A triumph of resilience and tenacity.
That’s the message from headteachers across the conurbation as thousands of students collected their GCSE results after two years of lockdown and disruption.
Pride and admiration were the buzzwords among staff as results smashed expectations across Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and the rest of Dorset.
In Bournemouth, outgoing headteacher at Bournemouth School for Girls, Alistair Brien heralded “outstanding” results for his pupils.
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"Well done to all our students and staff on a tremendous achievement in the face of so much adversity. On this my last ever results day I am so proud of all that you have achieved and all that you have become."
Neighbouring Bournemouth School, saw three students achieve a clean sweep of grade 9s, with 63 students getting 6 or more grade 9s, with 60 per cent of all entries graded 9-7.
At Avonbourne Girls’ Academy, 90 per cent of students achieved a grade four and above in both English and maths, with 71% achieving grade 5 or above in both subjects. Student at Avonbourne Boys’ Academy saw 80 per cent of pupils achieving English and maths, 80 per cent of students getting four or above, and 57 per cent achieving grade 5 or above in these two core subjects.
Michelle Dyer, principal at Avonbourne Boys’ and Girls’ Academies, said: “After a particularly challenging few years due to the pandemic, our students have worked tirelessly with teachers to achieve their very best. They have demonstrated immense resilience and scholarship, and their achievements – many of which are within the top grade brackets of 7, 8 and 9 – are a credit to that.”
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Bourne Academy principal Mark Avoth said “Our class of 2022 have managed to rise to all the challenges over the last few years and record the academy’s highest ever attainment results. This is a remarkable achievement and testament to the hard work and dedication of our students and staff.”
At St Peter's School, Ben Doyle, headteacher said: "We are exceptionally proud of how our Year 11s have performed in their GCSE and vocational subjects. As with the A Levels last week, there are simply too many outstanding performers to mention by name.”
Seventy five per cent of students at Bishop of Winchester Academy, achieved a pass in English, with 70 per cent of students achieving similarly in mathematics.
Principal Paul McKeown said: “They truly deserve their exceptional results. These achievements are the result of the hard work put in by students, but also by TBOWA teaching staff.”
At Winton and Glenmoor Academies, 90 per cent of students at Glenmoor Academy achieved a 4 or above in both English and maths and 78 per cent achieving at least a 5 in both subjects.
At Winton Academy, 87 per cent of students achieved a 4 or above in English and maths and 76 per cent achieved at least a 5. LeAF Studio said they were celebrating an “outstanding” set of GCSE results, while Bournemouth Collegiate School saw just under 90 per cent of students achieving grades 9-4.
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In Poole, Poole High School headteacher, Paul Gray said: "More students achieved top grades than ever before by a significant margin - 109 Grade 9s. Both attainment and progress are extremely strong, with a 15 per cent increase on our best ever results for passes in English and Maths, plus three or more others.”
At St Edward’s School, half the year 11s will be returning for sixth form. Head teacher Mr Antram said: “We’re so pleased that this year’s cohort were able to return to a more normal examination process than the previous two years and we’re delighted with how our students have responded to that – the results speak for themselves.”
Cornerstone Academy pupils were also celebrating 59 per cent of students achieving a grade 4 or above in English and maths, with 43 per cent achieving grade 5 or above in both subjects.
Headteacher at Parkstone Grammar School, David Hallsworth, heralded their impressive grades with 99 per cent grades 9 to 4 and 63 per cent grades 9 to 7.
At Magna Academy, students Agnes Grenholm, AylaTurkoz, Yamen Abiad, Zara King-Bridgeman and Leveshan Piratheepan were singled out for special mention.
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At Corfe Hills, headteacher James Sankey said: "Our students have worked so hard and thoroughly deserve the superb results they have achieved. We are incredibly proud of their resilience and commitment over two very challenging and demanding years.”
In Christchurch, Executive head of Twynham and The Grange, Jy Taylor said: “Today is a story of individual successes and there are so many of them. At the age of 13 and 14 these children were faced with an unprecedented set of circumstances with schools moving to online learning.
“Plenty of students have achieved 8 or 9 Grade 9s but today we celebrate all of our children.”
Parkfield School saw 50 per cent of all grades awarded “strong” passes at grade 5 or above.
Ferndown Upper School headteacher Philip Jones said: “I am very proud of the achievements of our students; it has been an extremely difficult and challenging year for them and they have risen to this challenge superbly, may I take this opportunity to wish them all the very best for their future, they have been a pleasure to teach."
And QE School said they were “absolutely delighted” with their pupils’ results.
In the New Forest, The Burgate School saw a ‘significant improvement’ on grades 7-9 from 2019.
With 8 per cent of grades reaching Grade 9, a new school record was set.
And Arnewood School celebrated notable performances by Elizabeth Grylls (9 grade 9s), Abigail Light, Joey Dewhirst, Fred Gouldstone (each achieving 8 grade 9s) and Jake Inglis (5 grade 9s). Twenty-eight per cent of all Ringwood GCSEs were awarded are at grade 7 -9 and 72 per cent of grades are considered “strong” passes.
Ballard School in New Milton saw a record high of 40.3 per cent of pupils getting grades 9-7 and 14 per cent above the national average.
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