NORTHERN IRELAND:NORTHERN IRELAND students did better than their British counterparts at all grades in the A-level exams but the numbers achieving the top grades were down marginally.
Some 23,000 students received their A-level results yesterday with more than one-third achieving A* or A grades. The overall pass rate, ie from A* to E grade, was just over 98 per cent, the same as last year.
The results released by the exams body, the Council for the Curriculum Examinations and Assessment showed that 84.2 per cent of entries achieved A* to C grades; 34.5 per cent achieved A* and A grades; and 8.6 per cent achieved the highest grade, A*.
At all levels, results were once again better than in England, Wales and Scotland, according to the council, but there was a slight decrease in those achieving the higher grades compared to last year’s results.
In 2010, 9.5 per cent gained A* grades compared to 8.6 per cent this year, while last year 35.9 per cent achieved A* and A grades compared to 34.5 per cent this year.
Females continued to outperform males, as 7.9 per cent of the grades achieved by males were A* compared with 9.1 per cent for females.
The five most popular subjects were biology, maths, English, religious studies and history, while there was a decrease in the numbers studying languages: those taking German were down by 21.9 per cent, French was down by 19.7 per cent and Irish by 6.8 per cent.
Spanish saw the only increase in language entries, up 3.9 per cent.
Congratulating students, Anne Marie Duffy, the council’s director of qualifications, said: “The figures show that our students have achieved a first-class set of results . . . Overall, performance is comparable with previous years.”
There is a heavier demand for university places this year, with tuition fees likely to rise in the UK from about £3,400 to £9,000 (€3,500 to €10,350) at many universities next year.
Many students who had originally contemplated gap years have decided to press on to third-level education.
First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness have already promised that fee increases would not be as severe in Northern Ireland.
The North’s Sinn Féin Minister for Education, John O’Dowd, personally congratulated students on visits to the Boys’ Model School and St Joseph’s College in Belfast. He said it was an “important and exciting time” for the young people.
He told those who were unhappy with their results that they should not worry. “There are different pathways to take you where you want to go and you should take good advice and study all your options before making a decision,” he said.
Alliance Minister for Employment and Learning Stephen Farry added: “There are still many possibilities and choices available, whether you have done better than expected or not as well as you had hoped.”
SDLP education spokesman Conall McDevitt said the Executive should freeze university fees. “The time has come for a long-term debate about our education system,” he said.
“Too many business leaders and educationalists believe that there is a disconnection between our regional education and skills policy and our economic needs.
“The Executive needs to start long-term planning for an education system which is able to meet the needs of our region,” Mr McDevitt added.