Belfast High School marks a successful year

The event was held at the Ulster University Jordanstown campus on Tuesday, October 20. The guest of honour for the evening was former pupil, BBC journalist, Jo Scott.

The ceremony celebrated academic successes and sporting achievements, as well as paying tribute to the other extra curricular activities that are available at the Shore Road school. The efforts made by the teaching staff were also praised.

Pupils who achieved high grades at GCSE, AS and A Level were awarded for their exceptional results.

Principal, Mrs Lynn Gormley, praised the effort made by the pupils.

“In the external examinations Belfast High School pupils achieved excellent results.

“A Level results were particularly pleasing with a 100 per cent pass rate and 94 per cent of entries resulting in an A*-C grade. Our pupils again achieved very high standards at AS Level. Targets were exceeded at all levels and there was a marked improvement in the number of pupils achieving top grades.

“GCSE results were also very good and special congratulations go to Aimée Moore and Rebecca Rooney who each achieved 10 A* grades. Well done also to Bronwyn Gibson-Jones who was placed first in Northern Ireland in GCSE Child Development and to Abby Wilson who was placed ninth in Northern Ireland in A level Geography out of 1852 entries,” she said.

The school celebrated a number of sporting successes in a number of fields including football, rugby, athletics, golf, cross-country, table-tennis, cricket, hockey and netball.

A number of pupils were selected to represent Northern Ireland, Ulster and Ireland at various levels.

Some of the sporting highlights included Andrew Barkley, Ciaran Barnes and Jessica McMaster being selected to represent Northern Ireland at the UK School Games. They won silver in the discus, bronze in the 400m hurdles and silver in hockey respectively. Andrew Barkley broke the Northern Ireland U20 discus record with a throw of 49.62m and also won silver at the Irish Junior Athletics Championships.

Mrs Gormley paid tribute to the school’s music and art departments.

The Senior Choir received the Most Accomplished Senior Choir award at the Flax Trust School Choir Competition, and a number of pupils gained places in the Ulster Youth Choir.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award team at the school, Young Enterprise Group and Community Service Group all received a special mention.

The school is currently going through a period of development, with a new sports hall, fitness suite and drama studio some of the highlights of the projects which will be completed by spring 2016.

Check out the Belfast High prize night picture special in this week’s Newtownabbey Times, on sale now.