GCSE results day Northampton: LIVE

The wait is finally over for hundreds of teenagers across Northampton today as the national GCSE results are published.

This year students will receive numerical grades in most subjects following changes to the system that have seen more challenging content being brought in and pupils sitting an average of 20 to 25 exam papers.

Dr Nick Smith, courses director and founder of the Oxford Open Learning Trust, said: “Receiving GCSE results is a huge moment in a child’s education and for thousands all over the country, it will be the springboard to a variety of exciting careers. It’s fantastic to see so many students with smiling faces - today is a day for all students to be proud of their hard work.

“Not everyone, however, will quite get the results they hoped for, but we’re here to reassure them that they needn’t worry! For those who don’t get the GCSE results they expected, there are a number of options available.

“To begin with, students should get in touch with the course representative at the sixth form or college they applied for. They might say it’s possible to let them on the course anyway, or perhaps find an alternative subject.

“Alternatively, it might be worth considering less traditional pathways, such as apprenticeships, work experience or a gap year. Such options do not mean that students have to simply leave education behind, as they can still resit GCSEs while working.

“Distance learning is the most flexible way of doing this as your course materials are available online and you can learn in your own time, all while working and gaining vital experience.”

Year 11 students at Northampton’s Malcolm Arnold Academy, part of the David Ross Education Trust, have been celebrating after receiving their long-awaited GCSE results today.
 
Nicola Konceravic, head of School at Malcolm Arnold Academy, said: “We would like to congratulate our students on their achievements today. We look forward to welcoming many of our students back to Malcolm Arnold Academy for their sixth form studies in September.”
 
Amongst those celebrating was George Wise, who achieved five grade 9s in maths, biology, history, music and physics, along with three grade 8s and an A. He said: “I am really pleased with my results, especially as this is the first year with the new grading system, so I didn’t know what to expect.”
 
Oliver Richardson was also celebrating after receiving his results. Oliver, who achieved three grade 9s in English language, history and maths, a distinction * in business studies, three grade 8s and an A.
 
Matthew Milburn was delighted to discover he had secured two grade 9s in physics and history, three grade 8s in maths, biology and chemistry. He said: “I am looking forward to studying maths, biology and chemistry at A level. I’ve really enjoyed making friends and studying at Malcolm Arnold Academy.”
 
Other top performers included Mia Adams and Lydia Copson, who both achieved a strong set of GCSE grades.
 
Rowena Hackwood, chief executive officer at the David Ross Education Trust, said: “At the David Ross Education Trust, we are proud to offer our students a rich and exciting learning environment that inspires them to become their confident, academic best.
 
“We are delighted to see our students receive their GCSE results today. From here, they can progress into the world of further education, employment and work towards their successful futures with confidence.”

The Duston School says it is 'delighted' with the accomplishments and of its year 11 students today.

The overall 4-9, 5-9 and 7-9 attainment outcomes have risen from last year, the school said in a short statement.

Principal Sam Strickland said: "Our traditional approach to both revision and our culture and ethos has clearly yielded a positive and pleasing set of GCSE outcomes for our Year 11 students."

Students and staff are celebrating at Thomas Becket Catholic School are celebrating after securing a set of results that have been described as “game-changing”.
 
Results across almost every measure have improved with one key government measure, Progress 8, projected to see a significant swing in the right direction.
 
Ciran Stapleton, head teacher, said: “I am absolutely blown away by what our young people have achieved.
 
“While there have been some brilliant individual performances, with some students rightly proving they are amongst the very best by securing the new coveted 9 grade, what is particularly pleasing is that our young people are not just meeting their targets – they are exceeding them. 
 
“In maths, for example, our students were on average half a grade up on what was predicted and of national expectation. There is a similar story in English and a host of other subjects. This is testament to the talent and commitment of everyone in our community”.
 
Among the smiling faces were: Dipto Sarkar 2 Grade 9s, 6 Grade 8s and 2 Grade 7s, Abbie Shortt 1 Grade 9, 5 Grade 8s, 4 Grade 7s and 1 Grade 6, Melanie Nabiikyi 1 Grade 9, 3 Grade 8s, 5 Grade 7s, Grace Lucas 3 Grade 8s, 4 Grade 7s, 3 Grade 6s, Ben Stones 3 Grade 8s 4 Grade 7s and 3 Grade 6s, William Norman 4 Grade 8s, 3 Grade 7s, and 1 Grade 6, Katejan Pietrowski 1 Grade 8, 8 Grade 7s, Hussain Jeffri 1 Grade 8, 4 Grade 7s , 3 Grade 6s and Fabiola Zefi 3 Grade 8s,3 grade 7s and 2 Grade 6s.
 
