PORTADOWN COLLEGE SUCCESS RECOGNISED
A recent analysis of Department of Education statistics based on the 2008/2009 GCSE and A level examinations has ranked Portadown College at ninth place overall in Northern Ireland and number one amongst the controlled grammar schools.
Speaking to the Portadown Times, the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Peter Aiken, said: "On behalf of the Board of Governors it is pleasing to note the success of the students from Portadown College. The Board of Governors appreciate the sterling effort from all the staff, both teaching and non-teaching, as they cater for PC students. This is especially relevant as they perform their work in buildings which need to be replaced. Regrettably, with the Department of Education last year changing the goalposts and undertaking a Capital Project Review, the building of the new school will be delayed potentially until 2015.
Mr Aiken also made comment about the students and the commitment of parents. Obviously, schools promote much more than simply academic success, and Portadown College has a strong reputation for not only excellent exam results but also a wide range of popular extra-curricular activities. Every month at our Governors’ meetings we are informed about student successes in examinations and competitions and their involvement in community initiatives both here in Northern Ireland and across the globe. The numbers involved, and their successes, are immense and bring great credit to Portadown College and the local community. The commitment of parents and their willingness to contribute with time and effort is also appreciated and worthy of note. The outcomes of the quality teaching and learning at Portadown College are witnessed through the examination grades obtained by our students. The Board of Governors hopes that past successes will continue in 2010 and beyond."
Recently appointed Principal, Mr Simon Harper, was also keen to comment on this very encouraging vindication of the enormous strengths of the Dickson Plan. He commented: “This excellent outcome reflects well on the students, governors, staff and parents associated with Portadown College. This places the College as the top performing controlled grammar school in the Province and further consolidates the success of the two-tier system in Portadown. The students are to be commended for their individual successes and for the dedication required to secure such outcomes. I would like to place on record my gratitude to our teaching staff who work tirelessly for the benefit of our students. I would also acknowledge the role played by our local Junior High Schools and Primary Schools who lay the necessary foundations for our students. Given the continued success of Portadown College, and the large demand for places, I very much hope that the Department of Education will accelerate the commencement of building work for our new College. The College remains very well placed to continue providing high quality education for the young people of the area and we look forward to further successes over the coming years.”
Craigavon DUP Councillor and member of the Board of Governors of Portadown College, Dr Philip Weir, said today: “Portadown College deserves congratulations for being placed first among controlled grammar schools in the province in an Irish News survey. It is a great credit to pupils, parents, staff, management and all associated with the school. It is also a strong endorsement of the Dickson Plan and the quality of our local Primary and Junior High Schools.
The first eight places were filled by maintained schools with Portadown College in ninth place. The Irish News used newly-published exam data for 2008-9 to rank schools based on results.
Seeking to place schools on the basis of exam performance is not an exact science and the very different intakes of schools should always be taken into consideration. However such league tables do allow a degree of comparison between similar-sized schools with intakes from similar areas.
At Portadown College 86% of pupils achieved three A levels at grades A-C in 2008-9, and 97% of pupils received at least seven passes at GCSE. This compares with averages across Northern Ireland’s grammar schools of 75% and 91% respectively.
The high number of maintained schools in the Irish News’ top thirty schools indicates just how incomprehensible the attitudes are of the Education Minister and other nationalist politicians, who are only too willing to put at risk the future of excellent maintained grammar schools”.
Highest Performing Grammar Schools
(Irish News)
1. St Mary’s, Magherafelt
2. Our Lady’s, Newry
3. Sacred Heart, Newry
4. Rathmore, Belfast
5. St Patrick’s Academy, Dungannon
6. Lumen Christi, Londonderry
7. Loreto, Coleraine
8. Our Lady and St Patrick’s, Belfast
9. Portadown College
10. Collegiate Grammar, Enniskillen
11. Ballyclare High
12. Abbey Christian Brothers, Newry
13. Friends’ School, Lisburn
14. St Patrick’s, Downpatrick
15. St Michael’s, Enniskillen