Another successful academic year at Magherafelt High
MAGHERAFELT High School celebrate another successful academic year, the principal Mr Brian McCluskey told the annual prize distribution.
At the outset of his speech, Mr McCluskey said in September the school welcomed 87 Maghera High pupils who transferred after the closure of their school.
“I wish to pay tribute to the hard work and dedication of the Maghera High School principal and staff over the last number of years and we as a school were genuinely saddened to learn of the school’s closure,” he said.
“I feel that the new pupils have already integrated extremely well and I look forward to their contribution to the life of this school in the years to come.
“The NEELB provided some extra accommodation to help facilitate the additional intake and I have been very pleased by the standard of work that has been done. The LSC transferred from Maghera High to Magherafelt High School and the children are now based in 2 excellent classrooms within the main body of the school.”
Referring to the school’s busy year with regard to examinations, Mr Cluskey said: “Beginning with our Year 14 A Level pupils, we were very pleased that 68% of the grades achieved were A, B or C,” he said.
“Our top students included David McFadden, A, A, C, Dawn McMullan, A, B, C, Alixs Ferguson and Christine Hurl, A, C, C, Stephanie Sloss, Ruth Scott and Laura Davidson, B, B, C.
“This group have all gone on to further and higher education, to study professional courses such as; Reflexology, Food Management, Geography, Mental Health Nursing, Children’s Nursing, Dental Hygiene, English, Consumer Studies, Sociology with Criminology, Computer Studies, Music with Drama, History, Business Studies, Architecture and Multi-Media Design. “The Universities included are Magee, Loughry, Queens, Coleraine, Edinburgh, Lancaster and Jordanstown.”
Mr McCluskey said at A2 Level, 63% of our pupils achieved grades A, B or C.
“I would like to particularly congratulate Megan McKee who achieved 3 A grades. Megan entered this school having achieved a D grade in the transfer test, however, she started in 8A1 but was demoted to 9A2,” he continued.
“That demotion seems to have acted as great spur to Megan as she displayed increasing confidence and ability.
“Her GCSE grades were of a good standard but to achieve 3 A grades is a great testament to her work ethic, stickability and not giving up even in the face of disappointed.
“Other wonderful results were achieved by Rebekah Bell, Jamie-Lee Harris and Victoria Steele, A, A, B, Lauren Anderson, A, A, C, Richard Brown, A, B, C and Gillian Brooks, B, B, B. “I would also like to mention two pupils who embarked upon an additional AS Level with a difference. Catherine Dempsey and Nathan Morrow successfully completed an AS in Film Studies and this was delivered using Video-Conferencing technology.
“Their lecturer taught them from her home in Liverpool and they submitted work online. They both showed great discipline and determination to successfully complete their course.”
Turning to the GCSE results, Mr McCluskey said they were the best ever gained by Magherafelt High School pupils with 53% gaining 5 grade A* - C grades.
Notable results included Catherine Currie, 3 A*, 4 A, 1 B, Gillian Jones, 2 A*, 5 A, 1 B, William Stringer, 6 A, 3 B, Barbara Parke, 2 A*, 3 A, 2 B, 1 C, Matthew Kane, 2 A*, 4 A, 2 C, Tanya Selfridge, 2 A*, 1 A, 5 B, Claire Riddell, 2 A*, 2 A, 2 B, 2 C, Leanne Sloss, 2 A*, 1 A, 4 B, 1 C, Rebecca Evans, 1 A*, 4 A, 1 B, 1 C and Timothy Paul, 1 A*, 1 A, 5 B, 1 C.
“We have recently learned that Leanne Sloss was the top female student in Northern Ireland for GCSE Construction and she will be attending an Awards Ceremony soon. Many congratulations to Leanne for this wonderful achievement,” he said.
“At Entry Level, 57% of grades achieved were the top grade possible - Level 3. In Occupational Studies which is delivered to a number of our pupils at the NRC, 50% achieved the top award - Double Award Level 2.
“I would like to pay tribute to the NRC Lecturers, our Project Officer, Mrs Liz Rowan and our Link Teacher Mr John Black. Pupils achieving the highest grades were Sarah Wilson, Adam Davison, Craig Miller, Andrew Lennox, Kirsty Downey, Rebecca Bell, Angeline Evans and Kyle Leslie.
“In completing this section on our academic success, I would like to draw attention to our ever increasing number of pupils returning to sixth form.
“When the decision was made in 2003 to offer A Level provision in MHS, we had a lower sixth of 20 pupils. Today we have a sixth form comprising of 70 pupils with 41 in lower sixth. I would like to pay tribute to the professional and dedicated staff who are delivering such a high quality of education to all our pupils.”
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Weather for Belfast
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 2 C to 7 C
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