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Years 12 and 14 Examination Performance at Post-Primary Schools in Northern Ireland 2008/09

Friday, 25 June 2010

The purpose of this statistical release is to present an analysis of examination performance for pupils in years 12 and14 at post-primary schools in Northern Ireland for 2008/09. The data is taken from the Summary of Annual Examination Results (SAER) process which started in October 2009.

Key Points:

  • 71.2% of year 12 pupils achieved 5 or more GCSEs (including equivalents) at grades A*-C, an increase of over 3 percentage points from 2007/08.
  • 57.3% of year 12 pupils achieved 5 or more GCSEs (including equivalents) at grades A*-C including English and mathematics.
  • Females generally perform better than their male counterparts, 76.0% of female pupils in year 12 achieved 5 or more GCSEs (including equivalents) at grades A*-C compared to 66.4% of males, a gap of 9.6 percentage points.
  • 63.9% of year 14 pupils achieved 3 or more A levels (including equivalents) at grades A-C. This is an increase of just under 2 percentage points since 2004/05.
  • Females generally perform better than their male counterparts, 65.5% of female pupils in year 14 achieved 3 or more A levels (including equivalents) at grades A-C compared to 61.8% of males.

Notes to editors:

Official Statistics

1. This is an Official Statistics publication. Official Statistics are produced to high professional standards set out in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They are produced free from any political interference.

2. For general enquiries about the Code of Practice for Official statistics, contact the National Statistics Public Enquiry Service on:

Tel: 0845 601 3034
Minicom: 01633 812399
E-mail: info@statistics.gov.uk
Fax: 01633 652747

By post to:

Customer Contact Centre
Room 1.015
Office for National Statistics
Cardiff Road
Newport NP10 8XG

3. You can also find Official Statistics on the UK National Statistics website.

School Performance:

4. The statistics in this press release have been derived from the annual Summary of Annual Examination Results (SAER).

5. Data excludes special and independent schools.

6. The year 12 cohort used to determine the performance statistics in this document is based on the number of pupils in the final year of a GCSE (or equivalent) course of study who are eligible to be entered in the SAER return for the relevant academic year. Pupils can be ineligible for inclusion for a number of reasons and therefore the SAER year 12 cohort can differ from the year 12 cohort collected in the annual school census.

7. More detail about the collection of school performance statistics may be found on the DE website. Statistics relating to school performance can be found on the DE website under the Schools+ section.

8. The following list details the variables collected during the SAER process:

  • Number of pupils in year 12 eligible for examinations
  • Number of pupils achieving 7+ GCSEs at grades A*-C (or equivalent)
  • Number of pupils achieving 7+ GCSEs at grades A*-C incl. Eng and maths (or equivalent)
  • Number of pupils achieving 5+ GCSEs at grades A*-C (or equivalent)
  • Number of pupils achieving 5+ GCSEs at grades A*-C incl. Eng and maths (or equivalent)
  • Number of pupils achieving 5+ GCSEs at grades A*-E (or equivalent)
  • Number of pupils achieving 1-4 GCSEs at grades A*-G (or equivalent)
  • Number of pupils achieving 5+ GCSEs at grades A*-G (or equivalent)
  • Number of pupils achieving no GCSEs at grades A*-G (or equivalent)
  • Entered for A levels
  • Achieving 3+ A levels A-C (incl. Equivalents)
  • Achieving 2+ A levels A-E (incl. Equivalents)
  • Achieving 1+ A levels A-E (incl. Equivalents)

Further enquiries:

9. Requests for further information should be addressed to:

Gavin King
Statistics and Research Branch
Department of Education
Rathgael House
Rathgael
Balloo Road
BANGOR
Co. Down
BT19 7PR

Tel: 028 9127 9259 / Fax 028 9127 9594
E-mail: statistics@deni.gov.uk

10. Special analyses of data collected through the Summary of Annual examination results can be undertaken on request.

11.The full Statistical Press Release can be accessed on the DE website under School Performance.

12. Feedback on this publication can be provided directly to Gavin King (contact details above) or via the feedback questionnaire on our website.

13. Media enquiries to the Department of Education Press Office Tel: 028 9127 9207. Out of office hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.