GALLERY: Schools reveal Huntingdonshire GCSE results

Sawtry

Pupils at Sawtry Village College outperformed last year’s GCSE takers, 63 per cent getting five or more A*-Cs, including English and maths, up five per cent from 2013.

English results were up, with 72 per cent achieving a C or above, an improvement of four per cent from last year.

Maths continues to achieve well above the national average, hitting 75 per cent A*-C this year.

Overall, 42 per cent of all entries were graded B or higher and eight pupils achieved eight or more GCSEs at A* and A.

Deputy principal Simon Parsons said: “The college is pleased with these results. The headline figure of five A*-C grades including English and mathematics has improved by five per cent and there were pleasing improvements in a number of subject areas that we have been working hard to improve this year.

“These results look as though they may lead to one of the largest sixth form cohorts we have had at the college from September.

“We congratulate all of our students on their achievements and wish them all every success in the next stage of their education, be it at the college or elsewhere.

“The college and governing body would like to thank the students and staff on a great set of results this year.”

Abbey College

Results overall were down at Abbey College compared to last year but the maths department was celebrating its best ever GCSE scores.

The percentage of at least five A*-Cs, including English and maths, dropped from 59 in 2013 to 55 per cent.

In maths, 80 per cent of those who sat the exam achieved at least a C. The percentage of pupils who gained a C or above in the English Baccalaureate subjects also improved to a new school record of 25 per cent, a six per cent increase on last year.

Headteacher, Wayne Birks, who is moving on to be head at a school in Lincolnshire from September, said: “Despite facing more demanding GCSE examination courses than previous years, Abbey College students have continued to produce excellent exam outcomes across a broad range of subjects.

“In particular, there has been another significant increase in the number of students achieving the highly-acclaimed English Baccalaureate package of subjects and this now stands at a school record of 25 per cent.

“Most praise, however, must be given to our maths team where an astonishing 80 per cent of students achieved a C grade or better at GCSE and where 77 per cent of students exceeded national rates of expected progress.

“We believe that a number of factors have contributed to the success of the school this year of which the hard work of the students themselves, the support of their parents and the skill and dedication of our staff are the most significant.

“Almost all students have risen to the challenge we placed before them. Within this process, regular monitoring allowed us to give encouragement throughout and to address the issues of those who were in danger of underachieving before it became too late.

“I would like to congratulate all Abbey College students and staff for their efforts in securing these important outcomes.”

Among those who did particularly well were Callum Bains (seven A*s, five As), Daniel Bateman (eight A*s, two As), Chris Barrot (five A*s, five As), Jessica Graham (five A*s, four As), Daniel Palmer (four A*s, six As), Eleanor Hurrel (four A*s, four As), Scarlett Kynoch (four A*s, five As), Cloe Wood (two A*s, eight As), Lara Dela Cruz (two A*s, seven As) and Sarah West (one A*, eight As).

Longsands

Longsands’ GCSE-takers achieved success at five or more A*-C including English and maths, with 63 per cent getting the top grades, up from 58 per cent in 2013.

The overall five or more A*-Cs rate was 70 per cent, lower than last year’s 75 per cent.

The highest achievers at Longsands were evenly divided between boys and girls. They included Harriet Glanville (seven A*s and five As), Lola Moutel-Davesne (eight A*s, three As and one B), Jamie Arber (five A*s, five As, one B) and Karlissa Smith (two A*s, nine As). A further seven pupils achieved at least 10 A*s and As, or equivalent.

Headteacher Rick Carroll said: “We are very proud of the high level of commitment shown by this cohort of students, who have taken every opportunity to benefit from the support, guidance and mentoring provided by subject teachers, pastoral staff and parents during the two years of their GCSE courses.

“We hope to see a high proportion of these students returning in September to begin the next step in their careers and help to take the academy even further in its quest for excellence. Well done to all our students.”

Ernulf

Ernulf Academy pupils achieved the best results in the school’s history, with 45 per cent achieving at least five A*-Cs including English and maths, a six per cent improvement on last year.

At Ernulf, the high flyers included Katie Angell (nine A*s, three As), Jack Burgess (one A*, eight As, two Bs), Lucy Inskip (seven A*s, four As, one B) and Lucy Trendell-Carr (10 As, one B).

Headteacher Scott Preston said: “We would like to congratulate all students who worked hard over the two years.

“The past 12 months have been very difficult at Ernulf Academy and these results further demonstrate the improvements that are underway; breaking through the 40 per cent barrier has been an important step and I am really pleased for all the young people who have done so well. Their hard work has paid off.

“They have been a fantastic year group, and have risen to the challenges we have set them. Their parents have been really supportive. I would also like to thank all of the staff for all their hard work through the year.”

Hinchingbrooke

The percentage of pupils gaining five-plus A*-Cs at Hinchingbrooke dropped from 70 per cent in 2013 to 61 per cent this time - but it was a bumper year for A* and As.

There was also a dip in the figure including English and maths, from 65 per cent to 56.

But there were still a number of Year 11s celebrating excellent results, with 29 achieving eight or more A* or As, including Emelia Brown and Esme Walters who both got 11 straight A*s.

Rebecca Heath and Robert Fielding landed 10 A*s and an A, while other high achievers were Greg Goodwin, Sharon George and Hannah Talbot (nine A*s and two As), Natasha Bond (eight A*s and three As), and Jake Peacock, Katie Smith, Grace Sice and William Taylor (seven A*s or equivalent grades).

Sharon, 16, of Field Walk, Godmanchester, said: “I’m overwhelmed and I’m really happy with my results.”

She will now study A-levels in biology, chemistry, physics, and maths, at Hills Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge. In the future, she hopes to pursue a career in medicine.

