Nearly a third of GCSE pupils awarded top A* and A grades

Pupils at St Dominic's in Belfast celebrate getting GCSE results

Almost one-third of GCSE entries in Northern Ireland have been awarded the top A* and A grades.

More than 32,000 students in Northern Ireland received their GCSEs on Thursday morning and some vocational qualification results like BTECs.

The pass rate in Northern Ireland (C grade and above) has gone up from 82.7% to 83.5%, while 31.8% of GCSE entries were awarded A* or A. That compares to 31% in 2024.

Results have returned to levels similar to those before the Coronavirus pandemic when exams were cancelled.

England was the only place to have seen a fall, with the pass rate going up in both Wales and Northern Ireland.

• Hundreds of thousands of students opening GCSE results - follow live

There were smiles at Campbell College in east Belfast on results day

In English Language and Maths, which are compulsory subjects, over a quarter of entries were awarded grade A or above.

Overall, results for girls were higher than those for boys.

Secondary schools 'narrowed the gap'

Paul Givan at Saintfield High School

Education Minister Paul Givan said he was "delighted with the results across Northern Ireland".

"It's testimony to the pupils who have put in the hard work, supported by excellent teachers and the family circle as well," he told BBC News NI.

Givan also made reference to the performance of secondary schools as they "narrowed the gap between our grammar schools".

Project Coordinator Darryl Clarke and Molly

At Monkstown Boxing Club there were 10 students eagerly awaiting their results.

They're part of the In Your Corner initiative, run in partnership with Abbey Community College.

Each year about 12 pupils who are at risk of disengaging from school are picked for the scheme.

They spend some time in the boxing club and some time in school during the week.

Speaking to The Nolan Show, Molly said she was "grinning from ear to ear".

She got 9 Bs and 2 Cs.

"Coming from being in a class of 30, to being in a class of 10, you can focus more if you're in a smaller group," she said.

"You have to know the students before they go in to their class," project coordinator Darryl Clarke said.

"If they're having a rough day we have the flexibility to maybe take them out on a wellbeing walk, have a check in with them, and they're able to reengage in the classroom."

Georgina said she got As, Bs and Cs in her results

At St John the Baptist College in Portadown, Georgina got As, Bs and Cs in her results.

Georgina said it is "heart-breaking" to leave the school and "scary because you're going into something bigger".

She has aspirations of becoming a nurse so she would like to study health and social care.

Lara hopes to go on to study law or politics at university

Except for a C in Maths, Lara got all Bs, with one in Portuguese amongst others.

"I'm really not good at maths so I was delighted," she said. "I thought I'd get a D."

Lara hopes to go on to study law or politics at university.

Headmistress of St John the Baptist College, Mrs Noella Murray, said she looks forward to results day.

"It is where the fruit of our labour is really laid bare," she said.

"It is really lovely for staff to see the smiles on the children's faces when they get results."

Niall is going on to do his A-levels

Niall got all A-C grades including six Bs and an A.

"I knew I put the work in, and the results show it today," Niall told BBC News.

"I think I'll do Maths, Biology and Environmental Technology because I like the idea of Marine Science as a career."

'Stress has gone'

Matthew said it was now time to relax

At Saintfield High School in County Down Mia said she was "buzzing" and her friend Ruby was "just thrilled".

Matthew added: "I am just happy and relieved because all that stress has gone off me and I can finally relax."

Ruby and Mia were happy with their results

'A relief to open the letter'

Niall was nervous waking up

At St Joseph's Boys School in Derry principal Ciara Deane said she has had "that same feeling of apprehension" every results day for 23 years.

Student Niall will be back in September to continue his foundation studies at the Creggan school.

"I was really nervous, woke up this morning and the nerves were kicking in, it was just a relief to open the letter and see what I got."

After bagging Bs and C*s at GCSE, Ben is coming back to do the school's Manchester United foundation course.

"It is a triple sports science award, then hopefully onto a career in sports physio," he said.

Ben is coming back to do the school's Manchester United foundation course

Conor is also celebrating after his achievement, adding he is on his way home to celebrate with a "big bag of buns".

"I am planning now to come back and do Maths and a Science, and something else for A-level," he said.

Conor said he has done very well

Pupils can use their GCSEs, and results of other qualifications like BTECs, to progress to A-Levels, courses in further education, training or employment.

Education Minister Paul Givan plans to make it compulsory for young people to stay in education or training until they are 18, although they would have the option to combine work with part-time education or training.

According to the Department of Education, about 2,000 school leavers in Northern Ireland do not achieve an A-Level or equivalent qualification.

Ahead of results day, the principals of the six further education colleges in Northern Ireland called for a shift in perception around post-16 education.

Principal and chief executive of South West College, Celine McCartan, said there had been "a notable shift in further education as a growing first choice among young people today".

"Our students go on to study at top universities, secure competitive apprenticeships, and enter industries that are in real need of skilled workers," she said.

The vast majority of GCSEs in Northern Ireland - more than 95% - are taken by pupils through the Northern Ireland exam board, the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA).

The remainder are taken through English and Welsh exam boards, so some pupils in Northern Ireland will receive results in the form of numbers as well as letters.

That is because GCSEs in England are graded numerically from 9 to 1, whereas in Northern Ireland they are graded from A* to G.

CCEA is operating a results helpline for students until 27 August on 028 9026 1260 or via email on [e-mail].

The Department for the Economy's careers service is also providing advice and support on 0300 200 7820 or online.