GCSE results across the Cotswolds (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

GCSE results across the Cotswolds

PUPILS across the Cotswolds and North Wiltshire are celebrating a record-breaking year for GCSE results, with an increase in the number of students gaining 5 or more GCSE's at grades A*-C.

Teachers across the area congratulated their pupils on 2 years hard work, with schools seeing an increase in the overall pass rate, taking them above last year's national average of 17.4 percent.

A student at Deer Park School has achieved an astonishing 11.5 A*s in her GCSEs.

Kate Mackellarstill from Cirencester was 'slightly shocked' at her incredible result. "I was predicted the result, but living up to it was something else," she said. "I'm gobsmacked."

Kate can now go to Pates Grammar School where she plans to study English literature, History, French and Spanish.

Other high achievers included Katie Borg from Cirencester with 8A*s, an A and a B, and Tom Coleman from Kemble with 5A*s, 3As, a B and a C.

Emma Zimmerman from Cirencester also did superbly with 6A*s, 4As and a C, and Susan Price, also from Cirencester, achieved 6A*s, 3As, a B and a C.

Susan, who is also planning to go to Pates with her results, said: "It's absolutely fabulous. I'm really pleased - it's overwhelming."

The headteacher Chiquita Henson said: "We congratulate our pupils on their exam success this year. Our pupils have performed well against their prior attainment. There are many individual successes to celebrate."

Chloe Hibbert led the high-achievers at Malmesbury School, with an outstanding 8A* and 2A grades.

Sarah Fitzgerald and Rahima Begom also received superb results, getting 7A*s and 3As, and 5A*s and 5As respectively.

A further 8 students gained at least 9A* or A grades: Calum Littlejohns, Mary Nicholas, Rowena Williams, Kate Kendrick, Lara Bunston, Daniel Cole, Eleanor Fusco and Helen Benwell.

The school is celebrating an overall pass rate of 73.1 percent, as well as a record achievement of 143 students with 5 or more grade A*-C passes. The results have put the school well above the national average.

Malcolm Trobe said: "Special mention should be made of Geography where over 45 percent of the entries were graded at A* or A. I would also like to thank all of the staff at Malmesbury School who have all played their part in helping our students achieve these results."

He added: "This was a wonderful performance by our students and they deserve considerable praise for their effort and hard work."

Cotswold School had a bumper year of results, with 70 percent of students passing with A* to C grades.

A massive 69 percent of pupils achieved five or more A* to C grades in their exams.

Headteacher Ann Holland said: "We are very pleased, they excelled their target as a year group by ten percent. We are very proud of them. I put it down to superb teaching and a lot of hard work."

Students at Westonbirt are celebrating strong results this year, with particularly outstanding results in Science and Technology subjects, where 55 percent of the exams were graded A* or A.

The headmistress Mary Henderson remarked: "I am delighted with this evidence of the exceptional strength of our Science and Technology departments which usually fare less well in girl's schools.

"I am glad to say that this is not at the expense of the Arts subjects - 59 percent of our History candidates gained A* or A, as did 55 percent of our Art and Design candidates."

Top achiever overall was Gabriella Swaffield from Cirencester, who received 4A*s, 4.5As and 2Bs. She will now enter Westonbirt's Sixth Form to study Chemistry, History, Classical Civilisation, Business Studies and Psychology.

Other top achievers were Liisa Daniel from Estonia, with 5A*s and 4.5As, Beatrix May of Wooton-under Edge with 6.5A*s and 1.5A, and Charlotte Burnham from Surrey with 6A*s and 3.5As.

Charlotte said: "I feel so relived and shocked, it's so surreal. It's like a dream or something."

Kingshill School is celebrating a record-breaking achievement, with 25 percent of all GCSE entries graded A* or A grades.

Holly Burton from Ashton Keynes gained an amazing 10A*s at GCSE and an impressive grade A at AS level PE.

Other successes came from Charlie Baxter, who got 8A*s and 2As, and Joe Tresadern from South Cerney, who achieved 9A*s and an A. Joe said he was very pleased with his results and is looking forward to going to his chosen school of Pates Grammar in September.

Christine Oates, headteacher said: "Congratulations to all our year 11 pupils. They worked hard throughout the year and have achieved excellent results.

"The pupils were a credit to themselves, their parents and the school. The staff at Kingshill are delighted with their outstanding results and would like to wish them every success for the future."

Overall 73 percent of Kingshill's students achieved 5 or more A*-C grades at GCSE.

Students at Rendcomb College are celebrating their overall pass rate of 92 percent, and an improved 46 percent of subjects graded A* and A.

Mr P Dodd, Director of Studies said: "Results of this calibre are a wonderful reflection of our young students' hard work and talent, supported by our dedicated teaching staff."

Top achievers were Matthew Hook of Crudwell, gaining 9A*s and an A, Jade Harrison of Swindon with 7A*s and 3As, Carra Williams from Andover with 3A*s and 7As, Joanne Maxted, Richard Whittles and Harry Frost.

Alex Staines of Elkstone, who also did superbly with 9A*s and an A, commented calmly: "I feel alright about it." Alex is now planning to go to Pates Grammar School.

Headmaster Gerry Holden said: "Many of these students not only achieved excellent exam results, but have also played an important role in life at the College on the sports field and on the stage."

Farmor's School in Fairford achieved their best ever year, with 74.5 percent of their students achieving 5 or more A*-C grades in their examinations.

Emma White, Head of Year 11, said: "They are a delightful year group and this has been a well deserved success for all the hard work."

An impressive 26 percent of all the results received were A* and A grades, and every student had an A*-G pass in both Mathematics and English.

The results come at the end of the school's first year as a specialist Business and Enterprise school, a point emphasised by Mike Francis, Deputy Head.

He said: "There has been a significant improvement in results in our specialist subjects, Mathematics and Business Studies, but the real benefit is showing across the board.

He added: "This has been a really good year for Farmor's both at GCSE and in the Sixth Form."

Students at Sir William Romney's have "reaped the benefits of year long hard work and commitment to their studies," says headteacher Eric Dawson.

The overall pass rate for this year has risen to 64 percent , with 62 percent of pupils gaining 5 or more GCSE's at grades A*-C.

Success stories include Stevie Davis from Stroud, who achieved 7As and 3Bs.

Katie Johnston from Nailsworth got 6A*s, 2As and 2Bs. She said: "it wasn't what I expected. I'm ecstatic."

Mr Dawson added: "These results show yet again an improvement on previous years performance. All the students should be congratulated on their achievements. It was very refreshing to see so many young people highly elated with their results."