AN assortment of results did not dampen the spirits of Year 11 students at the Stanway School.
Daisy Linton had mixed emotions going to collect her GCSE results and ended up being very happy with some - history and food technology - and disappointed at others.
The budding paramedic will continue her studies at Colchester Sixth Form and is eager for the next step.
She said: “I’m so excited, I just want to do it now.
“Being a paramedic is such an incredible job, you help so many people.
“I came with a group of friends to get my results - we did our exams together and revision together so it’s quite nice to get our results together too.
“And we’ll be going to the same college.”
Stanway School leaver Laura Strutt
Joining Daisy at Colchester Sixth Form is friend Jamie Hughes, a French whizz who achieved a grade 8 with a lot of hard work which paid off, he said.
He added: “It’s nice to know my friends are going to the same place I am and it’s good I could support them and they could support me through the struggle because it was all stress and nothing else.
“I’ve no idea what I want to do so I’ve picked A-level subjects I like and am hoping for the best.”
Results day was as much about celebrating personal achievements at the Stanway School as academic triumphs.
Grades reflected pleasing outcomes and student progress, headteacher Jonathan Bland explained.
He said: “Especially in the core subjects of English and mathematics, as well as other key areas, such as languages, humanities and the performing arts.
“This reflects the hard work and commitment of our students, who have worked exceptionally hard in partnership with our outstanding staff.
"In addition, we’re delighted Ebony Rayner made outstanding progress since joining the school, and we congratulate Lauren Strutt and Kai Warnock for achieving the highest grades in the school with a selection of grades 8 and 9.”
Heidi Taylor, 16, was one of the last pupils chatting to teachers, one of which included her mum Andrea, a learning support assistant also at the Stanway School.
But her envelope remained sealed.
LSA Andrea Taylor and daughter Heidi
The charismatic teenager was not stressing over her results, which she planned to open in the comfort of her home.
She said: “You’ve got to go in with positive thoughts. It’s been the last thing on my mind.
“You can’t change the results so you’ve got to just hope for a positive outcome.
“If I haven’t got what I wanted then I’m not too let down because I always have a back-up plan.”
Charis D’halloran has dreams of being in the arts.
Although she is not entirely sure of what she wants to pursue as a career, she would like to study a degree in performing arts.
Charis with her results in Stanway
The 2018 summer exam season saw students sitting the new grade 9 to1 GCSEs in all subjects except technology, marking a period of significant reform.
Principal at St Benedict’s Catholic College, Jo Santinelli, said: “GCSE students have had to contend with a number of significant changes to the curriculum and the examination process.
“I’m exceptionally proud of the considerable efforts made by our young people, many of whom have achieved outstanding and well-deserved results.
“Teachers and support staff worked incredibly hard to prepare students for examinations no-one had sat before or even seen.
“I’d like to acknowledge their efforts in supporting our young people academically and in all other ways during their time with us.”
The college praised students Youhanna Farah, Mieke Lammens, Daniel Millward, Daria Gersinska and Iona Allen while Ayshwaria Ilangovan, James Plummer, Marco He, Rose Jones, Francessca Reid and Daniella McClean were also singled out for their progression.
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