SUCCESS IN 2010 GCSE EXAMINATIONS AT PORTADOWN COLLEGE

The 2010 GCSE results have demonstrated more resounding success for Portadown College in the recent series of examinations and endorse the outstanding potential of the two-tier system.  At the top end, candidates achieving A*-A grades were 41.1% of the total entries which is considerably higher than the 27.5% achieved in the whole of Northern Ireland.  The very highest A* grade, which is awarded for exceptional performance in examinations, was achieved by 12.38% of the total entries at the College, compared to 8.9% across the province.

As one of the largest examination centres in Northern Ireland, the College had a total of 2109 GCSE examination entries. The cumulative percentages of A*-C grades compare very impressively with the regional total, as over 93% of College students achieved a C grade or above, almost 20% higher than the figure for the whole of Northern Ireland, which has earned a reputation as the highest achieving region when compared to England and Wales.

These results are very impressive and reflect the students’ diligence, determination to succeed and the encouragement of their parents and guardians whose contribution to these excellent accomplishments should not be overlooked.  The contribution of the three Junior High Schools in preparing students for GCSE studies is also an important component in this success, proving that the two-tier system is producing first-class results.  This was emphasised at the end of the last academic year when the College was placed top of the controlled grammar schools in Northern Ireland based on 2009 examination results.

The staff at the College are also to be commended for guiding and facilitating learning, thereby enabling each individual student to fulfil their potential.  Every set of results is a culmination of hard work and the motivation to achieve individual goals and, therefore, every student is to be praised for reaching their own targets.

Some students recorded outstanding results and their exceptional success should be noted.  Chuer Zhang managed to achieve the top A grade in AS level Chinese as well as 10 A* and one A at GCSE level; Adam Shuaib achieved a total of 8 A* and 3 A grades; Ben Fraser and Sarah White were both awarded 9 A* and 2 A grades; Katie Best achieved the top A* grade in 9 of her subjects while Tracy Adair, Laura Ferguson and Andrew Steele accomplished the same grade in 8 of their subjects.

The following students attained the top grade as part of their impressive GCSE results: