with the presentation of over 140 awards to pupils which recognised their success and achievements in not only the Academic and Sporting arenas but also for the contribution that they made to their community as well.
The backdrop to this ‘Celebration of Achievement’ was particularly noteworthy with the school achieving its best ever GCSE results with 58% of its Year 12 pupils attaining 5+ GCSEs at grades A*- C. This is the seventh year in a row that this key figure has increased and ensures that St. Colm’s stays in the Top 5% of schools in its category.
Principal Ms Imelda Jordan praised the pupils for their exceptional achievements. “It is truly astonishing that in an area of high social and economic deprivation that our young people continue to defy the odds in producing the outstanding results that they do. A statistic not often mentioned is the ‘Grammar School Comparison’ which looks at the percentage of pupils who achieve 7+ GCSEs. In this school 41% of all of those who entered GCSEs achieved 7+ GCSEs at grades A*- C. It is a timely reminder that if we as a school and the community, of which the school is a very important part, believe in the young people then they will deliver. In this school we expect the young people to achieve and this year yet again, they have not disappointed.” She continued, “71% of St Colm’s students achieved 3 A-Levels at grades A-E and 90% achieved 2 A-Levels at the same grade but more importantly every single one of our A-Level students obtained their first choice place in Higher Education. We can only hope that they grace their universities in the same way as they graced St Colm’s.”
Thomas Johnston received the Monsignor Bartley Award for Excellence at GCSE as the Top student in 7 subject areas while Patricia Neilson now studying Mathematics at Queens University Belfast and a recipient of an Aisling Bursary was the Top A-Level student. A special mention must also go to Simone Toner who received the Colin Neighbourhood Partnerships Michael Ferguson Award for her ‘Attitude through Adversity’. Michael himself would have been proud of this candidate for her bravery and good humour in difficult circumstances.
Thomas Johnston recipient of the Monsignor Bartley Trophey for best GCSE student. Thomas received 7 GCSE prizes in total.
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