CCEA congratulates Northern Ireland’s A-Level students

Commenting on the release of the summer 2017 GCE results, Justin Edwards, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland’s awarding organisation, the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) said:

“I wish to congratulate each student receiving their results today and commend them for all their hard work. I also wish to recognise the dedication and support provided by Northern Ireland’s teachers, who have had a key role in today’s success, and the 5,000 examiner and moderators for their continued support.

Today’s results present a good picture for Northern Ireland, with a stable performance across all grades.

As with any results, there are some things worth further study, such as the widening performance gap between males and females. Whilst we must recognise and celebrate the achievements of female students, a widening of the gender gap is a concern.

Subject choices remain broadly stable, with Mathematics continuing as the most popular A-level subject and accounting for 1 in 10 entries here. The study of STEM related qualifications has reduced by a small margin, yet still accounts for just over 39% of entries in Northern Ireland. It is reassuring to see further growth in entries in Further Mathematics, Computing and Software Systems Development at A-Level.

The results today are an important part of a student’s educational journey and I wish them all the very best for the journey ahead.”