Jumping for joy at GCSEs
Pupils celebrate exam success
TEENAGERS across Carmarthenshire opened those dreaded envelopes last Thursday morning to discover their GCSE and other course grades.
It comes one week after thousands were finding out the results of their A-levels.
Once again, there have been some brilliant results.
Here’s how our local schools performed...
ST JOHN LLOYD CATHOLIC COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL
Pupils at St John Lloyd achieved some excellent GCSE results with a staggering 99% gaining at least five GCSEs.
Head teacher Ashley Howells said: “The rapidly changing educational landscape coupled with the financial pressures experienced by schools locally and nationally have put schools under significant pressure in recent years.
“It is thanks to the efforts of the pupils, the dedication of their teachers and the support we get from parents that yet again we are able to celebrate some outstanding results.”
Amongst the highest achieving pupils were:
■ Wiktoria Rejniak 9A*s, 4As
■ Sam Hartnoll 6A*s, 6 As
■ Christiane Saunders 3A*s, 7As
■ Ffion Bennett 9As, 3Bs
■ Eve Rees 7A*s, 3As, 1B Mr Howells added: “We challenged our pupils at the start of this academic year to ‘Be Brilliant Every Day’ and they have certainly achieved this with these results.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank them, their families and our staff for the excellent contribution they have made to our school community over the last year.
“We wish them every success as they begin their journeys into further education, training and the world of work.”
ST MICHAEL’S SCHOOL
Forty-six students sat a full range of GCSE subjects.
Benson Ferrari said: “All the staff are delighted to see the students so happy with their results, many have done even better than they expected. Well done to everyone for their hard work, perseverance and dedication.”
Twenty students and 100% of entry for the subject gained distinctions for additional mathematics level 2
■ 69.2% of grades were A* or A
■ 88.3% of grades were A*, A or B
■ 97.0% of grades were A* -C
■ 100% of pupils gained five or more A*-C grades
■ 69.6% of students gained five or more A*/A grades
■ 47.8% of students gained seven or more A*/A grades
■ 34.8% of students gained 10 or more A*/A grades
Top A* pupils:
■ Priyanka Kaushal 12
■ Charlotte Nicholas 12
■ Avantika Arun 11
■ Lucy Li 11
■ Bethan Jones 10
■ Jasmine Barnes 10
■ Soham Gadgil 10
■ Eleanor Davies 10
■ Nihchal Kalra 10
■ Tivonge Rushesha 9
■ Ffin Ryan-Morgan 9
YSGOL Y STRADE
A statement from the head teacher Geoff Evans said: “I wish to congratulate all pupils and staff of Ysgol y Strade on the heartening GCSE results announced last Thursday.
“Following an excellent set of A-level results last week, 64% of our Year 11 pupils gained the level 2+ threshold (5 GCSEs including Welsh or English and mathematics) and 82% of pupils have gained five or more level 2 qualifications.
“It is pleasing to note that 99% of the cohort achieved the level 1 threshold (5GCSE A*-G) and 22% of the cohort achieved 5 or more A*/A grades.”
Pupils of all abilities have succeeded and deserve to celebrate their success. The following pupils were amongst the high performers:
■ Dafydd Jenkins 7A* 4A 1B
■ Kelland Williams 7A* 4A 1B
■ Emma Kinzett 6A* 5A 1B
■ Oliver Stone 6A* 5A 1B
■ Geraint Jenkins 6A* 4A 2B
■ Rebecca Evans 6A* 3A 3B
■ Elen Daniels 6A* 6A
■ Eleri Rowlands 5A* 5A 2B
■ Beca Morgan 5A* 5A 2B
■ Faith Evans 5A* 5A 2B
■ Katie Jenkins 5A* 4A 1B
■ Gwilym Hubbard 5A* 2A 2B
“We look forward to welcoming our students back to the sixth form to commence their A-level courses. Congratulations to you all!”
YSGOL MAES Y GWENDRAETH
A spokesman for the school said: “I would like to congratulate and thank the pupils, parents and staff of Ysgol Maes y Gwendraeth on the school’s GCSE results.
“They reflect the excellent partnership between all stakeholders, their hard work, perseverance and commitment.
“We look forward to welcoming a number of our students back to the sixth form and wish every success to those that will be embarking on a college course or a new career in the work place.”
Some of the highest achievers include:
■ Emma Evans 9A*, 5A
■ Celyn Rees 8A*, 6A
■ Beca Thomas 8A*, 5A
■ Sarah Treharne 3A*, 9A, 1B
■ Jessica Ennis 6A*, 4A, 3B, 1C
■ Nia Lloyd 5A*, 5A, 4B
■ Anwen Price 2A*, 8A, 3B
YSGOL COEDCAE
A spokesman for the school said: “As a school, we are so proud of the achievements of our pupils.
“We have been privileged to have had the opportunity to work with such a talented, hardworking group of young people, and are delighted that they have achieved the excellent results they so deserve.
