Markethill High School is ranked in NI’s top five best non selective controlled schools at GCSE
By Eleanor McGillie
EDUCATION league tables compiled by the Belfast Telegraph have ranked Markethill High School in the top five best performing non-selective controlled schools in Northern Ireland.
The school, which is also the second largest school in the top five, is also in the top 20 non selective schools in Northern Ireland, in both the maintained and controlled categories.
The 2012 Annual Examination Results, recently released by the Department of Education, were compiled into league tables by the Belfast Telegraph, which analyses the results putting all schools into an order of how well they perform at GCSE level.
Markethill High School’s high ranking is based solely on the number of pupils achieving five or over A*-C Grades including Maths and English at GCSE level.
Principal James Maxwell said Markethill High School continues to build on its success year on year.
He said: “Markethill High School gets stronger and stronger every year. Our overall enrolment is increasing year-on-year and our pupils and staff live by our ethos ‘Believe to Achieve’ in everything they do.
“This ranking is a significant achievement for the staff and pupils here and we will continue to strive to be ranked high in any future league tables produced.
“This result is a clear reflection of the excellent learning and teaching which takes place at Markethill High School. Considering that the school offers the second broadest curriculum of all schools in the Armagh and City District area as well as the immediate vicinity in South Armagh, we are absolutely delighted that standards are so consistently high.
“Over 92 per cent of our 26 subjects which we offer in-house at GCSE level attained pass rates which were well above Northern Ireland averages.”
The school, which has also recently been higlighted by the Education Inspectorate for showing ‘very good’ practice for Maths and English, also exceeded the 2012 CCEA non grammar averages for Northern Ireland in History and in Business Studies by more than 30 per cent. Additional Maths, Double Award Science, ICT, Maths, Physical Education and Religious Education exceeded the averages by more than 20 per cent. Art, Construction, Drama, English, Geography, Home Economics, Music, Motor Vehicle and Road User Studies, Spanish, Single Award Science exceeded the 2012 averages by 10 per cent or more.
Mr Maxwell said: “In total, 57 per cent of all of our GCSE passes were Grade B or better which is impressively 16 per cent higher than in 2011.
“I invite any parent or visitor to read our Annual Report To Parents as well as our Three Year Development Plan on the school website. There are exciting times ahead for Markethill High School – a school which will remain at the heart of our community in Markethill. ”
ENDS:
For further information contact Eleanor McGillie of MGMPR Ltd on 028 3756 9569 | 07709805379 | PR Northern Ireland | Public Relations Northern Ireland | Public Relations UK | Brand Journalism Experts | Brand Journalism Northern Ireland | Brand Journalism UK | Education PR
NOTES TO EDITOR:
- January 2012 – Markethill High School – winners of a £4,000 prize fund for the best Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics project application to develop those subjects with Year 9 pupils.
- In May 2012 Markethill High School was announced the British Academy Award Winner for the Best School in Northern Ireland for Modern Languages, with an award of £4,000. The school is shortlisted to the final three schools for the title of Best School in the United Kingdom for the delivery of Modern Language education.
- In May 2012 – Laura Marshall in Year 11 was awarded the outstanding title of Northern Ireland’s Young Entrepreneur of the Future
- For the second year running, in June 2012, Jonathan Armstrong in Year 12 was named the Southern Regional College student of the Year as a result of his work on the Schools’ Partnership Programme studying Occupational Studies
- In November 2012, Markethill High School win Euroscola Programme
