St Michael’s College, Enniskillen. RMGFH50
THERE HAS been surprise and disappointment at the news this week that Fermanagh’s two Catholic grammar schools have fared poorly in the school league tables published this week.
Out of 64 grammar schools in the North St Michael’s College was placed last in terms of A level results, while Mount Lourdes was only marginally better in 62nd place.
The percentage of pupils in their final year achieving three or more A-levels at grades A* to C was just over 60% at both institututions.
The news will suprise many parents especially as both schools are set to be absorbed into two single sex Catholic maintained schools by 2018. Proposals by CCMS will see St Fanchea’s College merge with Mount Lourdes while St Joseph’s will form part of an expanded St Michael’s.
One former pupil of St Michael’s, who wishes to remain anonymous, has expressed disappointment at the results.
“The school has a long history of academic excellence and as someone who has attended St Michael’s in the past and sent my own children there, it’s hugely disappointing to see them at this level.”
He added: “I think that it’s in the interest of everyone to reverse this trend and bring the college back to among the county and country’s top performing. I would hope that the school take on board these figures and examine ways to ensure students achieve optimal results in the future at both GCSE and A level.”
The Herald contacted the prinicipals of Mount Lourdes and St Michael’s for a comment in relation to their schools’ performances but none was received at the time of going to press.
Meanwhile Portora Royal was the only one of the four grammar schools in Enniskillen to feature in the top 30 league table for the best A-level results coming in at number 17. There 82% of pupils achieved the highest grades.
Neil Morton, principal of Portora says the results are in line with the improvement in outcomes over the past four years.
“The school has confirmed its position as the top boys’ school at GCSE and A level in Northern Ireland and the top grammar school in the county. It is particularly gratifying that the percentage difference between the 10th place school and Portora is 1.5%. This represents one student’s performance and is a negligible difference. It is a measure of the value-added experience which students at this school achieve with their teachers.”
Meanwhile, Collegiate ranked at number 40 with 73% of students achieving top marks. That’s in stark contrast to two years ago when it was highest performing school in Fermanagh at 10, moving up from 49th place.
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