NI Examination Performance Improves

The number of pupils achieving five or more GCSEs at grades A*-C in 2013/14 increased 4.3% from 60.9% in 2012/13, according to the latest statistical bulletin released by the Department of Education.

The proportion of non-grammar school Year 12 pupils achieving the same level increased by 6.3% to 44.0% over the year.

However, while the proportion of Year 12 pupils with free school meal entitlement (FSME) achieving five or more GCSEs at grades A*-C increased by 4.8% over the period to 38.7% in 2013/14, this was still 32.1% lower than the equivalent achievement for non-FSME pupils (70.8%).

Girls continue to perform better than boys, with 85.7% of female pupils in Year 12 achieving five or more GCSEs (or equivalent) at grades A*-C (or equivalent) compared with 77.8% of males.

In 2013/14, 65.0% of pupils in the final year of an A level (or equivalent) course achieved three or more A levels at grades A*-C, up from 65.2% in 2012/13.

Education Minister John O'Dowd said: "Overall these statistics reveal an impressive and positive picture and are a result of hard work and effort on the part of the pupils and their teachers but are also evidence that the school improvement policies I have put in place are working for our young people.

"The overall performance of the post-primary sector has improved with a higher proportion of Year 12s attaining the key threshold of five GCSEs A*-C including GCSEs in English and maths. The focus on improving standards in literacy and numeracy is also paying off with the gap between those getting five GCSEs A*-C and those getting five GCSEs A*-C including GCSEs in English and maths narrowing.

"I am greatly encouraged by the rate of improvement at this level amongst our most disadvantaged pupils; an increase of 4.8 percentage points in 2013/14. The gap between the performance of selective and non-selective schools is also narrowing."

(IT/MH)