Gainsborough: Celebrating GCSE success

After a nervous wait over the summer, there were plenty of smiling faces at Trent Valley Academy and Queen Elizabeth’s High School, as excited students collected their results.

And for most of the students their hard work had paid off as they got the grades they needed to start further education, apprenticeships, training or employment.

The was lots to celebrate at Trent Valley Academy as the school enjoyed a good set of results despite a tough year.

Pupils achieving the key benchmark of five or more A* to C grades remained consistent with last year at 79 per cent.

The academy also saw a strong improvement in the number of students making three and four levels of progress from primary school for English and maths.

“Today’s results have remained stable despite tougher marking in this year’s English, maths and science exams, in which a number of schools results have gone down,” said interim principal Fiona Wainde.

“Over 50 per cent of students gained A* to C grades in English or maths and levels of progress in both subjects are improving.”

“However, we are not complacent and more needs to be done. A number of substantial changes were made in the spring and summer term to address areas of concern.”

“A history of under-performance cannot be turned around overnight for students that are already three quarters of the way through their GCSE courses.”

Mrs Wainde said staff had worked hard to start transforming the academy ahead of a new leadership team and executive principal starting in September.

“I move on from Trent Valley Academy assured that the revised school improvement plan will guarantee a higher level of quality teaching and learning, delivering our students an excellent standard of education,” she added.

Some 120 students at the academy gained eight A* to C passes, with 75 getting 10 or more and 22 getting 14 or more.

One of those exceptional students was aspiring solicitor Abigail Robinson, who achieved 17 GCSEs including six at A* and four As. She will be starting A Levels at John Leggott College in September.

“I’m really pleased with my grades and it feels like a huge relief,” she said.

David Glover, who joined the academy late, got 16 GCSEs, including six at A*. He is off to do A Levels in Lincoln with the hope of becoming a teacher.

Shaun Johnson got 15 good grades including four at A* and will be starting an electrical engineering apprenticeship in September, and Justa Benetis is off to do A Levels in Lincoln after getting 14 GCSEs.

Over at Queen Elizabeth’s High School, pupils once again excelled.

The number of pupils achieving five or more A* to C grades was 94.5 per cent - slightly down on last year’s 97 per cent, with 93 per cent getting five or more A* to C grades including maths and English.

An impressive 43 per cent of grades awarded were at A* and A, and 31 students gained 10 or more A or A* grades - a 72 per cent increase on last year.

“It is almost impossible to imagine the amount of work and effort that has gone into the 1845 qualifications gained by our students this year,” said headteacher David Allsop.

“The national headlines have spoken about GCSE exams becoming easier, but it is my belief that students are working harder than ever to gain he qualifications they need for their next steps in life.”

Among some of the high achievers were triplets Alice, Chris and Barnaby Fogg, with an impressive 33 A and A* grades between them. All three will be going back to the school to do A Levels in September.

And Jamie Jenkins was ‘over the moon’ with her nine A and A* grades.

I am really happy with them. It was quite a nervous wait this morning but I’m just over the moon,” she said.