The overall percentage of pupils gaining A* to C grades is up on last year with half of the examinations sat resulting in A* or A grades. Again these results exceed NI grammar school averages.

“The results again reflect on the hard work and commitment of the pupils and the staff of the school, in addition to the support provided by their parents, and it gives us all tremendous pleasure to see staff and pupils sharing in the delight of that success in school this morning,” Stephen Black, principal of Antrim Grammar, said.

He added: “There was a considerable increase in the number of pupils achieving 8 or 9 grades at A* or A with 31 pupils achieving this (30 per cent of the year group).”

Those achieving grades at A* or A in all their GCSE subjects were: Basil Babu, Sarah Bell, Christine Boyce, Ellie Cameron, Joey Chan, Stephen Curtis, Sarah Fulton, James Gardiner, Rebecca Grant, Charlotte Lamont, Mark Lewis, Rachel Lewis, Emma McFadden, Amy McIlwaine, Scott Newton.

Of those pupils Ellie Cameron, Mark Lewis, Rachel Lewis and Amy McIlwaine all achieved straight A* grades in all subjects.

Those achieveing eights 8A or A* were Chloe Boyd, Man-Ying Chan, Rachel Devine, Gillian Fleming, Courtney Hanna-Gilmore, Amy Higginson, Shana Irvine, Carrie Lindsay, Rebecca McAllister, Kirsty McClay, Carrie McClenaghan, C J McDonald, Jayne McGlaughlin, Stephanie Roy, Olivia Telford, Rachel Whyte.

“We are equally delighted that the grades obtained by the vast majority of students will allow them to pursue their chosen A Level subjects in the next stage of their educational journey,” Mr Black added.