Colchester's high-fliers celebrate top marks in GCSEs

The GCSE students were the first to have sat the new-style GCSE maths and English exams.

Colchester Royal Grammar School staff were particularly impressed with maths results, with 45 students achieving the top grade 9.

Under the new grading system, grade 9 exceeds the previous A*. Grade 7 is the equivalent to an A while a Grade 4 is the old C.

The changes have been introduced to give more detail about the highest-achieving candidates.

Charlie Howlett, 16, achieved top marks in all his exams.

He got 11 A*s in total, achieving level 9 in English Language, Literature and Maths.

Charlie, from Elmstead Market, said: “I found revision OK.

I was expecting good results, but not in everything.

“I’m staying here to do Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Art.”

Niall McGenity, 16, from Wivenhoe, also achieved 9s in English and Maths. He was impressed with his 10 A*s and A.

He said: “I had no idea, I came in with no real expectations. I just wish I had known this sooner, otherwise I would have been in a better mood for the summer.

“I worked hard but with the new GCSEs I didn’t know what to expect.”

He is staying on to do Maths, Physics, History and Art.

Nationally, GCSE passes have dropped by 0.6 percentage points to 66.3 per cent.

However, at Colchester County High School for Girls, staff witnessed the best results in the school’s history.

A brilliant 89 per cent of grades were at A or A* and 98 per cent were at A*-B.

Jacinta Ngeh achieved the highest results, with 12 grades at either A*, level 9 or level 8.

Eleven of the girls achieved 11 grades at either A*, level 9 or level 8, and 17 girls achieved ten grades at A* or the equivalent.

At the Gilberd School, the vast majority of students achieved a good pass, level 5 or above in English and Maths.

Anna Bruce, 16, from Colchester, achieved level 7 in maths, and 8 in English. She also had four A*s, three As and a B.

She said: “It was stressful, but I kind of enjoyed it. I enjoyed seeing the results and how the hard work pays off.”

Students at Thomas, Lord Audley School did particularly well in English, Geography and German.

In German, 17 students achieved an A or A* and in Geography the grade was achieved by 21 students.

Ben Clarke achieved the best set of grades at the school securing nine A* or grade 8/9s. He is off to Colchester Royal Grammar School in September.

Students at Colchester Academy also outperformed their predicted targets.

Headteacher Fiona Pierson said: “We are absolutely delighted to see so many students achieve so well. Staff and students alike have worked incredibly hard throughout the year.”

St Helena School was delighted to see exceptional individual successes. Top achievers include Amber Inman with two As, five A*s, one 8 and two 9s, Mia Singleton with one A, four A*s, one 8 and two 9s and Isabel Liddamore with two As, four A*s, one 7, one 8 and one 9.

Almost all Year 11 students at Thurstable School achieved impressive grades.

Headteacher Miles Bacon said: “The potential confusion and inevitable delay in comparing school wide results has had at least one beneficial effect – it has focussed our attention exclusively on the achievement of individual young people rather than on averages.

“I am delighted for our students their efforts have brought them the rewards they deserved.”

The Colne Community School and College also celebrated promising results.

Anastasia Murphy achieved five A*s, two As and a grade 9 and 8 in Maths and English literature.

The student who progressed the most from their starting point was Beth Hollis, who achieved two A*s, two As, a B, two Cs and grades 8 and 6 in English Literature and Language.

St Benedict’s Catholic College was delighted with the English and Maths results this year.

Headteacher Jo Santinelli said: “GCSE students across the country have had to contend with a number of significant changes to the curriculum and the examination process.

“I am exceptionally proud of the considerable efforts made by our young people, many of whom have achieved outstanding and well-deserved results.”

Students from Colchester High School also celebrated excellent results against a backdrop of exam reform. In Maths, 31 per cent of students achieved a grade 7 or above with ten per cent securing the new top Grade 9. 87 per cent of grades were at A*-C.

At St Mary’s School, 92 per cent of GCSEs were graded at C or above and 90 per cent achieved a minimum of five passes at A* to C.

Harriet Stickels, from Colchester, achieved 12 GCSEs including one A*, six As, two Bs, one 7, two 6s – having passed French and statistics one year early and Dutch two years early.

Lydia Jackson achieved five A*s, 2 As, two 8s and one 6 and will take up her place at Colchester Royal Grammar School.

Philip Morant School and College staff worked hard to prepare students for the new exams.

Megan Smith achieved eight A*s, an A, and top grades of 9s in the new Maths and English qualifications.

Adam Dunston made the most progress gaining two A*s, three As, two Bs and a 5, 6 and 7 in the new qualifications.