Abbie Short said: “I’m so happy. I never expected this. Wow!” Melanie Nabiikyi said: “I was so nervous before I opened my envelope but as I did I was over joyed.”
 
Marcleina Flakiewicz said: “I’m in shock. I know my teachers said I could but I never expected to do this well.”
 
Mr Stapleton added: “I really do think that these results are a huge milestone for the school. In fact, they are game changing. When I joined this school just over 12 months ago what was needed more than anything was belief. Moving our Progress 8 score from a negative figure to what, I believe, will be a positive figure shows what has been achieved.
 
“It has now set the standard for our next cohort of Year 11s. It means that we are able to welcome a record number of students into our Sixth Form. It will act as the platform for our staff to continue to embrace new ideas and challenge themselves and our students.
 
“I am very proud of our community. The future is very bright indeed.”

Northampton Academy saw 65% of students achieve a 4 or above in both English and maths according to the government’s new basics measure.

Today’s GCSE results come after last week’s A Level success, where three students at the school achieved 3 A*s in their results – a first for Northampton Academy.

Nat Parnell, Principal of Northampton Academy, said: “Today’s results complete a strong summer for Northampton Academy. I am delighted for those students who are celebrating today after doing so well in their exams.

"We are looking forward to welcoming so many of them back in September to join our thriving Sixth Form.

“I know how hard many of our Year 11s have worked to achieve these results. We are known for being a school that really looks after our students, regardless of their starting point, and works with them so that they can reach their full potential.

"The role of parents and staff in achieving this is very important and I would like to thank both for their significant contribution to the success our students are enjoying today.”

Sponne School in Towcester marked an eighth successive year of improved results today.

Students showed significantly greater progress than would be expected nationally from their starting points at the end of Year 6.

Among the many delighted students celebrating today were Sam Allen, Poppy
Lefroy-Brooks, Catrin Sinclair and Emily Rogers who all gained 10 equivalent
A* grades whilst Emily Blakeney and Luke Williams were just one behind with
nine.

The school says it is likely that, once the national data is released, Sponne will again rank in the top 10 per cent of schools in the country.

Headteacher Iain Massey said: “I am tremendously proud of the
achievements of all of our students at Sponne School.

"No matter what their starting point when they arrive they have made exceptional progress and along with all my staff and governors I would like to congratulate them for working so hard and gaining what they deserved.

"Along with the high A-level results last week, Sponne is maintaining the outstanding judgement made by Ofsted in 2012.

"Well done to all our students and their teachers in preparing them for their exams."

Pupils and staff at Abbeyfield School their 'best ever year' as more than three-in-four pupils passed English and Maths.

More pupils than ever have scored a equivalent Grade 9 in English and Maths and nearly half of all students entered in the EBACC earned a pass.

Meanwhile, one student Emily Challenor bagged Grade 9s and a Grade 8.

Pupil Henschel Freduah-Agyemang - who earned two Grade 9s and five Grade 8s - said: "It's the happiest day of my life. Everything I owe to the school, my fellow students and teachers. I couldn't have done this on my own."

David Powell, Principal at Abbeyfield School, said: "The results are outstanding. We are so pleased with the number of top grades and the excellent progress made by students who find learning difficult.

"Abbeyfield are able to produce these record results as it has good teaching, hard - working pupils and supportive parents. This combination will always deliver excellent outcomes. We are confident that our pupils will have successful careers and become good citizens of the future."

Abbeyfield School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2016.

Weston Favell Academy has seen a "significant" boost in pupils earning top grades this year.

Over 20 per cent of students at the academy have achieved the new top scoring Grade 9.

Meanwhile, one student Lelia Fuchs opened her envelope today to find she was taking home Grade 9s in all subject.

"This is a truly exceptional performance from an incredibly talented young lady," said principal Lorna Leventhal.

"In the context of new, more challenging examinations at GCSE, we are delighted that our students have continued to achieve and the academy continues to improve.”

Although the school's data is still unvalidated, they claim they have they are enjoying "better than average progress" with a boost to the 'Basics' subjects.

A third of all grades at Northampton High School were in the top scoring bracket at this morning's GCSE results day.

The girls of Northampton High School have taken on the "seismic change" in the exam system and over 60 per cent of all students opened their envelopes to find five or more Grade 7 or higher.

