A Level Results Day 2020
Despite the unusual circumstances, ‘A’ Level Results Day once again proved to be a cause for celebration amongst pupils and staff at Larne Grammar School.
The 2019/20 academic year was greatly impacted by the outbreak of COVID-19, most significantly by the cancellation of the 2020 Summer Examination Series. This unprecedented situation required the examination boards to put in place alternative arrangements for the awarding of GCSE, AS and ‘A’ level qualifications which would ensure that the grades received by pupils were fair and reliable and best reflect what students would have achieved had they sat the exams in normal circumstances.
Although social distancing protocols prevented us from inviting all of our pupils and parents into school to receive their results, Larne Grammar School are delighted to report on some of the many successes achieved by our Year 14 and Year 13 pupils.
At ‘A’ Level, a total of sixteen pupils achieved at least 3 A grades. Our top three performers were each awarded 2 A*s and 1 A grade. Iain Gingles was awarded these impressive grades in Information Technology, Environmental Technology and Business Studies, Abbie McWhirter, in Information Technology, Religious Studies and Biology and Keryn Wilson in Biology, Chemistry and Business Studies. Iain, Abbie and Keryn will all now progress to Queens University, Belfast to study Accountancy, Law and Medicine respectively.
Iain Gingles – 2 A*s and 1 A grade
Closely following Iain, Abbie and Keryn’s success were Thea Bareham, Holly Drummond, Jenna McCarlie, Courtney Murray and Fiona Russell who each achieved 1 A* and 2 A grades, whilst Chloe McKay gained 2 A*s and 1 B.
Courtney Murray – 1 A* and 2 A grades
A further eight pupils, Craig Alexander, Zoe Bain, Karen Currie, Sophie Farquhar, Katie-Lee Houston, Emma McAlister, Abigail Park and Zoe Todd achieved 3 A grades.
The AS results achieved by our Year 13 pupils were equally impressive. Ten pupils, Amy Campbell, Iain Crooks, Cameron Hawthorn, Isaac Holst, Rory Madden, Louise McCrea, Leah McMinn, Sarah Murray, Avianne Porter and Adam Smith were awarded 4 A grades.
From top left: Cameron, Louise, Leah, Avianne and Sarah each achieved 4 A grades
A further fifteen pupils, Madison Agnew, Lars Bodnarchuk, Kerry Bouma, Kerys Jenkins, Noah Ku, Amber Marcus, Caitlin McGarel, Eva McGeown, Cameron McGregor, Charlotte Meban, Jacob Mizzi, Kaitlin Nelson, Emily Schmidt, Daniel Vasey and Matthew Vasey achieved at least 3 As.
Commenting on these results, Mr Jonathan Wylie, Principal of Larne Grammar School said, “This has been a very difficult year for our pupils who have faced considerable uncertainty since the decision was taken in March to cancel the AS and ‘A’ Level examinations. I commend the staff of the school for their work during April and May to provide the examination boards with the information they required to award the calculated grades and to ensure that the results achieved by our pupils have validity and currency.
Had these results been achieved in any other year, the school would have been celebrating best ever AS and ‘A’ Level results. This reflects the talent, ability and hard work of these particular cohorts of pupils and I congratulate them on the outstanding results they have achieved.
It was unfortunate that our Year 14 pupils were unable to finish their time in Larne Grammar School in the usual fashion. Despite this, we wish them every success and hope we will have the opportunity to meet again in the future.”