Minister welcomes GCSE results
Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane, and Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, today congratulated young people on this year’s GCSE results.
Commenting on the results Caitríona Ruane said: “These excellent results are the product of hard work over many years by our young people and their teachers and parents. I would like to offer my congratulations to everyone involved.
“Our education system needs to give young people the confidence and skills to follow their chosen career. Unfortunately, not everyone will have got the results they were hoping for. However, there are still many opportunities available to them and I wish everyone success for the future in whatever path they chose.”
Minister for Employment and Learning, Sir Reg Empey, said: “Today is a very important day for all young people receiving their results. Whatever the outcome, whether they achieved what was hoped for or not, there are opportunities out there for everyone.
“Our economy is changing and we need a variety of skilled people to help us compete in the world economy. My department’s Careers Advisers offer free, impartial advice and guidance on the options available. This is the first step towards achieving a fulfilling career.”
GCSE A*-C grades were achieved by 72.4% of candidates, with 8.2% being awarded the top grade A*. This is respectively 0.7% and 0.4% more than last year, demonstrating that high standards have, yet again, been maintained.
Boys here have slightly reduced the gap in achievement in GCSE grades A*-C. However, girls continue to outperform boys. More candidates here have achieved the top A* and A*-C grades than their counterparts in England and Wales. There has also been encouraging progress in achievement in Applied GCSEs.
Financial support is available to those wishing to continue in education through the Educational Maintenance Allowance (www.emani.gov.uk), as well as the Training Allowances available for those participating in the new Training for Success provision.
Anyone seeking information and advice on any issues relating to their exam results should contact their school or college or the CCEA helpline on 028 9026 1260 or email helpline@ccea.org.uk 
. For those who did better or less well than expected, information, advice and guidance on what to do next is available from the Careers Service at 028 9044 1787 or at www.careersserviceni.com .
Notes to Editors
All available statistics are provisional and are subject to appeals and re-marks
GCSE Full Course - Headline performance figures 2007 (2006 figures in brackets)
2007 provisional |
Overall |
|---|---|
North of IrelandEngland, Wales and North of Ireland |
|
%A* |
8.2 (7.8)6.4 (6.3) |
%A* - A |
24.8 (24.3)19.5 (19.1) |
%A* - C |
72.4 (71.7) 63.3 (62.4) |
%A* - G |
98.0 (97.9) 98.0 (98.1) |
Entries |
197,485 (195,530)5,827,319 (5,752,152) |
GCSE Full Course - Results broken down by gender
2007 provisional |
Boys |
Girls |
|---|---|---|
North of Ireland |
England, Wales and North of Ireland North of IrelandEngland, Wales and North of Ireland |
|
%A* |
6.5 (6.2) |
5.4 (5.3)9.7 (9.4)7.4 (7.3) |
%A* - A |
21.2 (20.3) |
16.9(16.4)28.1 (28.0) 22.1(21.8) |
%A* - C |
69.0 (68.0) |
59.7 (58.5)75.5 (75.1)66.8 (66.2) |
%A* - G |
97.6 (97.5) |
97.7 (97.7)98.4 (98.3) 98.3 (98.4) |
GCSE Applied Courses Results 2007
Single Award
| 2007 provisional | Overall |
|---|---|
| North of IrelandEngland, Wales and North of Ireland | |
%A* |
1.5 (0.5)2.1(1.5) |
%A* - A |
11.1 (7.3)10.1 (9.6) |
%A* - C |
54.8 (50.4) 52.3 (51.2) |
%A* - G |
95.1 (94.6) 96.7 (95.9) |
Entries |
5,578 (4,684) 14,182 (8,170) |
GCSE Applied Courses Results 2007
Double Award
2007 provisio |
Overall |
|---|---|
North of IrelandEngland, Wales and North of Ireland |
|
%A*A* |
1.1 (0.3)1.0 (0.8 |
%A*A* - AA |
8.2 (5.8) 6.0 (5.5) |
%A*A* - CC |
52.4 (52.1) 44.3 (41.3) |
%A*A* - GG |
95.9 (95.8) 95.4 (94.6) |
Entries |
1,305 (1,185)153,321 (166,080) |
GCSE Short Course Results 2007
2007 provisional |
Overall |
|---|---|
North of IrelandEngland, Wales and North of Ireland |
|
%A* |
11.3 (12.2)4.3 (4.3 |
%A* - A |
24.0 (25.9)14.6 (14.7 |
%A* - C |
58.6 (59.5)52.1 (51.5) |
%A* - G |
88.5 (87.9)95.5 (95.5) |
Media queries to: Press Office, Department of Education, Tel 028 91 279 207 or the Department for Employment and Learning Tel 028 9025 7872.
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