But a third of all grades came in at the highest-possible level at Grade 8, 9 or A*.

Headmistress Dr Stringer said: "This is the day when the girls receive the reward for the hard work and energy they have put into their studies over the last two years and more. Seeing the pleasure on their faces, and those of their families, as they celebrate these excellent results is a great joy for me and my colleagues.

"Congratulations to all of the girls on their outstanding results and warmest thanks to all colleagues for their contribution to the girls’ success."

A 16-year-old Northampton student, who received tuition while he was fighting Leukaemia in hospital, wants to be a banker after achieving high grades at GCSE.

Northampton School for Boys (NSB) student Parvej Miah, 16, of St James is currently in remission after battling cancer since the beginning of exam season when he was in year 10.

While he spent time receiving treatment at Northampton General Hospital and Nottingham University Hospital, he received private tuition and had extra help from NSB to get him through his important exams.

Today the student, who has been in hospital for eight months, went to school this morning to open his exam results; he was over the moon to pass seven GCSEs and excelled in maths, scoring an 8.

He said: "It's been a really hard time and I'm very proud.

"At the start I was stressing a lot but I did have private tuition in hospital and when I got out of hospital, and the school helped me a lot as well."

Parvej is now hoping for a place at NSB sixth form where he wants to study maths, economics and product design in a bid to be a banker or accountant when he's older.

Northampton School for Boys is celebrating a 'superb set of GCSE grades', which have improved even further on last year’s performance, the headteacher at NSB says.

One hundred and forty-four students achieved at least one grade 7 or more, and an impressive sixty-four students achieved a grade 7 in all eight of their progress 8 subjects, with 26 students achieving at least seven grades 8/9 (former A* Grades).

Headmaster Richard Bernard said: "I am absolutely delighted for all the students and staff that they have been rewarded with such a fantastic set of grades, which maintain the upward trajectory of GCSE outcomes at the school in recent years.

"Last year we were placed in the top three percent of schools in England for a variety of GCSE performance measures and this year our results are even better.

"With academic outcomes well above national expectations, national and international excellence in school representative sport and the arts as well as a thriving extra-curricular and residential programme the educational package at NSB is truly stand-out provision for our students."
 
One boy, Devin Thomas, gained straight nine grades as well as A** in Further Maths.  

Four other stand out students who performed well were Ivan Petkov and Vihan Bankley who achieved 11 subjects at grade 8 or 9, and James Marlow and Parvej Miah who both averaged over 3.3 grades per entry above their national expected target grades.

Phil Beaumont head of year praised the year 11 boys he said: “This year group have not only done tremendously well academically but have also been a fantastic group of boys to work with.

"They have been superb role models for the younger students in the school, maintaining a disciplined approach to their studies whilst throwing themselves into the extra-curricular life of the school.

"The cohort includes international sportsmen and superb artists, musicians and actors who have been justly rewarded for their efforts. We have every confidence that these students will go on to great success in their future lives and careers.”

Kingsthorpe College saw a 'significant improvement' in English Baccalaureate results this year.

Attainment measures have improved across all key headline areas, the college has reported, and was particularly pleased with the improvement in EBacc results which have seen students achieve on average of a grade higher than in previous years.

The college also saw students achieve the highest grade of a 9 across a range of subjects including English, maths, geography, history, modern foreign languages and art.

Headteacher Jennie Giovanelli said: "This reflects the College's belief in a rich curriculum, which aspires for artistic, athletic and academic excellence."
  
Charlotte Richardson Hale, who achieved a distinction star in dance expressed her thanks to the staff at the college, saying: "I am delighted with my results and
want to thank every member of staff who has supported me in achieving these results.

"They really have gone above and beyond."

"Students have worked particularly hard this year, as there have been significant changes to the exam system for most subjects this summer," said Magdalen College headteacher Ian Colling.
 
"It is clear that our students have risen to these challenges and achieved at least as well as expected and significantly better in many cases.
 
"Our initial analysis shows that the school’s overall grades indicate an improvement on last year’s grades, with pupils, on average, making more progress this year than last year."
 
Hannah Baker received seven grade 9s and three grade 8s; Argyro Karataraki got grade 9s in five subjects, grade 8s in three and one A*; Kieran Parsons scored four grade 9s and two grade 8s; Emily Fisher received grade 9s in two subjects, grade 8s in three subjects and two grade A*s; Nine Purefoy got three grade 9s and three grade 8s; Lauren Roberts scored eight grade 8s; and Jessica Robinson received four grade 9s and four grade 8s.