NEWS

Pupils from Cambridge House Grammar School who received their GCSE results on Thursday morning. More than 32,000 young people across Northern Ireland have received their GCSE results today, with a slight increase in the proportion achieving the key benchmark of grade C/4 and above. Figures released on Thursday, 20 August, show 83.6% of students achieved grade C/4 or higher, compared with 83.5% in 2025. The proportion receiving the highest grades also rose marginally, with 31.

Pictured (L-R) is Deirdre Steele (Group Head of Maple and May), Chris McGrath (Head of Legal Services), Shona Burke (Head of Customer Service Operations), Ken Ryan (Head of Facilities Management) and Leeanne Magee (Regional Head of Tenant and Client Services). One of Northern Ireland’s largest social housing providers has expanded its senior leadership team from 13 to 18 people as it prepares for further growth in housing, tenant services and its private rental business. Choi

Rebecca Scott completed the Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Business at Northern Regional College’s Magherafelt campus before progressing to Ulster University in Belfast. A Magherafelt student has graduated with First-Class Honours in Accountancy and secured a training contract with professional services firm RSM UK, three years after completing a vocational Business qualification at Northern Regional College. Rebecca Scott completed the Level 3 National Extended Diploma

Taryn Simpson and Hannah Spence who received results today for Level 3 Health and Social Care from Northern Regional College in Ballymena. Taryn is heading off to study Adult Nursing at Queen’s University Belfast, while Hannah progresses to study Psychology at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh. Northern Ireland has recorded the best A-level results across the UK, with 86.9% of entries achieving a grade C or above, as thousands of young people receive their A-level, AS-le

Northern Regional College lecturer, Colin Wright, who has been shortlisted for a prestigious hospitality award. A Northern Regional College lecturer who is helping train the next generation of chefs has been shortlisted for one of Northern Ireland’s leading hospitality awards. Professional Cookery Lecturer Colin Wright has been named a finalist for Lecturer of the Year at the 2026 Institute of Hospitality Northern Ireland Awards, recognising his work developing students’ culi

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald is pictured with Justin Kerr, head of the Department for the Economy Careers Service. The Department has 78 careers advisers on hand to support people reach their chosen pathway. Thursday 13 August 2026 Young people receiving A-Level, AS and vocational results across Northern Ireland today are being reminded that professional careers advice is available to help them decide what comes next. Whether results have opened the door to a first-c

First Minister Michelle O’Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly joined the programme as mentors Thirty-seven students from Ballymena have been recognised as part of a leadership and mentoring programme that has seen more than 750 young women deliver hundreds of community projects, benefiting almost 18,000 people across Northern Ireland. Students from Slemish College, Ballymena Academy and St Louis Grammar School took part in the 2025–26 SistersIN programme, joi

CAFRE’s Student Recruitment Advisers, Toni Donnelly, Laura Browne and Caoimhe Hegarty are on hand to answer your UCAS Clearing questions. Students who have not yet secured a university place for September still have time to apply, with the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) opening a range of degree courses through UCAS Clearing. The move gives prospective students across Northern Ireland another opportunity to begin higher education this autumn, with p

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald is pictured with students Naomi Duncan-Todd and Jay Curry encouraging eligible students to apply for the prestigious All Ireland Scholarship Scheme. Thousands of students across Northern Ireland receiving their A-Level and BTEC results are being encouraged to check whether they could qualify for a scholarship worth £5,850 a year to help cover the cost of university. The All Ireland Scholarship Scheme, funded by the JP McManus Trust, is no

Inset: North Antrim MP Jim Allister Northern Ireland should introduce its own university training programme for dental hygienists and therapists to help ease pressures on dental services, according to North Antrim MP Jim Allister. The Traditional Unionist Voice leader has written to Health Minister Mike Nesbitt calling for the creation of an undergraduate Dental Hygiene and Therapy degree, arguing that the absence of any local training route is contributing to workforce short

Equine students enjoying unique teaching and learning at CAFRE, Enniskillen Campus. School leavers hoping to build a career working with horses are being encouraged to act quickly, with places still available on a range of equine courses starting this September at CAFRE’s Enniskillen Campus. Applications remain open through UCAS Clearing for degree programmes, while students leaving school after GCSEs can still apply directly for a selection of full-time courses and apprentic

Max Gray, from K9 Search and Rescue, is pictured with owner Ryan. Max was awarded Animal of the Year for gallantry in Public Service An award-winning search and rescue dog from Northern Ireland has been recognised by Queen’s University Belfast for his bravery and public service, with Max Gray receiving the University’s Animal of the Year award after helping locate missing people both at home and overseas. The specially trained search dog, who works alongside handler Ryan Gray

People across Northern Ireland who are looking for a physically demanding career with the opportunity to make a real difference now have the chance to apply to become a wholetime firefighter, as Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) launches its latest recruitment campaign. Applications opened today, Monday 20 July, and will remain open for two weeks, closing at 12 noon on Monday 3 August 2026. Successful applicants will join NIFRS as wholetime firefighters, working

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald is pictured at Roe Valley Residents Associations Youth and Community Hub in Limavady where she met some of the young people who have participated in the Peaceplus Journeys Project. More than 1,000 young people across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have taken part in a cross-border programme designed to help disadvantaged young people build confidence, gain qualifications and move towards education or employment. The mileston

Jane Martin (centre) from Mencap presents the Employer of the Month award to Ann O’Neill (left) and Linda Saunders (right) from the Northern Health and Social Care Trust. A team at Causeway Hospital has been recognised with a national award after creating a workplace where people with learning disabilities are supported to build confidence, develop new skills and secure meaningful long-term employment. The hospital’s Corporate Support Services team has been named Mencap’s Emp

With another school year now at an end, ten teachers and school staff from across the Ballymena area have been recognised after hundreds of local pupils nominated the people who made the biggest difference to their lives in the classroom. The winners of Ballymena BID’s popular ‘Treat Your Teacher’ competition were announced following an overwhelming response from families, with children sharing heartfelt stories of kindness, encouragement, patience and support shown throughou

Most recent participants and course leaders from the Medical Administration Academy in Mid & East Antrim Area People across Mid and East Antrim looking for a career in healthcare administration are being encouraged to register their interest for the next Medical Administration Academy after the latest programme helped participants build the skills needed to work in local GP practices. The eight-week academy, delivered by the Northern GP Federation Support Unit (NFSU) in partn

The Education Authority has said planned changes to classroom support for pupils with Special Educational Needs will be introduced gradually, with the first phase focused on schools already ready to move towards a new model. The reassurance comes after more than 3,000 responses were received to a public consultation on the future of SEN classroom support in Northern Ireland. The proposed reforms centre on the Enhanced Support Model, which aims to move towards more flexible, n

The Education Authority (EA) has confirmed more than 4,400 school places for children with special educational needs (SEN) ahead of the new academic year, but has warned that Northern Ireland’s current approach to meeting rising demand is “running out of road”. Officials say intensive work throughout the year has enabled thousands of children changing educational settings for September 2026 to receive confirmed placements, with work continuing over the summer to finalise the

Amy Barr from Broughshane, Co Antrim was awarded with the Erne Veterinary Group Cup. Congratulating Amy is Jane Elliott, Head of Equine, CAFRE. Students from across Northern Ireland have marked the culmination of years of study, early mornings and hands-on industry experience as CAFRE’s latest cohort of equine graduates celebrated their achievements at a special graduation ceremony. Among those recognised was Broughshane student Amy Barr, who received one of the event’s stand