Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Head praises hard work despite tough challenges
There were a string of GCSE success stories at the Spires Academy, where many pupils have overcome a variety of challenges to achieve their goals.
But principal Nicki Mattin is realistic about expectations and outcomes in a school where a high number of children come from disadvantaged backgrounds.
She said: “Looking at our results, they are neither a disaster or a triumph but our aim is to simply try and get the best out of our students individually.”
The school is rated “good” by Ofsted for the first time in its history, and work on a £3.2 million design and technology building, which should broaden its appeal even more when it opens at Christmas, is under way.
Ms Mattin said: “We have had to deal with changes in the exams, especially maths, which some children have struggled with, but there have also been some terrific individual results.”
Among them is 16-year-old Josh Brand, from Herne Bay, who came to the Spires after failing to settle at a grammar school, where he was bullied.
“I just wasn’t happy,” he said. “They only seemed to be driven by results and not how I was feeling so I decided to leave and found it much easier at the Spires, which helped my studies.”
Josh notched up 10 GCSES and now has a place to study public services at Canterbury College.
“My longer term aim is to go to Portsmouth to train as a Royal Navy officer,” he said.
By his own admission, Jack Harper, 16, also from Herne Bay, is one of the quieter ones in the classroom.
But he diligently got on with his work to also achieve 10 GCSES, including As in two science subjects.
He said: “I’m really pleased and now I can study for my A-levels at Herne Bay High.”
Also pleased to have racked up 10 GCSES – including a distinction in IT – is 16-year-old Gemma Gardiner, who will now study beauty therapy at Canterbury College.
Ms Mattin said: “Our aim is to ensure all our students have a designated path ahead of them when they leave compulsory education.”