Outstanding results for pupils

Principal Mr Trevor Robinson said these fantastic results are a firm testament to the success of the tried and tested Dickson Plan which, for over forty years, has equipped the young people of this area with the necessary skills to help them fulfil their true academic, social, moral and spiritual potential.

For an incredible fourteenth year in a row, the Y14 pupils of Lurgan College recorded an over 99.7% pass rate in all subjects offered at A Level, which compares very favourably with the NI Grammar School average pass rate of 98.2%. Grades A*, A and B accounted for almost two thirds of all grades achieved, which again is well above the NI Grammar School average. The 85.1% of A*-C grades is also in excess of the NI Grammar School average.

These results have already placed the College among some of the top performing schools throughout the UK according to surveys carried out by a number of national newspapers.

Mr Robinson added: “While all of these welcome figures are, of course, most encouraging for us as a school, the most gratifying aspect for us all at the College is that the majority of our pupils are now preparing to taking up their well-earned places in their chosen universities. These fine young people, who are indeed a credit to their families, their school and their community, deserve much praise for carrying on Lurgan College’s well established tradition of outstanding academic excellence.

“Worthy of particular mention are former King’s Park PS pupils, Matthew Canning and Megan Collins, who achieved an outstanding four straight A grades in their A Levels – a fantastic feat by any standard!”

A total of 12 pupils recorded at least three straight grade As in their subjects and a further 10 pupils obtained at least 2 grade As.

The students with three straight grade As were Samantha Bann (King’s Park PS), Callum Craig (Carrick PS), Charlotte Cromie (Waringstown PS), Hannah Eakin (Waringstown PS), Lauren Edge (Carrick PS), Sam Harrison (King’s Park PS), Alex Hurst (Waringstown PS), Gareth Hutchinson (Waringstown PS), Bethan Logan (Ballinderry PS), Sophie Lyons (Waringstown PS), Jordan McCallen (King’s Park PS) and Rebecca McShane (King’s Park PS).

The students achieving at least two grade As were Kerry Bell (Waringstown PS), Demi Buckley (Carrick PS), Amelia Burns (Waringstown PS), Ben Cairns (King’s Park PS), Kathryn Corr (Waringstown PS), Tiffany Ki (Waringstown PS), Stephen Logan (Maralin PS), Zoe Maguire (Bleary PS), Luke McConville (King’s Park PS) and Zoe Robinson (King’s Park PS).

Mr Robinson said: “As Headmaster of Lurgan College, I am extremely proud of how all our pupils have performed in their A Level examinations. Lurgan College continues to be greatly indebted to the pupils’ Primary Schools for their early education and, to the committed teaching staff of Lurgan Junior High School who expertly developed the pupils’ skills in Years 8-10. I also acknowledge the role of our own teaching staff who continually demonstrate the highest levels of dedication and professionalism, furnishing our pupils with the very highest educational experience.

“I am also deeply appreciative of the contribution of our pupils’ very supportive parents who work closely in partnership with the school in order to ensure such impressive examination success on the part of their sons and daughters.

“We pray that God will continue to bless all our Y14 pupils as they move on to the next chapter of their exciting careers and we look forward to seeing them taking their rightful place as leaders in our society in future years.”

The results achieved by the Y13 pupils of Lurgan College at Advanced Subsidiary Level (AS) are also very pleasing with many excellent individual performances.

The overall pass rate was 94% which sits 5% above the national average. This is all the more creditable considering almost every pupil studied four subjects to AS Level.

With around 50% of the record-breaking 459 entries graded at A-B (compared to the national average of just 40.2%), this has been another very commendable year for Lurgan College at AS Level. Many subjects recorded over 75% A-C grades.

Mr Robinson said: “These most pleasing results constitute the first half of the pupils’ Advanced Level study and they will undoubtedly stand the pupils in good stead as they prepare for study at Advanced Level next year.”

The College’s top performer at AS Level this year was Waringstown PS former pupil, Peter Beck, who achieved an amazing five straight A grades!

The students with four straight As in their subjects were Tom Bailey (Maralin PS), Victoria Flavell (King’s Park PS), Robert Hall (King’s Park PS), Jack Hutchinson (Waringstown PS), Laura Mahaffy (Waringstown PS), Owen Maxwell (King’s Park PS) and Andrew Preston (Carrick PS).

The students with three A grades were Mark Harris (Waringstown PS), Courtney Hill (Bleary PS), Daniel King (King’s Park PS), Mark McGrath (Waringstown PS), Dylan Mooney (Donaghcloney PS), Robert Norton (Maralin PS) and Adam Pickering (Carrick PS).

The following pupils achieved two grade As: Andrew Carson (Carrick PS), Kathryn Edgar (Clare PS), Jill Gardiner (King’s Park PS), Sophie Gorman (Carrick PS), Timothy Hancock (Waringstown PS), Jack Hannigan (Moira PS), Andrew Henry (Milltown PS), Chelsea McCann (Carrick PS), Joshua McCormick (Ballinderry PS), Touseef Rasool (St Brendan’s PS) and Elizabeth Stafford (King’s Park PS).

Mr Robinson concluded: “I offer my warmest and sincerest congratulations to all of the pupils, their parents and their teachers on these encouraging AS performances which augur extremely well for next year. I am confident that the pupils will build upon these successes as they prepare to face the challenge of rigorous academic study at Advanced Level in the coming academic year.”