2025 Press Release – GCSE Results

Publication of the GCSE results at Ballymena Academy has brought much celebration to the school community. Given the challenges which the young people had to face in the initial years of their post-primary education it was very pleasing and a real tribute to our pupils and staff, that the excellent outcomes obtained reflected very positively on the ability and commitment of the students.

Stephen Black, Principal of Ballymena Academy, congratulated the young people on their achievements and added how pleasing it was to see so many happy pupils in school as they receive their results. “It is a great privilege to be able to pay tribute to our pupils, individually and collectively. It is important to remember that this year group of students suffered huge disruption in their early years at the Academy and that these outcomes have been achieved despite the challenges which this posed. These impressive results are a testament to the ability, hard work and resilience of our students, the dedication of our teaching staff and the support of parents. It is important to mention the good working relationships that are such an important feature of the life and work of this school. Such grades would not have been obtained without the professional approach and commitment shown by our staff and the consistent encouragement of parents as we all work together to ensure high levels of success for our young people.”

“The school has traditionally demonstrated academic excellence and this year, across all external examinations, we have continued to do so”.
“In addition to the terrific individual performances highlighted below, which identify over seventy pupils as attaining 7 or more A*/A grades in their nine GCSE full courses, there are many other high achievers not named here because of pressure of space, who should be commended and can look forward to their future education with confidence.”
“It is especially pleasing that around 60% of all examinations sat were grade A* or A and remarkably in well over 20 individual subjects the percentage of grades achieved at A* – B exceeded N.I. Grammar School averages, indicating excellent performance across the curriculum.”
“This set of results also confirms that our young people are well-positioned to take advantage of the opportunities that the future will bring. For the vast majority, as in every year, that means entry to the Ballymena Academy Sixth Form whilst some others will take a different route; regardless of their pathway, we extend our best wishes to all.”
“Pupils sitting GCSE modules in Year 11 also performed well providing a firm foundation to build on for their full GCSE examinations next year.”

High Achievers (2025)

Four young people achieved A* grades in all nine of their GCSE full courses:- Chloe Allenby, Emma Dempsey, Isabella Gregg and Sophie Kerr.

Thirty-six pupils achieved a minimum of 9A*/A grades in their GCSE full courses – Imogen Brown, Matthew Brown, Jamie Cooke, Adam Corr, Molly Currie, Jessica Davidson, Josh Davidson, Jeremiah Gallagher, Grace Gamble, Isobel Glenn, Emily Gordon, Jamie Gregg, Honor Gribben, Emma Harrison, Will Hughes, Anna Humphreys, Amy Irwin, Mark Kernohan, Ailsa McBride, Matthew McFetridge, Megan McGarel, Alfie McLean, Kaitlyn Millen, Laura Moore, Farrah Park, Susanna Quigley, Ruby Rea, Dylan Ritchie, Oliver Shaw, Ruairi Sims, Leo Smyth, Kirsten Taylor, Daniel Thompson, Zac Topping, Damian Ududovici, Annya West.

They were closely followed by a further seventeen young people with a minimum of 8 A*/A grades in their GCSE full courses – Erin Adair, Archie Ash, Adam Bingham, Megan Boyd, Lydia Calderwood, Abigail Cairns, Zoe Craig, Katie Currie, Sam Dunlop, Eva Gregg, Katy Hall, Matthew McKean, Luke McKendry, Ruth Millar, Thomas Millar, Erin Parker, Rebecca Robinson.

Finally, the following pupils obtained a minimum of 7 A*/A grades in their GCSE full courses – Victoria Cherry, Jamie Currie, Rhys Hunter, Pearce Kane, Simon Kennedy, Evie Logan, Ava McKinney, Taylor Meeke, Bella Morrow, Faye Pearson, Alex Ramsey, Reuben Skelly, Ben Smyth, Chloe Wylie.

S.W. Black (Principal)