Education Minister Peter Weir welcomes GCSE examination results

Education Minister, Peter Weir has welcomed this year’s GCSE results and praised the hard work of local pupils.

Northern Ireland pupils continue to show steady improvement in GCSE outcomes, with small rises across the grades. As with previous years students here continue to outperform their counterparts in England and Wales. 

Speaking during a visit to Methodist College in Belfast, Education Minister Peter Weir said:

“I wish to congratulate all the pupils who have received their results today. Once again an improved performance indicates the high level of effort being made by our pupils and teachers.

“High standards have once again been achieved in this year’s GCSE examination results, with over 79.1% of local candidates achieving A*-C grades and 29.1% achieving A*-A, representing a slight increase in both categories on last year.

“I am pleased to see that entries for STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) have grown by 2.4% in Northern Ireland. This growth is stronger that the equivalent UK figure of 0.1% and means STEM subjects here account for close to one third of all GCSE entries.

 “Our young people will now have to choose whether to stay at school, go into further education or enter the world of employment. I am confident that their time at school will give them a sound foundation for whatever they decide and I wish them success for the future.”

The Department for the Economy’s Careers Service can help you by providing professional, impartial careers advice. Young people and parents can call 0300 200 7820 to speak directly to a careers adviser. You can also access useful information through the Careers Service web pages on nidirect. Alternatively, advice and guidance can also be accessed through an online instant messaging facility on nidirect. The telephone and webchat service have been extended from 9.00am to 8.00pm on both Thursday 25 and Friday 26 August to provide additional support to those who have received GCSE results.

Notes to editors: 

1. Follow us on Twitter @education_NI
2. See photos from the Department of Education in our flickr collection.
3. Media enquiries to the Department of Education Press Office Tel: 028 9127 9207. Out of office hours, contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 99 715 440, and your call will be returned.

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