Celebrations for ‘best ever’ year
STUDENTS at Stockport Academy celebrated a second successive year where GCSE results were the best ever.
Bucking the national trend of grades being slightly down on last year the school, in Cheadle Heath, had 61 per cent of pupils achieving five A* to C grades, including English and maths.
Just five years ago this figure stood at 32 per cent, leaving executive principal Frank McCarron delighted at this progress.
Among those celebrating success was Megan Deans, 16, from Cheadle Heath.
She was awarded the top mark of nine in maths and English literature as well as an eight in English language and a host of other A*s and As.
Megan will go to the sixth form at Cheadle Hulme High School in September for A-levels in maths, further maths, physics and French.
She said: “I am so happy, with the new grading system, it was so difficult.
“I’ve been so nervous and couldn’t sleep last night so I can’t describe the feeling I have now. I had to build up to opening the envelope I was so nervous.”
Another who was happy with her efforts was Sarah Roberts, 16, from Edgeley.
She was given eights in English language and literature, a seven in maths and six other A* or As.
Sarah will also go to Cheadle Hulme High School for A-levels in biology, chemistry and French.
The aspiring vet said: “Over the summer I’d forgotten about GCSEs but yesterday it dawned on me it is results day.
“Five years comes down to one moment where everything can come crashing down. The exams were so difficult I was shocked at my results.”
Humza Muhammad, 16, from Reddish, achieved an eight in maths and of his 10 GCSEs seven were either A* or A. He will study A-levels and hopes to go into medicine.
He said: “I felt nauseous, I opened the envelope and thought, ‘are these my grades?.’”
Mr McCarron said: “The staff and students have had a real positive mindset. It is a great performance by students in a time of great change.
“GCSEs are definitely a lot harder in terms of content and the amount of work. It is overwhelming, after 23 years I am not nervous for myself but I am still nervous for the kids.”