Big smiles say it all as GCSE results are some of the best

Words: Sarah RobinsonPictures: John Story and Mike McKenzie

Last updated at 16:54, Thursday, 03 September 2009

YEAR 11 students have been celebrating their GCSE results with some exceptional achievements from school all over West Cumbria.

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All of the schools congratulated students and staff on their hard work.

A spokesperson, from Cumbria County Council, said: “The continued improvements in the proportions of young people in Cumbria achieving and exceeding their expected grades at GCSE reflects the hard work of the pupils, teachers, staff and parents across the county.”

The county council said early indications show the number of five A* to C passes, including English and maths, are well up on last year’s record high results.

At St Benedict’s School, students were elated with their results.

Pupils with top marks included Richard Beck who got nine A*s, one A and one B and Adam Bennett, who got four A*s, three As and two Bs.

Stacie Denwood, from Whitehaven, said: “I’m so pleased to have passed all my exams. I’ve got better than my predicted grades, I got an A in English and Art.”

Elliot Starkey, from Whitehaven, said: “ I just wanted to get my predicted grades, which I got. I’m really pleased with my food technology, French and maths grades.”

Lewis White, said: “I’ve got the grades I needed to. Our teachers have helped us out loads.”

Lewis will continuing his studies at the Sixth Form Centre doing PE, business studies and product design.

Matthew Ruddy, said he was happy with his results and got his predicted grades. He will be going to college to complete an apprenticeship.

Terri Burns, said: “I was hoping to do well in English and I got an A grade. I got 11 GCSEs altogether with 10 of then being A to C grades.

Ann Brook, head teacher at St Benedict’s School, said: “All the pupils have done very well.

“We would like to congratulate all the students and staff for their hard work, dedication and commitment to the children. The business and English grades were particularly good.”

She said that around 70 per cent of the year group would be taking A-levels and the other students will be going on to study diplomas, vocational courses or apprenticeships.

Mark Pike, head of year 11 at the school, said: “We have got kids that have come out with some outstanding results. They have worked really hard and we wish them good luck for the future.”

At Whitehaven School, head teacher Malcolm Smith said: “I’m over the moon with the results. They are the best results we have ever had.

“A* to C grades are 69 per cent, which is nine per cent more than last year.

“These are classed as ‘good’ grades and we hit the targets set out by the local authority.

“There is only one per cent leaving the school with no GCSEs, although they may have done other qualifications.

“There are a lot of kids that work so hard, I’m really pleased with the pupils’ achievements across the board.”

Jodie Casson, from Whitehaven School, said: “I’m really pleased that I got four A*s, four As and one B. I was predicted As and Bs.”

Jodie will be continuing her studies at the Whitehaven School Post 16 centre studying biology, maths, art and food technology.

Tom Salmon got one A*, four As and two Bs, he is also awaiting further results. He said: “I expected to do worse but I’m chuffed with my results, especially getting a B in maths.”

He will be studying business studies, theatre studies, design and English language at A level.

Stephen Boag said he was particularly pleased with his grade for resistant materials and is planning to join the Army.

Jordan Roddis, also at Whitehaven School, said: “I’m really pleased with my results, especially my resistant material grade. It’ll stand me in good stead with my apprenticeship at Gen II.

“There aren’t many jobs around but I hope that when I become an advanced electrician, I can go on to do bigger and better things.”

Pupils were also celebrating at Millom School. Top girl this year is Hannah Skeen with eight A*s, three As and one B, with top boy Gavin Stewart with three A*s, eight As and one B.

The overall results at the school shows that the five+ A*-C pass rate, not including English and Maths, is 70 per cent this year compared to 43 per cent in 2008.

Ian Smith, head teacher at Millom School, said: “Whilst these results are very pleasing, I am not surprised, as I know how much hard work and dedication lies behind them. I cannot praise too highly the dedication of the students, and the commitment of the teaching and associate staff.”

Mr Smith says that whilst the school has recorded its best ever results, this level of success is obviously reflected in some individual achievements of pupils.

He also recognised the support of the Governing Body, Local Authority, and the parents of the students at the school.

At West Lakes Academy, Janet Simpson, acting principal, said: “There are some good individual performances by students at West Lakes Academy in it’s first year although the results overall are somewhat disappointing.

“One exceptional performance is that of Ben Murphy who achieved 15 GCSEs – 11 A* and four A grades! This is a fantastic achievement.”

She said that the achievement of students in the academy is different as a result of the amalgamation of the two predecessor schools – Ehenside and Wyndham School.

Mrs Simpson added: “The academy has faced many challenges in its first year. The disruption and stress which resulted from the conduct of the previous principal and chief executive has clearly had a very unwelcome negative impact.

“Staff and governors are confident and positive about moving forward and have robust plans in place to ensure that better progress is made and to bring about a step change next year.”

Philip Capes, headmaster at St Bees School, said: “I am delighted that the hard work of our Year 11 pupils and their teachers has been rewarded with such an outstanding set of GCSE results.

“At St Bees we continually strive to challenge all of our students.

“We promote a Key Stage 4 curriculum which includes the separate sciences of biology, chemistry and physics as well as the modern foreign languages of French and Spanish.

“This is why the majority of our students finish the year with 10 or more GCSE passes.

“I am also pleased that every single member of this year group obtained a pass in GCSE Mathematics with some of our top students gaining an additional Maths qualification in Statistics.”

Four students achieved a complete set of top grades. Ben Greene from St Bees achieved seven A*s and five As in his twelve GCSE subjects. Sophie Broad from Cleator, Saoirse Jennings-Adams from Millom and Lucy Telford from Egremont, all gained straight A grades with five, five and three A* grades respectively in their totals.

This year the pass rate (A-C grades) for St Bees was above the national average of 63 per cent at 87 per cent.

Results in full: