Northern Ireland students celebrate A-Level results and look ahead

author: FutureCar Staff    

Students in Northern Ireland are celebrating the release of their A-Level results as they prepare for their next steps after leaving school. Over 26,000 students in the region received their AS and A-level examination results, with the number of A* and A grades awarded decreasing for the second consecutive year.

Students from Lagan College and Campbell College in Belfast had mixed levels of nervousness leading up to results day, but they were all excitedly discussing their plans for further study, both in Northern Ireland and beyond. Mirran Morrison, Cohen Taylor, Caoimhe McClure, and Chris Cassells, all students at Lagan College, achieved the results they needed to be accepted into their desired university courses.

Mirran Morrison, the head girl of Lagan College, achieved three A* grades in religion, sociology, and drama. When asked if she was nervous before receiving her results, Ms. Morrison admitted that she hadn't slept for three nights. Despite the discussion surrounding the decrease in A/A* grades this year, she tried to block out the noise and focus on her own results. Ms. Morrison will be studying theology at the University of Durham.

Cohen Taylor, who received two A*s and an A, expressed his happiness with his results. He acknowledged that while there was a decrease in top grades this year, he appreciated the exam board's recognition of the impact of Covid-19. Mr. Taylor will be studying social policy with sociology at Ulster University.

Caoimhe McClure was emotional when she opened her results and discovered her place at Queen's University Belfast to study English and drama. Despite the scaling back on top grades, she was proud that all her friends in the year group achieved the results they wanted. Ms. McClure experienced significant disruption in her previous exams due to Covid-19.

Chris Cassells, the head boy at Lagan College, achieved 3 A* grades and one A. He will be attending the University of Cambridge to study geography after taking a gap year. Mr. Cassells admitted to feeling nervous about his abilities but was confident that he had done his best and whatever he achieved was meant to happen.

Amanda McNamee, the principal of Lagan College, expressed her delight for the class of 2023 and commended their resilience during the challenging times caused by Covid-19. She noted that despite many students leaving Northern Ireland, a majority still chose to pursue courses at home universities. She emphasized the importance of young people returning to Northern Ireland after studying abroad to contribute to making the region stronger and more successful.

Campbell College, an all-boys school, also celebrated success stories. Twin brothers Angus and Aaron Pollock achieved a collective 6 A*/A grades and were both accepted to the University of Ulster. They were impressed by the university's campus and were considering a placement year in Europe. The brothers expressed support for each other and a healthy balance of sibling rivalry.

Robert Robinson, the headmaster of Campbell College, expressed his delight with the results and praised the boys' resilience. He noted that more students chose to stay at home this year, with a significant number going to Queens or Ulster. Additionally, a portion of students will be attending universities in England and Scotland, with a small percentage going to Durham University.

Most A-levels in Northern Ireland were sat under the local exam board CCEA, although some students and schools opted for other UK boards. Examiners were instructed to consider the impact of the pandemic when evaluating overall student performance.

FutureCar Staff