Strathearn School Tops Rankings Once Again
East Belfast’s Strathearn School is once again leading the way in the latest rankings of Northern Ireland schools, according to Parent Power, The Sunday Times Schools Guide 2023.
Positioned at number four in the overall rankings, Strathearn is the top grammar school for girls in Northern Ireland and is ranked within the top 10% of all 400 UK secondary schools listed.
The report, published in December each year and this year marking its 30th year, identifies the highest achieving schools throughout the UK ranked on their examination results. 89% of all A-Level grades awarded to Strathearn pupils in 2022 were A*-B, with A* and A grades also forming over three quarters (77.9%) of all grades awarded at GSCE.
Nicola Connery, Principal of Strathearn School, commented: “We are extremely proud to maintain our ranking as Northern Ireland’s top grammar school for girls in this prestigious report, particularly given the exceptionally high quality of grammar schools listed across Northern Ireland.
“The outstanding examination results achieved by our pupils that led to this ranking are made all the more remarkable by the fact that exams were studied for and sat during and in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
According to Mrs Connery, Strathearn’s success goes beyond academic excellence to transcend all aspects of school life. “Our ethos centres on a caring and nurturing environment in which every pupil is celebrated for their own individual talents and is encouraged to realise their full potential across a wide range of both curricular and extra-curricular areas,” she continued.
“This also extends to our Preparatory Department, Penrhyn, where an average of 97% of our P7 pupils secure a place at a grammar school of their choice each year, alongside the many tremendous achievements recorded by girls in P1-7 in music, drama and sport.”
Helen Davies, Editor of The Sunday Times Parent Power guide, said: “These have been a challenging few years for teachers, pupils and their parents, and the success of many in our league table is testament to the stamina and support shown by all concerned.
It is also clear that more attention is being placed on well-being and mental health – from meditation rooms to counselling support, even therapy dogs – and schools are being proactive to bring about positive changes.
League tables are not the only criteria a parent can use when choosing a school, but they are a good starting point. We want to celebrate excellence. We want to champion schools that are doing wonderful work.
We want our children to be well-nurtured and well-taught. In choosing a school, parents are making one of the biggest decisions in their family life, and Parent Power and The Sunday Times is here to help.”
