Top Grades Falter In Local A-Levels

Despite a UK-wide rise in the number of top grades awarded, the number of students getting A grades in their A Levels in Northern Ireland has gone down by almost 1%.

However, NI students have again outperformed their counterparts in England and Wales.

Although the percentage of local entries with an overall A grade dropped by 0.9% to 34.5%, the overall A-E pass rate in Northern Ireland was 98.4% compared to 97.5% across Northern Ireland, England and Wales.

A total of 84.6% of entrants achieved grades A-C, a slight increase of 0.2%.

Overall, A Level entries are up in NI for the first time in four years.

They increased by 4.5% to 31,374, with an overall entry of 846,977 across NI, England and Wales.

The news was warmly greeted this morning as the NI Education Minister Caitríona Ruane and the Stormont Employment and Learning Minister Sir Reg Empey (pictured) joined forces to congratulate the students.

Visiting Shimna Integrated College in Newcastle and St Malachy's High School in Castlewellan, the Education Minister said: "Congratulations to all the young people who have received their A and AS Levels today.

"They are the culmination of years of hard work and are well deserved. The results also demonstrate the commitment, dedication and professionalism of our teachers who have encouraged our young people to strive and reach their full potential.

"I wish everyone every success for their future. This is an important milestone in your life and I would advise you to follow your dream and to consider all your available options before embarking on your chosen career."

Sir Reg Empey said: "So many of our young people have achieved the grades they needed for their chosen pathways and they deserve our congratulations.

"However, there will be some students who are disappointed with their results and are now concerned about their future.

"I want to reassure you and your parents or guardians that help and advice are on hand.

"My department's Careers Service has a team of professionally qualified advisers offering free, impartial, careers information, advice and guidance to young people and adults." he said, urging they visit www.careersserviceni.com for "a wealth of useful information".

"I would encourage young people to investigate all options open to them," he continued.

"Our Further Education colleges offer a wide variety of foundation degrees and vocational qualifications and further study may prove beneficial, especially in these tough economic times."

See: A-level Students Receive Results

(BMcC)