Ballee delighted with exam outcomes

Ballee High School principal Mrs McCartney and staff member Mr Murdock with some of their top GCSE pupils at Ballee school last week. INBT 35-804H

Principal Gillian McCartney said she was absolutely delighted with the school’s results which demonstrated the commitment of the pupils, support from dedicated parents and the professional skills of the staff.

“Teaching is a vocation,” she said. “It is a highly skilled and highly accountable profession. I commend my staff who have kept their eye on the ball in the midst of the storm going on around them ensuring commendable outcomes for each pupil in their care.

“Target setting, tracking and solid teaching and learning have provided the supportive framework for success – the rest has been down to the sheer hard work of the pupils themselves.”

Of the 69 pupils who were entered, 91% achieved 5 GCSE passes, enabling access to further education, sixth forms and training courses and improve career opportunities.

She continued: “We are particularly pleased with the increased number of pupils who have achieved seven GCSE’s including English and Mathematics in the top A*-C grades and the 64% increase on the previous year for achievement in 5 GCSE’s including English and Mathematics at A*-C.”

Particularly noteworthy is the success of the Head Boy Glenn Mills who achieved 9 GCSE passes including 6A* and an A.

“Glenn, like so many others who enrolled with us chose not to sit the Transfer Test but with a positive attitude, support from home and a supportive learning environment in school he has achieved passes at the highest level,” said Mrs McCartney.

“This has been reflected in other excellent results from Morgan Perkins, Lucy Stirrup, Kaitlin Nevin, Adam McBurney, Arran George, Christopher Lamont, Kyle Pritchard, Megan Sempey and Daniel Surgenor.

Chairman of the Board of Governors, Allister McCombe, added: “Over the years pupils from Ballee Community High School have had a sound education and many have progressed to further and higher education, or have established very successful businesses in the town. We acknowledge our shared history, celebrate the current successes of our year 12 students and look forward to embracing the future.”