Archive News

A year 13 student finds the path and achieves outstanding GCSE Results

For many years now in Northern Ireland and across the Western World boys have been underachieving in State Exams compared to girls. In deprived areas of Belfast 80% of young males have no formal qualifications. This had to be tackled.

Hazelwood College turns the trend of male underachievement on its head.
In 2008 54% of our boys achieved GCSE grades A*-C.  A whopping 15% increase from last year and our boys are now outperforming the girls. A massive 61% of  our Year 12 students, boys and girls, achieved GCSE grades A*-C. Well done all!

How did we do it?
First of all we made our staff conscious that male underachievement was a problem, not just for boys but for all of us in the College and the local community. Then we got our parents and students on board. Throughout the year the teaching staff introduced a new strategy each month to raise boys’ achievement. Strategies like chunking; breaking work into bite sizes. The strategies worked and here we are. We raised boys’ achievement and got the best GCSE results in the history of the College.

Send them to us.
Hazelwood College is set for more and more exam success in the future. We want more boys and more girls to enrol in the College. Send them to us.