St Paul’s High School, Bessbrook is celebrating another year of excellent success at A Level, as pupils today received their GCE A2, GCE AS and other Level 3 results.

The day carries an added significance this year, as the school opens its Diamond Jubilee, sixty years since St Paul’s first welcomed pupils in 1966.

More than four in five pupils, 81.8%, achieved at least three grades at A* to C or the equivalent, among the strongest results in the school’s history and, for the second year running, more than four in five of a large cohort of over 160 pupils. The achievement was remarkably even across the year group, with 81.9% of boys and 81.6% of girls reaching this key benchmark, effectively no gender gap in a co-educational, non-selective school. Almost every pupil, 96.2%, secured two or more grades at A* to C, and 96.9% achieved three or more grades at A* to E.

Especially pleasing is the achievement of pupils entitled to free school meals, who reached the same benchmark at 81.6%, a rise of sixteen percentage points on last year and all but identical to the whole year group. It speaks to a simple conviction at St Paul’s: that a young person’s background should never set a ceiling on what they can achieve.

Fifteen pupils were awarded at least three grades at A* or A, a mark of sustained excellence across two demanding years of study. Nine subjects recorded a full 100% of pupils achieving grades A* to C, with particularly strong performances in History, Geography, Health and Social Care, Irish and Physical Education, and excellent outcomes too across the school’s vocational and Level 3 courses.

Head of Year 14, Catríona McCartan, together with form teachers, subject teachers and the wider staff team, guided and encouraged pupils throughout their studies, underpinned by careful tracking, target-setting and the strong pastoral care for which the school is known.

Principal, Mr Dáithí Murray, praised the efforts of staff and pupils, commenting:

“This is a day of real pride for our pupils, their families and the whole St Paul’s community. These results are the product of sustained effort, focus and ambition, and they reflect the tireless dedication of our teaching and support staff and the constant encouragement of parents and carers. I am immensely proud of what this year group has achieved.”

He added:

“What pleases me most is how evenly our young people have succeeded, boys and girls alike, and how well pupils from every background have done. That tells you something about the kind of school St Paul’s is. High-quality teaching, careful tracking and genuine pastoral care lift every pupil, and this year they have lifted them together.”

Vice Principal for Standards & Improvement, Mrs Christine Fearon, added:

“I am so proud of this year group. They worked with real determination from their AS year right through to A2, and it shows across every subject. We are proud of being a non-selective school and of having high expectations of all our pupils, regardless of what their starting point in Year 8 was. What means most to me is how evenly our young people have succeeded, and how well boys and girls, from every social background, have achieved. That is the reward for careful internal tracking processes, high expectations, a positive home-school partnership and a staff who never stop believing in all our pupils. Well done to every one of our pupils. The future of South Armagh, and far beyond, is very bright.”

The school also warmly recognises the achievements of pupils who experience barriers to their learning and those with additional learning needs. Educated within a supportive and inclusive community, the majority have secured the benchmarks they need to progress with confidence, whether continuing their studies at St Paul’s, moving on to Southern Regional College, taking up higher-level apprenticeships, or beginning an exciting journey into the world of work.

Reflecting on the values of the school, Mr Murray concluded:

“At St Paul’s we speak often of our core values of truth, kindness, integrity and compassion. Today’s results are those values in action: pupils who worked with honesty and courage, teachers who gave of themselves with generosity and care, and families who supported their children with love. As we begin our sixtieth year, these outcomes show exactly why St Paul’s has flourished for six decades, a proud mirror of the community it serves.”