GCSE results day: Four pages of stories, pictures
THOUSANDS ACHIEVE GOOD EXAM GRADES DESPITE CONCERN AT NUMERICAL SYSTEM
THOUSANDS of students across Leicester celebrated their GCSE results yesterday, despite worries over a new numerical grading system and tougher exams.
Reformed GCSE qualifications mean candidates are now graded on a scale of 9 (the highest) to 1 (the lowest), as opposed to A* to G.
Students at Fullhurst Community College, in Braunstone, were among those to sit the new exams.
Henna Patel got the strongest results in the school without – according to her family – really trying hard at all. She achieved a 9, two 8s, a 7 and two 6s.
Henna, 16, of Braunstone, said: “I feel good. I’ve always loved numbers and want to be an accountant.”
Nyriah Brown, 16, of Bede Island, was happy enough, but plans to have another crack at passing maths. He said: “I just wanted to do my best and I think I tried as hard as I could.
“I failed maths but I got a 6 in English literature and I’m happy about that. I’m hoping to get on an apprenticeship once I’ve got maths.”
Teachers organised an ice cream van on campus to celebrate students’ results. Principal of Fullhurst, Steve Piggot, said it looked as if the school had done well overall.
He said: “It’s hard to compare results with the new system this year but we think we’re about where we were last year, which we would be pleased with.
“The results reflect the hard work and effort they have put in and the excellent guidance of our staff.”
Students at Ratcliffe College, in Ratcliffe on the Wreake, celebrated an increase in this year’s overall pass rate as 94 per cent of all grades were a C/4 or better, and 47 per cent of all grades were an A*/A or 7/8/9.
Headmaster Jonathan Reddin said: “We are incredibly proud of our students’ academic achievements this year and of the unstinting commitment of their teachers and support staff.
“We look forward to the year group’s continued success as they begin their next phase of education in the Sixth Form.”
Meanwhile, Gartree High School, in Oadby, was celebrating its first ever set of GCSE results. GCSEs have been taught at the school since 2017, making their current Year 11s the first to pass the exams.
Head teacher Sonia Singleton said: “Students and teachers have all worked very hard and we are delighted with these results.”
Leicester City Council said the total number of students taking their GCSEs in the city this year was 3,724.
Assistant city mayor responsible for education, Councillor Elly Cutkelvin, said: “I’d like to congratulate everyone in Leicester who has got their GCSE results today, or who has supported a young person in helping them to achieve these qualifications.
“They all deserve our respect and admiration for the hard work they’ve put in.”
The city council offers advice and support for anyone unsure about their future options, or for those who may
not have got the results they were expecting, with their Connexions service.
Connexions offers a drop-in service at 2 Wellington Street, Leicester.
It is open from Monday to Thursday 9am to 4.30pm, and Friday 9am to 4pm, or call on 0116 454 1770.
Three mothers were among the students celebrating their results at Leicester College yesterday.
Nyasha Gumise, 37, a single mum to two young boys, passed the maths higher paper with a 4, while achieving a distinction in applied sciences.
Nyasha has been studying at Leicester College for four years and has an unconditional offer at De Montfort University for a nursing degree.
She said: “I’ve been a carer since I was 17, now a senior carer but always wanted to work towards a rewarding career in nursing. Getting this pass in maths means that I can go further and justifies my decision to return to education.
“I’m thrilled and thankful to my teacher, who saw the ability in me to do maths, believed in me and helped me.
“It’s been really hard and anxiety levels were high as I was juggling work, childcare and study but it’s been worth it.
“To others, I’d say go for it and don’t give up!”
Veronika Rahmati, 33, a full-time mum with a two-year-old daughter, passed GCSE English with an 8.
She said: “I really wasn’t expecting that. I was hoping for a 5 or 6!
“I’m originally from the Czech Republic and studied for a History of Art degree at university there so it’s good to continue my education.
“I could only study when my daughter was sleeping but was prepared for the exam, as I had a good teacher. I haven’t decided what to do next, perhaps teaching.
“My advice to others is to spend the time you can on your studies – you may surprise yourself like I did!”
Charlotte Tribe, 39, a mum of threeyear-old twins, achieved a 7 grade in both sociology and English.
She said: “I’ve been on the PreAccess Adult Pathway so these grades will enable me to move on to Access, with the aim of studying midwifery at university.
“Although the other results were good, I didn’t do so well with maths so will be taking that again while I’m on the Access course. I’m a busy mum so my advice to others would be to fit your studying into a routine and keep to it!” ■ Celebrations around the county, Pages 8/9.