PICTURES: Celebrating our young people in North Lancashire as they receive their GCSE results

Young people at schools in our local area have received their GCSE results today (August 25).

At Ripley St Thomas Church of England Academy in Lancaster, 250 students received their GCSE results this morning, with over 20 per cent achieving top marks of Grade 7 or above, an increase from previous years, and over 80 per cent achieving a pass equivalent of Grade 4 or above.

Anna Thwaytes secured top success, receiving Grade 9 results in all nine subjects she took, while her fellow students Nell Williams achieved eight Grade 9 results and one Grade 7.

Zofia Kowalska, Giselle Tang, Boaz Hughes, Daniel McKimmie and Joshua Ellis also received six Grade 9s.

Catherine Walmsley, Principal at Ripley St Thomas, said: “We are incredibly proud of this cohort of Year 11 pupils who have achieved very well at GCSE this year.

“They approached their exams with great determination after a disrupted couple of years and their hard work has paid off. Many have faced personal challenges and we are particularly proud of how well they have done and the resilience they have shown. 

“I would also like to thank our staff at Ripley and our parents for guiding and supporting our young people so well.  We send our congratulations to all our Year 11s and we wish them every success in their next steps.”

At Lancaster Royal Grammar School, almost two-thirds (63.2 per cent) of all exams were graded 9 to 7, 41 per cent were grade 8 or 9 (the old A* grades) and 22 per cent gained the very top grade 9s. Twelve pupils achieved Grade 9 in eight or more subjects, including with five with nine Grade 9s and one with all Grade 9s.

Headmaster Dr Chris Pyle said: “These were the first set of GCSE exams since 2019, and this year group has achieved very impressive grades despite disruption and periods of remote learning during their GCSEs.

“They are a fabulous year group and it has been a privilege to see them thriving both in the classroom and beyond it. There are numerous individual success stories behind the headline grades. Some pupils have come through significant personal challenges to achieve really pleasing results. I want to give particular mention to some of our overseas boarders who dealt brilliantly with isolation and uncertainty.

“Today is a day for celebration for our pupils. I am grateful to all of our staff who have supported them to these achievements. I look forward to seeing these students go from strength to strength in their A-levels and beyond.”

At Morecambe Bay Academy, 192 students received their GCSE results this morning.

Ellie Knowles (pictured below) achieved five Grade 9 results, as well as two Grade 8s, two Grade 7s and a D* (Distinction Starred). For Lucy Bunce, her successful results also saw her attain one Grade 9, supplemented by Grades 8 and 7.

Gavin Gomersall, Principal at Morecambe Bay Academy, said: “After two years of difficult times, we are delighted that our pupils have overcome these adversities to achieve a delightful set of outcomes. 

“These positive results show the progress that we have been able to make as a school and the impact that our teaching and learning has had on our students in helping them grow and improve through a quality education. We’re proud of our students and the young adults they are becoming as they move on to further education, apprenticeships or employment and I wish them the best on behalf of the school and local community.

“We give thanks for the hard work and collaboration of pupils, parents and staff in helping these our children gain these results which ensures that they have a good foundation to continue in sixth form, college or apprenticeships.”

At Carnforth High School, almost a dozen students achieved Grade 7 or above in all 10 GCSEs.

For Julia Trykowska, her hard work resulted in seven Grade 9s and three Grade 8 results.

Tim Iddon, Principal at Carnforth High School, said: “We are extremely proud of the strong results achieved by Year 11 at Carnforth High School this summer.  Our students have undertaken a wide range of academic, creative and vocational subjects. Particularly noteworthy are the achievements of pupils in Art, PE and Religious Studies. The vocational subjects at Carnforth have continued to perform well.

“Results which are consistently strong would not be possible without the hard work of the staff and students at Carnforth High School, along with the support and encouragement of parents. We would like to thank everyone who has been part of our continued success.”

"Our students have achieved impressive grades across the year group, including one student who received seven Grade 9s.

"We’re incredibly proud of our students’ outstanding results and are delighted that these results demonstrate the determination and resilience they have shown throughout their time at CHS. We wish them the best of luck in their continuing education and employment."

At Central Lancaster High School, particular student successes include top results and significant progress from a range of pupils including Andrea Pasztor, Marlon O’Farrell, Priya Bradley, Runyararo Haiza (pictured below), Scarlett Hodgson, Bobby Horn, Jason Pearson and Ashleigh Parkinson.

John Cowper, Principal at Central Lancaster High School, said: “We are delighted by the many successes of our pupils as they receive their GCSE results today. The year group have worked incredibly hard over the last two years and should be rightly proud of their achievements. Overall, we have seen very pleasing improvements in our outcomes.

“I would like to thank all staff who have supported our pupils over the past five years, particularly through the challenges of the pandemic. We are also incredibly grateful for the support of parents and carers. Working together, as a school community, all our pupils are now able to access the next stage of their education be that at a local sixth form, college or apprenticeship and we all wish them all well for their future.”

At Dallam School in Milnthorpe, Cumbria, results included Charlie Allmond achieving 10 top grades, including eight Grade 9s, Luke Harrison achieving 10 top grades including five Grade 9s and Ella Lowe achieving 10 top grades including two Grade 9s.

Ms Williams, head teacher said: "The achievements of the students are all the more special given the challenges they faced while studying over the last two years. We congratulate them all on the manner in which they have coped in these quite extraordinary times.

“The majority of students will be pleased with their results and will have the keys to go onto to their anticipated destinations in September. Their results reflect their hard work, their dedication and the support they received from their teachers and families.”

“The adaptations to the exam series this year has allowed for the students to take their exams in a manner as close to a normal year as possible. Whilst these changes were not always ideal, the students should be rightly proud of their grades and should in no way think they are diminished by the small number of changes they were afforded.”

“It is only right that we recognise that the variability in how students and schools were affected by Covid19 means that any meaningful comparison between schools is simply inappropriate. It is for this reason that we would caution against such comparisons and instead encourage everyone to focus on the success of our SEstudents and celebrate their achievements as individuals with their own story to tell.

“We congratulate all the young people on their achievements today and wish them all every success in the future.”

Here are some more photos of school pupils who received their GCSE results today.

Artjoms Macuks, Jack Holroyd and William Walker from Morecambe Bay Academy

Zoey Baines, Ashleigh and Lilly Parkinson from Central Lancaster High

 Lizzy Price and Georgia Earl from Ripley St Thomas Church of England Academy