Bright sparks celebrate results

Sandy Upper School celebrated record-breaking results as they saw a 27 per cent increase in their pass rate to an impressive 81 per cent.

The top performers were Jessica Dodds who achieved 15 A* to C grades with Danielle Stevenson achieving 14.

Another remarkable success was Jack Eldridge who achieved 10 A*s and three As, and now has his sights set on going to Cambridge University.

Principal Balraj Hare said: “Our GCSE results this year are truly spectacular and all students have made outstanding progress. These are, by far, the highest results in the history of the school.

“I am delighted to say that a remarkable 81 per cent of our students achieved five or more GCSEs including Maths and English, with many students achieving 13 or more A*-C GCSE grades.

“These results consolidate our position and I am incredibly proud of all the students.”

She believes the results will be among the most improved in the country, a remarkable achievement for a school which was put in special measures by Ofsted not long ago.

Student, Josh Davies, who achieved an A* in English literature, said: “I am absolutely delighted with my results. I am hoping to study English literature at university after completing my A levels.”

Stratton Upper School in Biggleswade was delighted with its set of results – especially in English, which saw A* to C passes rise from 62 per cent to 73 per cent.

Headteacher Rob Watson said: “Overall we are very, very pleased with the students. Nationally there is a lot of concern about English grades, our English results are the best we’ve ever achieved at 73 per cent. Maths is also up at 70 per cent.”

The overall number of students achieving at least five grade A* to C results, including English and Maths, is 58 per cent – but the school is still waiting to receive around 200 ICT grades, which it hopes 
will push the average up a few percent.

Star pupils included Tom White, who achieved five A*s, two As, one B and one C, 
despite being diagnosed with cancer in February. He is now in remission and is going on to study Maths, Geography, French and German at A-level, with the hope of studying language or linguistics in America beyond that.

Franki Riley achieved five A*s and five As and Tari Rushwaya was celebrating three A*s five As and a B.

But the top performer was Rebecca Allen, who achieved a clean sweep with ten A* grades. She was attending a prestigious maths scholarship event in Oxford yesterday.

Head of year Justin Thomas is stepping down after 13 years in the role at Stratton – and said it was good to go out on a high.

Samuel Whitbread Academy was celebrating its best ever Science GCSE results, as well as its highest ever number of A* and A grades.

Principal Rob Robson said: “A significant number of subjects have performed extremely well this year and students have gained some fantastic results.

“Following the announcement from Ofqual to ‘expect turbulence’ this year, we were prepared for a slight dip in certain areas, however our Maths and English have remained strong compared to the national outcomes.”

Head of Year 11, Anna Burnham, commented: “I am very proud of all our students. In many areas we have had our best ever results and this is testament to their hard work and determination.

“I am also delighted that we will be welcoming back our largest ever number into the Sixth Form, and I’d like to wish the very best to students going onto college or apprenticeships.” Top performers included Jodie Lilley with 12 A* grades, one A and one B, Alexa Greet with ten A*s, and three As and Andrew Smith and Jonathan Hare, who both achieved 11 A*s, two As and a B.