announced last week, have been hailed by many as a ray of light in the darkness, following the turmoil and destruction created by the Omagh bomb.
Pupils here not only maintained the high standards of achievement of past years, but exceeded expectations creating new markers for those to come to follow.
However, principals said that despite the high standard of results, the good news received had been tinged with sadness because of the atrocity - which claimed 28 peoples' lives and injured hundreds more.
Mr. James McBain, principal of Omagh Academy, said the publication of the GCSE results on Tuesday last, and the A-level results on Thursday, were "placed in a completely new perspective by the events of the previous Saturday".
He said the closure of the Post Office as a mark of respect to victims of the bombing meant that A-level students had to come to the school to collect their results.
"While overall the results were excellent - over 50 per cent of all grades at A-level were As and Bs -the delight which students might otherwise have taken in their results was muted as they stood around in small groups talking about friends and relatives killed and injured," he said.
"Suddenly priorities were changed - the excitement of admission to Oxford and Cambridge or places on desired courses was diminished," Mr. McBain said.
He added that pupils coming to the school to discuss A-level courses in the wake of GCSE results were more concerned about who was in hospital, or who had been bereaved, rather than those who had achieved A* grades or the points needed to return to enroll in A-level courses.
High standards
"The fact that results were in line with the high standards of recent years drew no more than passing comment from teachers and governors as the hearts and minds of the entire school community went out to pupils and parents caught in the horror of the Omagh bomb," he said.
He added: "The good results were, of course, the reward for work done in the summer term and in the months when life in Omagh was normal. The fact that for so many people in our community life can never be normal again tells us starkly that life and limb, family and friends, are more important than marks and grades," he said, and added, "The good results of 1998 will never be celebrated without reflection on the greater loss."
The principal of Omagh High School, Mr. Bill Harper, said the school was 'delighted' with the results obtained by all its pupils this year.
He said a wide variety of examinations were entered and although the complete picture was still developing, pending the results from the English Examination Boards, the highest level of attainment in the Northern Ireland GCSE had been achieved with A* grades.
He said the GNVQ results had also boasted a number of distinctions.
"Once again, the efforts of both staff and pupils have been rewarded with most pleasing results," Mr. Harper added.
However, as with other schools, the success has been tinged with sadness, and last week Mr. Harper paid tribute to pupils past and present who had died in the bomb, saying they were 'model pupils'.
"Last week's A-level and GCSE results provided a beam of light amid the darkness created by the grief and anguish arising from the recent traumatic events," Mr. Roddy Tierney, the principal of the Christian Brothers Grammar School in Omagh said. Mr. Tierney said despite receiving what were exceptional results, the pupils in the school were extremely subdued and there was no hint of celebration.
"It was very obvious that pupils were experiencing the pain that had been inflicted on so many within our community, and their thoughts were with the dead, the injured and their families.
"However, it is important that as we look to the future we should give credit to our pupils for the exceptional efforts they have made in obtaining what we regard as among the best results ever achieved in the school," he said.
He said the largest number of pupils ever had taken A-levels examinations, and while there had been concerns that previous high standards might not be maintained, it was not the case.
Of a total of 124 pupils sitting A-level examination, 99 per cent achieved pass grades in two or more subjects, while 92 per cent achieved pass grades in three subjects.
Seventy per cent of all grades were in the A to C category, and Mr. Tierney said the grade levels achieved by students were exceptional, with a total of 13 pupils achieving three grade As, and nine achieving two As and one B.
At GCSE level results also improved on the school's previous best performances.
"With additional results to be received this week, already exceptionally high standards have been achieved and it is expected that, when all results are published, over 93 per cent of our pupils will have obtained A to C grades in five or more subjects.
Mr. Tierney said 129 pupils sat GCSEs, with 25 of them getting grades in the A to C categories in 11 subjects, and there were 48 pupils with grades in the A to C band in 10 subjects. A further 26 had grades ranging from A to C in nine subjects.
"The new A-level intake is being finalised at present and there is an exceptional demand for places on courses commencing next week," Mr. Tierney said.
The principal of Loreto Grammar School, Mr. Colm O'Neill, said the terrible tragedy in Omagh had overshadowed the publication of this year's results.
"With the death of one of our Year 14 pupils, and many more seriously injured, results have been received amidst great sadness," he said.
He revealed that the A-levels showed an improvement on last year's "excellent results" with an overall pass rate of 96 per cent. And 51 per cent of the girls achieved three A-levels with grades in the A to C bracket.
Ten more achieved three As, and a further 10 achieved at least two grade As.
At GCSE level, 70 per cent of pupils achieved nine or more GCSEs, with grades A* to C, while eight pupils achieved nine A* or A grades.
"We are delighted with the school's performance and congratulate the pupils and their teachers for their hard work," he said.
The vice-principal of St. Brigid's High School, Mrs. Mary McLernon, said once again the pupils of the school had excelled in the recent GCSE examinations.
"The full picture of the results will not be available until next week, when the results from the English Examination Boards are received," she said.
"The school chooses a wide range of examination Boards in order to meet the needs of all our pupils so that they can have the best opportunity for success,
"Congratulations to pupils, parents and staff who have worked together to ensure this success," Mrs. McLernon added.
Meanwhile, the principal of St. Patrick's High School, Mr. Donal McDermott, said he was very pleased with this year's GCSE results.
"Although the school is still waiting on results from the English Boards, a number of the pupils have obtained enough GCSEs to enable them to apply for places in further education," he said.
"Overall the standard in all levels has improved greatly with several of the boys receiving A* and As in a variety of subjects," Mr. McDermott added.
Mr. Ken Lyndsey, principal of Fivemiletown High School and Community College, said he was very pleased with this year's results, and said they were an improvement on last year.
He pointed out that 55 per cent of A-level students achieved A to C grades, with 94.5 per cent gaining A to E grades. Fifteen per cent of students achieved grade A at A-level.
Among the more notable results achieved at A-level were those by Cherith Honeyman, who gained three As, Brian Cunningham, with one A and 2 Bs, Valerie Hogg, who achieved three Bs, and Andrew Bates, with one A and two Cs.
He went on to mention the pupils who took the Advanced GNVQ in business studies, eight of whom were awarded distinctions, 12 merits and two with passes.
"At GCSE level, there was an improvement. Last year 55 per cent achieved grades A* to C, compared with 61 per cent this year," he said.
The top students were Aaron Glover, with six A*s and three As, Barry Falls, three A*s, five As and one B, Gary Montgomery, with two A*s, four As and three Bs, Joanne Johnston, two A*s, three As and four Bs, Jillian Elder, with one A*, five As, two Bs and one C, and Barry Hetherington, six As and three Bs.
Mr. Lindsey added that there was also notable achievements among the Intermediate GNVQ leisure and tourism students, with Emma Storey and Donna Gillespie gaining distinctions. There were also five merits and one pass.
"These results are a reflection of the full range of ability which is catered for within a comprehensive school system. It is good to see our results are on the up, and we look forward to seeing our sixth form increasing," said Mr. Lindsey, who paid tribute to the teaching staff at
the school.
Mr. David McKee, principal of Duke of Westminster High School, Kesh, said the results were largely as expected.
He said that, although pupils were still awaiting results from English examination boards, which are to be issued today (Thursday), many students had obtained the grades they had expected, with some individuals achieving notable success.
The principal of Castlederg High School, Mr. William McSparron, and Mr. Charles Gallen, principal of the neighbouring St. Eugene's High School, both said it was too early to give an accurate picture of how students fared in recent examinations, as many awaited results from English examination boards.
Meanwhile, the principal of Strabane Grammar School, Mr. Lewis Lacey, said the results seemed relatively unimportant this year, due to the sad death of lower sixth form pupil, Samantha McFarland, who died as a result of the Omagh bomb.
"Exam success was tinged with sadness at the death of Samantha. Pupils were coming into the school for their results with tears in their eyes, and then going on to attend Samantha's funeral," he said.
'Record'
Noting the academic success of pupils, the Strabane principal described this year's results as a "record".
He said the school was also ranked ninth as regards A-level results in Northern Ireland by a daily newspaper at the weekend.
"Overall the pass rate at A-level was 94 per cent, with 49 per cent gaining grades A to C in three or more subjects," he said.
The top A-level students were Rachel Colhoun, Mark Gilmore and Ruth Stirling, who achieved three As at A-level.
Mr. Lacey said that although they were awaiting GCSE results from English examination boards, they were pleased with pupils' performances so far.
"Ninety-eight per cent gained five or more passes at GCSE level, with 30 per cent gaining A*s or As," he said.
Notable success included Sarah Jones, six A*s, three As, one B, Kathryn Gamble, three A*s, four As and three Bs, Jonathan Curry, one A*, six As and three Bs, Jayne Dunn, one A*s, seven As, one B and one C, and Jill Mehaffey, two A*s, five As, two Bs and one C.
Mr. Lindsey said the results of the English examinations board were too late this year, making it difficult for staff to organise sixth form classes, or give careers advice to pupils.
"That has been a problem this year. The English examination board results should be a week earlier," he said.
Improved
Pupils and teachers across the Province were congratulated by the Education Minister, Mr. John McFall, on the improved standards reached in the A level examinations.
"Following the top class performances in the GCSE examinations, which were announced on Tuesday last, Northern Ireland's students have now kept up their proud record of high achievement at A level," he said.
"Indeed, this year's results show further improvements at almost 92 per cent of pupils achieved pass grades in A level and the proportion who achieved the top grade has also increased.
"These excellent results are a reflection of what can be achieved through hard work on the part of the students and teachers and also highlight the importance of parental support. I extend my warmest congratulations to the students along with my best wishes for success in their chosen careers," he said.
The Minister said the pupils' achievements were "richly deserved" and recognised accordingly.
"The level which students are required to reach in order to be successful is high and we will ensure that the rigorous standards demanded A level examinations are protected," he said.
Mr. McFall added: "While I am delighted with what our young people have accomplished, we cannot afford to be complacent. We must strive not only to maintain these high standards, but to build upon them. This Government is fully committed to doing so."

Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION

Ref: TC/0492

Published Date: 27-Aug-98