WATCH: GCSE results increase across all grades in Northern Ireland

By Q Radio news

GCSE grades in Northern Ireland have increased across the board, with the number of pupils recieving A* to C grades up by almost 8% to 89.4%.

37.1% of pupils achieved grades A* to A, that's an increase of nearly 6%

Results this year are being estimated by teachers alone, after the Education Minister Peter Weir scrapped plans for an algorithm to predict A-Level and GCSE grades.

GCSE grades in Northern Ireland have increased across the board, with the number of pupils receiving A* to C grades up by almost 8% to 89.4%

37.1% of pupils achieved grades A* to A, that's an increase of nearly 6%

Results this year are being estimated by teachers. pic.twitter.com/XQ767jnltT

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) August 20, 2020

There was also an increase in the A* to G pass rate of 0.9 percentage points to 99.7%. 

Over 29,000 pupils are receiving results today which will be predicted by their teachers, after the standardisation algorithm used to predict A-level grades last week was scrapped and reversed by the Executive.

Similar moves have been made in England and Wales.

New A-level grades will be available to pupils on Friday morning.

Receiving her GCSE grades this morning, Niamh from St Dominic's Grammar School in West Belfast told Q Radio she would have been confused if the algorithm was used to predict GCSE results.

🎥 “I feel like the algorithm would’ve thrown us all off.”

Students like Niamh from St Dominic’s Grammar School are receiving their GCSE results.

This year they’ll be solely based upon teacher predictions after a decision by @peterweirmla to scrap the planned formula for grades pic.twitter.com/cf6GWBGAbb

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) August 20, 2020

🎥 We’re at St Dominic’s Grammar School in West Belfast as students receive their GCSE results.

Here was Ella as she opened her results. pic.twitter.com/smlBY9wzdE

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) August 20, 2020

Pupils who are studying BTec subjects are still waiting for those results, after grades were pulled by exam board Pearson in order to bring them in line with the new teacher predicted GCSE and A-level results.

🎥 “I’m buzzing!” Daniel is one of 29,000 students in NI to have received his GCSE results today.

Although he’s one of the students still waiting on the result of the BTec he’s done.

Last night, Pearson announced there would be a delay in these results whilst they were regraded pic.twitter.com/EPC2VX2Elt

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) August 20, 2020

Daniel is one of many at St Colm's High School near Dunmurry getting his results, the schools Principal, Adrian Walsh, says this year is the best yet for results at the school.

🎥 Adrian Walsh is the principal at St Colm’s High School near Dunmurry.

He says today’s results are the best the school has ever had.

Overall in Northern Ireland the number of students recieving A* - C has increased by almost 8% compared to last year. pic.twitter.com/SXc2smuY2x

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) August 20, 2020