Protestant children continue to lag behind their Catholic counterparts when it comes to academic achievement in schools right across Northern Ireland, according to new data released by the Department of Education

In 2011-2012, 59.1% of Catholic school leavers achieved two or more A levels compared to 51.8% of Protestant school leavers. Equally, 63.5% of Catholic school leavers left with at least five GCSEs at grades A* - C or equivalent including GCSE English and maths, and 78.8% left with at least five GCSEs at grades A* - C. The corresponding proportions for Protestant school leavers were 60.2% and 73.8% respectively. And 19.7% of Protestant boys entitled to free school meals achieved at least five GCSEs at grades A* - C or equivalent including GCSE English and Maths compared with 33.2% of Catholic boys entitled to free school meals. Catholic girls entitled to free school meals (43.8%) outperform Protestant girls entitled to free school meals (32.4%) in achieving at least five GCSEs at grades A* - C or equivalent including GCSE English and maths. When religion of pupil is considered 39.2% of Protestant school leavers enter Institutions of Higher Education compared with 45.2% of Catholic school leavers.