‘Today has given me a chance to see the world’: Ambitions sky high as GCSE pupils take their next steps
At Dundonald High School, where around 120 pupils received their results, an ice-cream van was dishing out treats while music pumped out from a stereo system.Watch: Pupils from Dundonald High School recieve their GCSE results“It is a day of celebration for all our pupils,” said acting principal Rosemary Bird, who bid farewell to all the Year 12 pupils as they head off to pursue a variety of courses elsewhere.“We’re delighted with the success. Our school has been improving year on year and this year they’ve really performed better than their predicted grades.“Today is an accumulation of all the hard work over five years, not just by the pupils. It’s a reflection of the hard work and passion of all the staff.”Acting vice-principal Adam Crowe added: “They’re all going to different courses now. Some to further education, some to apprenticeships, some to other schools where they’ll take A-levels."That’s a huge part of what we do as a school. We try to support every pupil in their aspirations. We don’t just look at the academic side, we look at the whole picture and try to really encourage them to follow their dreams.”For Natasha Gallagher and Ryan Walker, the smiles on their faces said it all.“There’s a big relief,” said Ryan. “I’ve waited all summer for this. The envelope contained a lot of good things – a lot of As in there, so I’m really happy. A lot better than I expected.”He’s now heading to Belfast Met for a course in biomedical science, with Natasha also going to the college.“I’ll be doing art and design,” she said.“It’s an exciting time. I’ll miss the school, and the friends I’ve made these last five years, but the school has been brilliant in helping me get to where I want to be.”Ruby Cowan’s results are also sending her to Belfast Met.“I’ve passed everything, but I was very nervous this morning,” she said.And her career is now set to take off – literally.“I’m off to do cabin crew training. Today has given me a chance to maybe go and see the world.”Jamie Glennie, though, is keeping his feet on the ground. The talented footballer has a full-time football scholarship and is shooting for a sports science degree in the future.“I’m with Ards Academy at the minute, but these results have given me plenty of options to consider,” he said. Education Minister Paul Givan had a personal interest in the GCSE results, delaying his visit to Saintfield High School so he could be with his daughter as she opened her envelope.“Like many parents this morning, I woke up much earlier than I had planned to,” he said.“It was anxious going to the school, then waiting for her to come out with the envelope. She opened it with us, then there was the feeling of relief, then the excitement that she’d got what she had wanted to allow her to move to the next stage.“My wife and I chatted and we had looked at different scenarios. There’s always that ‘what if’, so we had looked at the various pathways she might want to pursue. That will have been the case for many parents this morning.“Personally, we’re pleased with how the results have worked out. I said to my daughter, ‘well that’s us going out for tea tonight’, but she told me, ‘no, we’ll not be, I’m going out with my friends!’ So maybe we’ll do that another time."But for some parents and young people, it maybe wasn’t quite the day they’d wished for. There will be disappointment, but engagement with schools is there and there are now so many different routes available.”For 16-year-old James Wightman, his results have gained him a place at Greenmount College, where he’ll be taking his first steps towards a landscape gardening career.“I have enough to get into my next course, so that’s brilliant,” he said. “I was feeling positive this morning. I knew what I wanted in my career no matter what the results, but there is a sadness as this might be the last day I’m here.”Lyndsay McPhillips, who is also leaving Saintfield High School, is taking the Belfast Met route as her next step.She said: “I’m very surprised – I’ve done very well. I’ll be going to do travel and tourism now.”Mia McMullan, a footballer with Cliftonville Ladies, added: “I’m so happy. I’ll be going to Belfast Met’s football academy."It’s just what I wanted. The teachers here have been brilliant in helping me choose the right path. I can’t thank them enough.”
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