Nearly a third of pupils awarded top A* and A grades

Virtually a 3rd of GCSE entries in Northern Eire have been awarded the highest A* and A grades.

Greater than 32,000 college students in Northern Eire obtained their GCSEs on Thursday morning and a few vocational qualification outcomes.

In distinction to A-Level results, college students can not get their GCSE outcomes on-line and can go to highschool to get their grades.

Just below a 3rd of GCSE entries in Northern Eire achieved grade A and above in 2024, and there aren’t anticipated to be huge modifications in 2025.

Total, leads to Northern Eire in 2025 have been comparatively just like these in 2024.

Some college students additionally obtained outcomes of vocational {qualifications} like BTEC’s.

In Northern Eire, 31.8% of GCSE entries have been awarded A* or A.

That compares to 31% in 2024.

Outcomes have returned to ranges just like these earlier than the Coronavirus pandemic when exams have been cancelled.

In English Language and Maths, that are obligatory topics, over 1 / 4 of entries have been awarded grade A or above.

Total, outcomes for women have been increased than these for boys.

The overwhelming majority of GCSEs in Northern Eire – greater than 95% – are taken by pupils via the Northern Eire examination board, the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Evaluation (CCEA).

CCEA’s chief govt Gerry Campbell stated that the outcomes marked a “key milestone” for younger individuals and likewise thanked their lecturers and faculty workers for the help that they had offered to college students.

The rest are taken via English and Welsh examination boards, so some pupils in Northern Eire will obtain leads to the type of numbers in addition to letters.

That’s as a result of GCSEs in England are graded numerically from 9 to 1, whereas in Northern Eire they’re graded from A* to G.

At St John the Baptist School in Portadown, pupils begin to nervously filter in to obtain their outcomes.

Sean has already obtained his, saying there was not a lot shock as he “had an concept of what he was going to get”.

“You get your predicted outcomes forward of time, so that you possibly get the odd let down or enchancment,” he stated.

Sean sat 12 GCSE’s receiving an A*, 4A’s, 6B’s and a C*.

Sean stated: “I am not too positive what I wish to do once I’m older, it would rely on A-Stage outcomes down the road, however one thing in Bio-medical science.”

Georgina stated she obtained A’s, B’s and C’s in her outcomes.

“I achieved rather well, I achieved higher than anticipated,” she stated.

She stated she had barely slept as her nerves have been excessive.

Georgina stated it’s “heart-breaking” to depart the college and “scary since you’re going into one thing larger”.

She has aspirations of changing into a nurse so she want to examine well being and social care.

Wiktoria stated: “I achieved rather well, I’m really so pleased with my outcomes.

“I have been so nervous however I imply I wasn’t over assured or something however I knew I would do okay.”

Wiktoria is planning to review science with hopes of acquiring a job within the pharmaceutical trade.

Lara couldn’t relaxation till 06:00BST this morning as a result of she was “actually, actually nervous”.

Apart from a C in Maths, Lara obtained all B’s, with one in Portuguese amongst others.

“I am actually not good at maths so I used to be delighted,” she stated. “I believed I would get a D.”

Lara hopes to go on to review regulation or politics at college.

Headmistress of St John the Baptist School, Mrs Noella Murray, stated it was a momentous day.

“We actually look ahead to outcomes day,” she stated.

“It’s the place the fruit of our labour is actually laid naked and I’m delighted to say that but once more our kids have excelled and met all expectations.

“It’s actually beautiful for employees to see the grins on the kids’s faces once they get outcomes.”

Pupils at Saintfield Excessive Faculty in County Down have been opening their outcomes on Thursday morning.

Mia stated she was “buzzing” and her buddy Ruby was “simply thrilled”.

Matthew added: “I’m simply completely happy and relieved as a result of all that stress has gone off me and I can lastly chill out.”

Outdoors of English Language and Maths, which all pupils are required to take a seat, different topics with comparatively excessive numbers of scholars embrace English Literature, Double Award Science, Spiritual Research, Geography and Historical past.

There has additionally been an increase in pupils finding out GCSE topics like Building and Well being and Social Care.

Whereas the variety of pupils finding out GCSE French has fallen, Spanish and Irish have elevated in recognition lately.

There have been nearly 2,000 entries for GCSE Irish in 2025 and nearly 4,100 for GCSE Spanish, each increased than in 2023 and 2024.

Pupils use their GCSEs, and outcomes of different {qualifications} like BTECs, to progress to A-Ranges, programs in additional schooling, coaching or employment.

Schooling Minister Paul Givan plans to make it obligatory for younger individuals to stay in education or training until they are 18, though they might have the choice to mix work with part-time schooling or coaching.

In accordance with the Division of Schooling, about 2,000 faculty leavers in Northern Eire don’t obtain an A-Stage or equal qualification.

Virtually 700 responses have been obtained in a session on the proposals, which might turn out to be regulation by the tip of the present meeting mandate in March 2027.

The vast majority of those that responded to the session have been in favour of the transfer.

Forward of outcomes day, the principals of the six additional schooling schools in Northern Eire known as for a shift in notion round post-16 schooling.

They stated additional schooling schools supply a variety of {qualifications}, together with A-levels, BTECs and apprenticeships.

Principal and chief govt of South West School, Celine McCartan, stated there had been “a notable shift in additional schooling as a rising first alternative amongst younger individuals right this moment”.

“Our college students go on to review at high universities, safe aggressive apprenticeships, and enter industries which can be in actual want of expert employees,” she stated.

CCEA is working a outcomes helpline for college students till 27 August on 028 9026 1260 or by way of electronic mail on helpline@ccea.org.uk.

The Division for the Financial system’s careers service can also be offering recommendation and help on 0300 200 7820 or on-line.