THERE was plenty to celebrate at Cirencester Kingshill School this morning, with 76 per cent of pupils achieving five or more A* – C grades in their GCSEs.

“Congratulations to all our Year 11 pupils,” said head teacher Christine S. Oates.

“They worked very hard throughout Year 11 and the pupils were a credit to themselves, their parents and the school.

“The staff worked persistently hard to raise pupil expectations, encouraging and supporting the pupils throughout their GCSE courses. 

“The staff would like to wish Year 11 pupils every success for their future,” she added.

Kingshill School’s top achiever Joseph Thorton, achieved 11 A*s and two As, putting his success down to revision and the teaching staff.

“I have been revising throughout the year,” he said. “The teachers have been very good. It helps if you can understand the subject, which means the teachers are very important, but then you have to put your own effort in.

“Revision is a lifesaver. I wouldn’t have had grades anywhere near this good if I hadn’t done revision. The best revision was probably the sessions run by the teachers, they are the best tool you’ve got when it comes to achieving good grades.”

He said the hardest subject he took was Additional Maths.

“It’s somewhere between GCSE and AS Level, and it only goes up to an A.

“It was so hard,” he said. “I think I probably only just scraped an A because it was very tricky.

“When I came out of it, I thought I’d done the worst out of all my subjects.”

After the summer Joseph will be starting at Pate’s Sixth Form in Cheltenham, to study the Sciences, Maths and Further Maths.

“After that I don’t know,” he admitted. “I’d quite like to study Science at university, but I don’t know which yet.”

When asked what he would miss most about Kingshill, he said: “It’s hard to say. I’ve been here five years, I don’t think I’ll know what I miss until I miss it because it’s just part of your life.

“It is daunting though,” he added. “I’ve got to know so many people here.”

He said he would also be brushing up on his studies before the new academic year to ensure he is not “completely out of practice” for when he starts Sixth Form. There’ll be a lot of work to do.”