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Portadown College students received their A Level results at the close of what has been a unique and difficult year for young people, parents and teachers alike.

Once again this year Abbey Community College students have celebrated academic excellence on A Level results day 2020, with some outstanding individual performances. The smiling, happy faces of students, staff and parents reflected success across a wide variety of academic and vocational courses.

Robin McLoughlin, Principal, Banbridge Academy commented,

Controlled schools are very proud of their inclusive ethos and their diversity. In recent months the core values and principles of the sector have sustained controlled schools as they responded to the most challenging of circumstances.

As pupils from across Northern Ireland receive their A level results, CSSC Chief Executive Barry Mulholland today, Thursday 13 August, said,

Seven controlled schools were offered Partnership Grants as part of The Royal Society’s 2020 application round. Many of the successful projects will be part of The Royal Society’s ‘Tomorrow’s Climate Scientist’ programme.

The Controlled Schools’ Support Council (CSSC) advocates on behalf of controlled schools. Part of this advocacy includes celebrating the achievements of our pupils, staff and schools. Given the circumstances of the last six months it is essential that the work of the sector is recognised. 

Nurture approaches emphasise the importance of understanding what lies behind a child’s behaviour and, in assessing the child’s learning needs, the importance of understanding their social and emotional needs. 

The Controlled Schools’ Support Council (CSSC) welcomes the appointment of an Expert Panel to examine the links between educational underachievement and social disadvantage and looks forward to engaging with the Panel and will assist this important work in any way we can.

Grange Park Primary School were very fortunate that they had previously established online learning practices. Teachers were proficient, having had systems in place for many years. This developed further as the school explored even more ways of keeping in touch during lockdown.