A statement released by the school said: “In a year which has seen the complete removal of modular exams, and the ‘toughening’ of certain subjects, it is particularly pleasing to note that so many students at Hinchingbrooke continue to achieve the highest grades.

“We congratulate all of our students and staff on their hard work which has led to these outcomes, and wish our Year 11 cohort all the very best for the next stage of their education.”

St Peter’s

High-achievers were up on last year, with 18 per cent of pupils leaving St Peter’s School with A* and A grades, showing a four per cent improvement.

Overall, pupils matched last year’s results with 53 per cent of pupils achieving five A*-Cs including English and maths, and 79 per cent left with A* to Cs overall, compared with 78 per cent last year.

The school saw record results in many subjects, including computer science, music, business studies, and English literature.

Among the pupils who achieved top grades were Jamie Harrold (six A*s, six As, and one B), Victoria Alcock (six A*s, six As, and one B), Stephen Todd (seven A*s, four As, one B), Katie Buttriss (eight A*s, two As, one B, one C), Lucy Allison (seven A*s, four As, one C), and Calum Urquhart (five A*s, six As, and one B). Other pupils were commended for their results in the face of adversity, such as Callum Brown (two Ds, one B, one C, and one A), Karmel Kafolla (two Cs, two Ds, and one E), Connor Lewis (two Bs, one C, and one E), and Leonardo Mendes Catcia (one A, one B, two Cs, two Ds, and one E).

Victoria, 16, of Sparrowhawk Way, Hartford, said: “I’m a bit teary, but they are happy tears. It was a lot of work – a lot of hard graft.”

She will now study A-levels in physics, maths, biology, and geography at the school’s sixth form, before applying to read astrophysics at university.

Val Ford, retiring head, said: “I am very proud of these results, the students and the teachers, who have all worked so hard over a year that has been very challenging in light of Ofsted pressure.

“I feel confident to hand over the school to the new headteacher with the core subjects all working at or above the national average progress levels and having also closed the gap for those students with high levels of deprivation by 13 per cent.

“There is plenty to celebrate – I hope the school will sustain and build on these achievements, whilst remaining highly inclusive.”

Kimbolton

There were top grades galore for pupils at Kimbolton School where 56 per cent were A* or A.

An impressive 96 per cent of exam takers achieved five or more passes at A* to C, 91 per cent including English and maths - although the latter figure was two per cent down on last year’s results.

Twenty-three candidates achieved nine or more A* or A grades. One of the top performers was Harriet Woodman (Great Stukeley) with 10 A*s. Close behind were Beth Holmes (Abbotsley) and Nathan Parekh-Hill (Alconbury Weston) with nine A*s and one A.

Other notable achievers included Grace Bowland (Ellington), Emily Choy Winters (Great Paxton), Kayla Engelbrecht (Holywell), Anthony Gray (Spaldwick), Katie Guilliatt-Griggs (Abbots Ripton), Madeline Longhurst (Brampton), Thomas Mason (Wyton), Michael Oakley (Eynesbury), Emily Orme (Great Stukeley), Edward Salkield (Kimbolton), and Harry Twigden (Stonely).

Headmaster Jonathan Belbin said: “Despite the increased rigour at GCSE, our pupils have achieved some tremendous results.

“Within these overall figures are some excellent individual successes at all levels of the ability range, achieved through hard work and first-rate academic and pastoral support.”

St Ivo

St Ivo School saw a marked improvement in its GCSE grades this year, with 62 per cent achieving A*-C passes including English and maths.

This compares with 56 per cent in 2013, although its figure for A*-Cs without these subjects was 67.2 per cent, down from 72 per cent.

Girls outperformed boys with 71 per cent achieving A*-Cs including English and maths, while boys scored 53 per cent.

Deputy head Martin McGarry explained that schools face two major changes in the education system this year, as vocational courses can no longer count for more than one GCSE, and there is a new linear structure without modular tests for pupils, which have affected statistics.

Top performers included Giovanni Di Siena (eight A*s and two As), Connor Gott (five A*s, three As, one B), Emma Jones (five A*s, three As, one B), Dominic Hyde (five A*s, four As, one B), and Harry Large (five A*s, three As, one B, and a distinction for ICT).

Giovanni, 16, of The Pound, St Ives, said: “I’m shocked, I’m finding it hard to take it all in but I’m pleased because the hard work has as they say, paid off.”

He will now study biology, chemistry, physics, and maths A-levels, plus a FLAW German qualification, and hopes to read chemistry and molecular physics at university.

Mr McGarry said: “We are really really pleased and obviously as a school we want to congratulate the kids for a job well done. I would like to thank the teachers for their hard work, the parents, and the governors for their support.”

Swavesey

Swavesey Village College’s results were down on 2013 but there were still 74 per cent of pupils who passed with five or more A* to Cs including English and Maths.

A significant proportion of pupils received top grades across a number of subjects - especially in science, languages and humanities.

A total of 31 per cent of grades were awarded at A* or A, with 27 per cent of pupils gaining five A* and As. Forty pupils gained more than eight A*s.

Principal Andy Daly said: “We are very pleased for the pupils this year. Achievement in languages, humanities and the separate sciences was again very high with 51 per cent of students achieving A*-C in the EBacc, which requires pupils to study English, maths, two sciences, a humanity and a language. This is against a national average of 23 per cent in 2013.

“All of the pupils should be very proud of their efforts and many have clearly made the most of the commitment of the staff at Swavesey and support of their parents, we wish them the very best for the future.”

Executive principal of Cambridge Meridian Academies Trust, Mark Woods, added: “These pupils have worked very hard to achieve these impressive results. With a volatile national picture this year, Swavesey Village College continues to record very strong GCSE results year-on-year.”