EXCELLENT GCSE RESULTS AT ABBEY CHRISTIAN BROTHERS’ GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

Fifth Year students at the Abbey Christian Brothers’ Grammar School, Newry learned that they have created their own little piece of history on Thursday last when they got their GCSE results. This group have achieved a new record for the greatest number of students obtaining the top grades in GCSE examinations. In 2006 eighteen students achieved at least 8 ‘A’ grades or above, this increased to twenty four last year and has increased to a magnificent thirty one students this year!

The top performers with 11 A*/A grades were Niall Burke ( 9 A* and 2 A’s ), Niall Duffy ( 9 A* and 2 A’s ), Oliver Hearty ( 9 A* and 2 A’s ), Sean Cunningham ( 7 A* and 4 A’s ), Niall McCartan ( 7 A* and 4 A’s ), David Heatley ( 4 A* and 7 A’s ) and Tony Fearon (3 A* and 8 A’s ).

Following the ‘magnificent seven’ above, eight students achieved 10 A*/A grades, including John-Benedict Farrell, Michael McGovern, Ethan Toner, Patrick Gallogly, Killian Feehan, Vikash Kanjee, Ronan Kearney and Darren Marshall. Seven students achieved 9 A*/A grades, including Jamie Campbell, James Hasson, Andrew Fitzsimons, Patrick McCoy, Eoin Colgan, Niall Murchan and Jonathan Price. Nine students achieved 8 A*/A grades, including Ryan Faloon, Niall O’Neill, Ryan Lonergan, David Stanyer, Jarlath McAteer, Ryan Oozeerally, Keian Roohipour, John McCaul and John McCullough.

Students will choose three or four A Levels from a range of 28 subjects available. Subjects include History, Geography, Art, Drama and Theatre Studies, Business Studies, Economics, Accounts, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Irish, French, Spanish, ICT, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Design and Technology (Systems and Control), Design and Technology (Resistant Materials), Religious Studies, Politics, English Language, English Literature, Physical Education, Music, Sociology, Psychology, Applied ICT and Construction.

This will be complemented by Lower Sixth students adding to their AS studies in the next academic year with accredited vocational enrichment programmes across the range of subject areas including Consumer and Employment Law, Business Enterprise, Electronics Manufacturing, Website Design, Sports Injuries, Practical Caring Skills and Information Technology.

A delighted Headmaster, Mr Dermot McGovern, thanked staff and parents and congratulated all the students who received GCSE results – not only the boys who had done exceptionally well but also the boys who had done as well as they possibly could. He believes that a number of factors have combined to help with this year’s success, including a very dedicated, committed and highly professional staff who got the best out of this year group. The most valuable gift any teacher can give a pupil in the Abbey is their own time and this was given in abundance.

Support from parents was another area highlighted by Mr McGovern that facilitated these results, working in harmony with the Abbey by attending Parent/Teacher meetings and helping to implement recommendations that were agreed at ‘Progress Meetings’ that were set up to support students.