Working as a unit is school's recipe for success says Principal

Working together is the essential ingredient in the recipe for success at Carrickfergus Grammar School, according to principal, Keiran Mulvenna.
High-achieving pupils pictured alongside guest speaker, Shirley McKay, at the Carrick Grammar extra-curricular awards assembly. INCT 40-802CONHigh-achieving pupils pictured alongside guest speaker, Shirley McKay, at the Carrick Grammar extra-curricular awards assembly. INCT 40-802CON
High-achieving pupils pictured alongside guest speaker, Shirley McKay, at the Carrick Grammar extra-curricular awards assembly. INCT 40-802CON

He was speaking at the school’s annual prize distribution when he revealed that nearly all of the A-level subjects achieved a 100% pass rate which once again puts Carrickfergus Grammar School above the Northern Ireland average for ensuring that pupils gain their post-16 qualifications.

He said: “In fact our 87 Year 14 pupils between them have amassed something approaching 300 A-levels, with over 30% being at A grade, and more than 60% at B grade or higher. But never mind the statistics; it’s each individual pupil who produces them that really counts.

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“We are delighted for so many of you, and forgive me that I can’t mention everyone’s name or I’d end up reading out the whole list of prize-winners, but special congratulations must go to Aaron Stevenson who achieved a clean sweep of four top A* grades in Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry and now takes up his place at Queens University Belfast to read Actuarial Science.

Natalya Whitla, Chloe Stewart, Rebekah Galway and Aaron Watson gave lessons on the weather in Spanish and clothes in French at Carrickfergus Model Primary School as part of European Day of Languages. INCT 40-803CONNatalya Whitla, Chloe Stewart, Rebekah Galway and Aaron Watson gave lessons on the weather in Spanish and clothes in French at Carrickfergus Model Primary School as part of European Day of Languages. INCT 40-803CON
Natalya Whitla, Chloe Stewart, Rebekah Galway and Aaron Watson gave lessons on the weather in Spanish and clothes in French at Carrickfergus Model Primary School as part of European Day of Languages. INCT 40-803CON

“Interestingly, despite national concerns about underachieving boys, our top 15 A-level performers comprise 8 boys and 7 girls! Between them they have attained an impressive 46 A* and A grades and they too are looking forward to taking up places at Queens.

“Our Year 13 group achieved outstanding GCSE results last year and their AS results promise much for 2017 with Simon Gregory, Kyle Hutton, Amy Laird, Christopher Obasi, Emily Wilson and Ian Woodside achieving a staggering 25 top grades between them, followed closely by Amy Laird, Sophie McDowell, Gabrielle Simms, Anna Smyth, Nathan Doherty, Emma Cooper, Matthew Edgar, Molly Long and Alex Sheeran all of whom attained three A grades.

“Our Year 12 pupils certainly met the challenge thrown down by last year’s group by achieving well over 1000 GCSE passes amongst them, with almost half these being at grades A and A*. I am also shamelessly proud to report that once again the number of pupils in Carrickfergus Grammar School who have attained 7 GCSEs including English and Maths sits above the NI Grammar School average, which is a reflection of your support, mums and dads, our pupils’ commitment and ability, and their teachers’ professionalism.

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“With 20 of our pupils achieving nothing less than a Grade A in every single subject they took, and our top ten pupils with an astonishing haul of 67 A*s and 33 A grades there were celebrations in manys the home around BT38!

Athletes and musicians at Carrickfergus Grammar were recognised at the annual extra-curricular awards assembly. INCT 40-807CONAthletes and musicians at Carrickfergus Grammar were recognised at the annual extra-curricular awards assembly. INCT 40-807CON
Athletes and musicians at Carrickfergus Grammar were recognised at the annual extra-curricular awards assembly. INCT 40-807CON

Even in the midst of such successes special mention has to be made of Hannah Fugard who achieved an outstanding feat of 10 straight A* grades, closely followed by Holly McCormack with 8 A*s and 3As, and Megan Davis and Rebekah Hill who each attained 8 A* and 2 A grades.