Greater number earn top grades at Downshire

There were celebrations at the school on Thursday morning as students picked up a greater proportion of top results than ever before.

“The results are up again on last year and we’ve noticed a significant improvement on the number of grades at A* to C. Some 67 percent of students have earned five or more top grades at this level,” Mrs Stewart added.

“About 20 percent of students have eight or more tops grades, and over a quarter have at least one A* grade.

“We offer a full range of A-Level subjects for our school population and about one third to one quarter of the outgoing Year 12 group will be returning to study at sixth form level.”

The top performing student in the year group was Philip Coulter, who achieved 10 top grades including As in ICT and Music and an AB in Double Award Science. “I’m hoping to come back to Downshire to do Health and Social Care, Biology and Chemistry,” he said.

Also celebrating after picking up her results was Caitlin White, who earned two A grades in RE and Art, five Bs and two Cs.

Ryan McCrory will be returning to the school to study History, Biology and Geography after earning two As, four Bs and two Cs.

Meanwhile, Katie Beth McKendry is hoping to study English Literature and History at AS-Level after picking up grades of two As, five Bs and two Cs. “I’m completely delighted; I did better than I thought I would,” she said.

“We’re very proud of our pupils and teachers; they’ve worked very hard together and we wish them every success,” Mrs Stewart said.