PUPILS at a secondary school in Leftwich joined the 600,000 16-year-olds across the UK receiving their GCSE results.
Students and their parents began queueing along Granville Road waiting for staff at the County High School Leftwich to open the school gates at 9am.
This is the first cohort to return to full traditional assessment post-Covid, with last August’s results deemed ‘a transition year' by qualifications watchdog, Ofqual.
It was part of a phased return to normality, after a two-year period of teacher assessment in 2020 and 2021, which saw top grades skyrocket.
Despite predictions grades would return to 2019 levels or lower, County High School Leftwich head teacher, Richard Warburton, said five years of solid education was enough to ensure his students would achieve their goals.
He said: “It has been lovely to celebrate with students and families.
“We are really proud of each and every one of them, and the richly deserved results they collected today.
“Thank you to all colleagues, parents, carers, and governors who supported students throughout their time here.
“They have been at the heart of our community and their legacy of kindness and aspiration will inspire those who follow.
“We wish them every success for the future and hope to see them return as future leaders and role models.”
The school’s chairman of governors, Jo Flower, said: “I am very pleased to see so many students achieving these great results.
The school’s GCSE success enhances the life chances of all students and creates a legacy of social impact for our community.
We wish them all the best as they move onto the next exciting phase of their lives.
I’d like to thank the senior leadership team, teachers and the wider team for their care, commitment and pride in preparing these students for future success.”
Pupils and parent gave their reaction to the results.
April Moore, and parents Tim and Alison, said they were 'more than happy' with her results.
The 16-year-old’s favourite subject is PE, which unsurprisingly was one of her best grades – an 8.
She also got 8s and 7s in science subjects, and will be off to Sir John Deane’s in September to start A-levels in psychology, statistics, and possibly business studies.
“I’m looking forward to a bit more freedom," she said.
“I don’t think college will be quite so structured.
“I’d like to do a degree in psychology after this. I’m not sure where, but probably away from home.
“We’re all off for lunch after this to celebrate.”
April’s dad, Tim Moore, said: “We’re delighted the next door is now open for April.
“I think the media have created quite a lot of anxiety around the marking situation. It’s very much been on people’s minds.
“I think the school managed the situation well, with no shortage of support and reassurance.”
Taku Smith, from Northwich, is delighted with an 8 in physics and 7s in maths and combined sciences, and will be doing A-levels in those subjects at Sir John Deane’s, starting this September.
He’s planning to go on to higher education after college, where he’s thinking of a degree in physics.
The 16-year-old said: "I’m looking forward to doing my own thing a bit more from September.
"I’m so glad I don’t have to do English or languages anymore."
Friends Harry Parker (left) and Tom Neill (right) are both off to Sir John Deane's to carry on their education after receiving their results from The County High School, Leftwich.
Harry, 16, is delighted with a great crop of 6s and 5s, so he's taking an A-level in media, and BTECs in business studies and sport.
He said: I'm looking forward to college because it'll be more flexible I think, and I'll have to be a bit more independent.
"All this marking stuff has been built up on the news, which really made me nervous to be honest. I think it made me revise a lot harder."
Tom added: "I did tonnes of revision as well, but I did better than I expected.
"I'm doing A-levels at Sir John Deane's as well, in maths, physics, and 3D design.
"I got plenty of 6s and 7s, which I'm really happy with. Now I'm looking forward to doing the subjects I enjoy most."
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