“It gives us great pleasure that our pupils are now very well placed to move on with confidence and strength to the next phase of their learning; we wish them every success for the future.
“My thanks go to the staff of Coedcae School for teaching, supporting and preparing pupils so well for the challenges of the GCSEs, and to our parents and carers for their excellent support.
“In total, there were 20 pupils who, of all their results, had five or more A*/A grades, an outstanding performance.
“While all pupils made excellent progress, and achieved results of which they can be proud, these are some of our top attainers:
■ Mollie Dainton 14 A*/A grades
■ Sophie Oglesby 12 A*/A grades, 2 Bs
■ Ellie Rolfe 12 A*/A grades and a merit in
additional maths
■ Bethany Wisdom 12 A*/A grades, plus a pass in additional maths
■ Jacob Mills 11 A*/A grades
■ Megha Sabu 10 A*/A grades
■ Niamh Roberts 9 A*/A grades
■ Aysia Stephens 9 A*/A grades
■ Luke Williams 8 A*/A grades
BRYNGWYN SCHOOL
“The school’s culture of celebrating and rewarding achievement is highly successful in engaging pupils and their parents,” said a spokesman.
“All of the school’s work is closely focused on enabling each individual pupil to achieve their potential”.
The school’s top 10 pupils achieved a spectacular 122 grades at A* or A grades between them, an increase on 2017.
Some high-achieving pupils at Bryngwyn this year were:
■ Maisie Lloyd 10.5A* 2A 1B distinction in additional maths and C in AS Welsh
■ Rebecca Stehens 10A* 2A distinction in additional maths and A in AS Welsh
■ Poppy Robertson 9 A* 3.5A distinction in additional maths and A in AS Welsh
■ Brooke James 8.5 A* 4A 1B
■ Callum Bowen 7.5A* 5A
■ Thea Williams 6A* 5.5A 2B
■ Ffion Bardsley 6A* 5A 1B 1C
■ Hannah George 6A* 4.5A 2B distinction in additional maths
■ Elliot Jenkins 5.5A* 5A distinction in additional maths
■ Ellamay O’Driscoll 5A* 7.5A 1B distinction in additional maths and A in AS Welsh Thirty-seven Bryngwyn pupils, almost 20% of the cohort, achieved five or more GCSEs at A* to A, an outstanding achievement.
Karen Thomas, head of year 11 added: “I am thrilled with their achievements.
“The pupils and staff worked really hard together to achieve these excellent standards. I wish them all the best opening the next and exciting chapter of their lives.”
Paul Jones, the executive head teacher, commented: “I would like to praise the amazing efforts of all pupils and parents in giving their wholehearted support to both schools during a very busy year.
“Especially this year, with the uncertainty and challenge presented by the introduction of new specifications.
“Our staff have risen to meet this challenge and through hard work and careful planning have delivered improved outcomes across the curriculum”
Head girl Rebecca Stephens achieved 10A* and 2A grades. She said: “I feel ecstatic with my results! I couldn’t have done it without the support and care of my teachers and friends during my time at Bryngwyn.
“This is an exciting time for all of us.”
Head boy, Callum Bowen, who achieved 7.5A* and 5 A grades, added: “This is an incredible feeling. I am really grateful for all the help I received in helping me to achieve these results and to do the best I could.” Staff at Glan y Mor are once again incredibly proud of the fantastic achievements of their pupils and would like to wish them every success in their future endeavours, be it education, employment or training.
Head teacher Paul Jones said: “I would like to praise the amazing efforts of all pupils and parents in giving their wholehearted support to both schools during a very busy year.
“Especially this year, the uncertainty presented by the challenge of introducing new specifications.
“Our staff have risen to meet this challenge and through hard work and careful planning have delivered improved outcomes across the curriculum.”
Shaughn Poulter, head boy, who achieved 1A, 11Bs and 1C grade said: “I have really enjoyed all the opportunities and experiences I have had throughout my time here at Glan y Mor.
“I am delighted with my results, which now allow me to move on to study mechanical engineering in college.
“I have been proud to have been head boy at Glan y Mor and am really pleased for everybody else’s hard work and success.”
The school’s top five pupils achieved a spectacular 50 grades at A* or A grades between them.
Outstanding individual results include: ■ Jennifer Grant 13A*s,
1A.
■ Charlie Hall 7A*s, 3As, 1B.
■ Tehya Kerr 5A*s, 7As, 1B, 1C.
■ Phoebe Lilley 7As, 4Bs, 4Cs.
■ Rhys Rowlands 2A*s, 4As, 5Bs, 3Cs.
The school said that 85% achieved the new Welsh Bac Skills Challenge Certificate, a new additional GCSE qualification for pupils — 88% of the year group achieved A*-C in this new subject.
More than 60% of the year group got two GCSEs in science, with over 90% of those studying double science making the grade, and 25% of pupils achieved A*-A in ICT GCSE, with 75% achieving grade C or above.
French, catering, drama, and music all achieved over 80% pass rates at A*-C.