Published at 15:46, Wednesday, 23 September 2009

THIS month saw teenagers across West Cumbria celebrate following their GCSE results.Netherhall School in Maryport celebrated its best ever results with 51 per cent of students getting five A* to C grades – up four per cent on last year.

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Ninety-four per cent of students got five or more A* to G grades and 97 per cent received at least one GCSE.

Headteacher David Sibbit said: “This year’s results are a tribute to a really hard-working group. They were unassuming students who just knuckled down and worked.”

Sarah Hill, 16, of Maryport, came top of the school with 10A*s and four As.

At Cockermouth School 75 per cent of pupils achieved A* to C grades.

Headteacher Stuart Reeves said: “There are an exceptional number of outstanding results. Students across the ability range are to be commended.”

Outstanding performers included Claire Dumbill and Elanor Watts, who each got 11 A*s.

Southfield Technology College, Workington, celebrated record results with 65 per cent of pupils achieving five or more A* to C grades – four per cent up on last year.

Headteacher Lynda Dalkin said: “I am absolutely delighted that Southfield has yet again achieved a record number of children with five or more A* to C grades.

“The Government prediction for this year in similar schools was 43 per cent.”

Liam Wood, 16, of Grasmoor Road, Salterbeck, achieved 14 passes – with four As, eight Bs and two C grades.

At Stainburn School and Science College, Workington, 63 per cent of pupils got five A* to C grades, and 50 per cent passed English and maths.

Headteacher Chris McGrath said: “I predict we will be in the top 30 schools for improvements in English and maths.

“As a year group they have made a fantastic effort. It is the first year we have run a diploma course, and the students got A* right across the board.”

John Hellicar and Daniel Ivison both got six A* and three As and Michelle Small made the most improvement, gaining an A*, a B, four Cs and two Ds.

Results were down at St Joseph’s Catholic High School in Workington, with 43 per cent achieving at least five grades A* to C, including English and maths, compared with 51 per cent last year.

Headteacher Tom Ryan said: “Even though the results were lower than last year, the children exceeded government targets. The picture is complex and there are different ways to assess performance.”

At Beacon Hill School in Aspatria a record 47 per cent of pupils achieved five or more A* to C grades, including English and maths – up 13 per cent on last year.

Headteacher Julie Richardson said: “It’s fantastic. They have all done what we expected them to do. It’s a real team effort.”

Keswick School also got its best GCSE results ever, with 79 per cent of pupils gaining five or more A* to C grades, up one per cent from the last two years. Seventy-two per cent got five A* to C grades including maths and English.

Deputy head Peter Roberts said: “The students have all worked very hard to get the results they wanted and we want to congratulate them.

“We have also had 13 pupils who have got all A* or A grades in all their subjects.”

At Nelson Thomlinson School in Wigton 72 per cent of pupils achieved five or more A* to C grades.

Headteacher Janet Downes said: “The results reflect all the hard work of all the students and staff and 11 of our pupils have received all A* or A grades.”

A spokesperson, from Cumbria County Council, said: “The continued improvements in the proportions of young people in Cumbria achieving and exceeding their expected grades at GCSE reflects the hard work of the pupils, teachers, staff and parents across the county.”

At St Benedict’s School, students were elated with their results.

Pupils with top marks included Richard Beck who got nine A*s, one A and one B and Adam Bennett, who got four A*s, three As and two Bs.

Stacie Denwood, from Whitehaven, said: “I’m so pleased to have passed all my exams. I’ve got better than my predicted grades, I got an A in English and art.”

Elliot Starkey, from Whitehaven, said: “I just wanted to get my predicted grades, which I got. I’m really pleased with my food technology, French and maths grades.”

Lewis White, said: “I’ve got the grades I needed to. Our teachers have helped us out loads.”

Lewis will continue his studies at the Sixth Form Centre doing PE, business studies and product design.

Matthew Ruddy, said he was happy with his results and got his predicted grades. He will be going to college to complete an apprenticeship.

Terri Burns, said: “I was hoping to do well in English and I got an A grade. I got 11 GCSEs altogether with 10 of them being A to C grades.

Ann Brook, head teacher at St Benedict’s School, said: “All the pupils have done very well. We would like to congratulate all the students and staff for their hard work, dedication and commitment to the children. The business and English grades were particularly good.”

She said that around 70 per cent of the year group would be taking A-levels and the other students will be going on to study diplomas, vocational courses or apprenticeships.

Mark Pike, head of year 11 at the school, said: “We have got kids that have come out with some outstanding results. They have worked really hard and we wish them good luck for the future.”

At Whitehaven School, staff were “over the moon” with the results.

Malcolm Smith, headteacher at Whitehaven School, said: “I’m over the moon with the results. They are the best results we have ever had. A* to C grades are 69 per cent, which is nine per cent more than last year. These are classed as ‘good’ grades and we hit the targets set out by the local authority.

“There is only one per cent leaving the school with no GCSEs, although they may have done other qualifications. There are a lot of kids that work so hard, I’m really pleased with the pupils’ achievements across the board.”

Jodie Casson, from Whitehaven School, said: “I’m really pleased that I got four A*s, four As and one B. I was predicted As and Bs.”

Jodie will be continuing her studies at the Whitehaven School Post 16 centre studying biology, maths, art and food technology.

Tom Salmon got one A*, four As and two Bs, he is also awaiting further results.

He said: “I expected to do worse but I’m chuffed with my results, especially getting a B in maths.”

He will be studying business studies, theatre studies, design and English language at A level.

Stephen Boag said he was particularly pleased with his grade for resistant materials and is planning to join the army.

Jordan Roddis, also at Whitehaven School, said: “I’m really pleased with my results, especially my resistant material grade. It’ll stand me in good stead with my apprenticeship at Gen II. There aren’t many jobs around but I hope that when I become an advanced electrician, I can go on to do bigger and better things.”

At West Lakes Academy, Janet Simpson, acting principal, said: “There are some good individual performances by students at West Lakes Academy in its first year although the results overall are somewhat disappointing.

“One exceptional performance is that of Ben Murphy who achieved 15 GCSEs – 11 A* and four A grades. This is a fantastic achievement.”

She said that the achievement of students in the academy is different as a result of the amalgamation of the two predecessor schools – Ehenside and Wyndham School.

Mrs Simpson added: “The disruption and stress which resulted from the conduct of the previous principal and chief executive has clearly had a very unwelcome negative impact. Staff and governors are confident and positive about moving forward and have robust plans in place to bring about a step change next year.”

Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk