LIVE: Isle Of Wight GCSE Students Collect Results

Students across the Isle of Wight are finding out their GCSE grades this morning (Thursday).

Like A-Level students earlier this week, GCSE pupils had no exams this year.

Instead, their results are being determined using mock exams, coursework, essays and in-class tests.

The Government says it will not publish performance data for any schools or colleges this year due to the varying impact of the pandemic.

Ryde Academy

Isle of Wight Radio has been speaking to pupils from the Island's schools throughout the morning.

Ryde Academy

Year 11 students at Ryde Academy are celebrating their results today, having faced months away from school.

Hannah Ainsworth and Maddy Hemper

Joy Ballard, Principal of Ryde Academy said:

“I am delighted for our Year 11 students – they have worked so hard, both this year and last year, despite all of the challenges and disruption that Covid brought. They deserve these grades and I am incredibly proud of what each and every one of them has achieved.

"Whether they are going onto study A Levels, vocational qualifications, or going into employment or training, they have a bright future ahead.”

Joy Ballard

Some of the school's top achievers are:

• Ruby Hendy achieved nine grade 9s and a grade 7
• Anna Cockayne achieved eight grade 9s, two grade 8s 
• Ed Humphries achieved four grade 9s, five grade 8s and a 7

Evelyn Falla and Anna Cockayne

• Hannah Ainsworth achieved six grade 9s, four grade 8s
• Oliver Brunton achieved six grade 9s, three grade 8s and a grade 7
• Maddie Hemper achieved three grade 9s, four grade 8s, two grade 7s and a grade 6

Mahima Begum

• Mahima Begum achieved three grade 9s, three grade 8s and a 7
• Jessica Way made the most progress of all students gaining four grade 8s, five grade 7s and a grade 5 with progress score +3.08. 

Cowes Enterprise College

Students at Cowes Enterprise College have "risen to the occasion", according to Principal Rachel Kitley.

Lottie Heathcote

She said:

“Despite an unusual couple of years, students have risen to the occasion and proved themselves time and time again, exhibiting strength, resilience and compassion. I couldn’t be prouder of them as they collect their GCSE results, which are extremely well-deserved and a testament to all their hard work under challenging circumstances.

Frederik Newton

“I’d also like to thank everyone who has been supportive throughout the year, particularly staff and family members. I know they’ll all join me in cheering on our students as they take their next steps.”

Staff and pupils joined together to celebrate the many achievements, at the end of what has been another unusual year in light of COVID-19 and the cancellation of examinations.

Jessica Gilbert

Despite this, the academy, which is sponsored by Ormiston Academies Trust (OAT), has seen continued success with some of the standout individual achievements including:

• Lottie Heathcote who successfully achieved 9 in Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Maths, English Literature, Geography and Spanish, Distinction * in Sport Studies and 8 in English and Art.
• Gabby Hippolite who successfully achieved 9 in Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Design Technology, Geography and Spanish, Distinction * in ICT/Media and 8 in Maths, English Literature and English. She also successfully completed her Duke of Edinburgh Silver.

Holly Moody

• Rufus Reader successfully achieved 9 in History, Music, Distinction* in ICT/Media and 8 in Drama, English, English Literature, Maths, Combined Science and Spanish. He will continue to study A levels at Cowes Enterprise College.
• Freddie Newton successfully achieved 9 in English, Geography, PE and Distinction* in Sport Studies and ICT/Media. 8 in Chemistry and Maths; and 7 in Biology, Physics, English Literature and Spanish. He will go on to study A levels at Cowes Enterprise College.

Christ the King College

Pupils at Christ the King College have demonstrated their "resilience, independence, creativity and positivity" this year.

Headteacher Mr McDermott said:

"I am very proud of our Year 11 GCSE students at Christ the King.

"The disruption to their education because of COVID has been well documented and throughout they demonstrated tremendous positivity, this is credit to each and every one of them. I have always believed that GCSE results are important because a strong set of results provide the key to open many doors in the future. The results show that the College is on a journey of continuous improvement. 

"I would like to thank in particular senior staff in the school and our exams officer, who have responded to the changes in arrangements with professionalism and thoughtfulness.

"These examination results represent years of hard work and dedication from our students, their teachers and tremendous support from parents and carers. This year an extraordinary effort was required to complete the assessments through the months of April and May.

"We look forward to welcoming most of our students back in September to continue their studies with us. Christ the King is a community where there are no barriers to students fulfilling their potential."

The Bay CE School

Pupils at Sandown's The Bay CE School are being congratulated for their "extremely hard" work, especially over the past "unprecedented" year.

Jamie O'Neill

The school has pointed out a few of the top performers for mention. They include: 

• Anya Poerscout-Edgerton who achieved Grade 9s in English Language, English Literature, Chemistry, French, Geography, History and RS, Grade 8 in Biology and Maths and a Grade 7 in Physics.

Anya Poerscout-Edgerton

• Joshua Sunnocks who achieved Grade 9s in Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Geography, Grade 8s in Physics and Spanish, Grade 7 in English language and Level 2 Distinction in Hospitality and Catering.
• Anastazja Milewska who achieved Grade 9s in English Language and English Literature, Grade 8s in Art, Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Spanish and Grade 7 in Geography and Physics.

Mia Yardley

• Mia Yardley who achieved Grade 9s in Art and Biology, a Level 2 Distinction star in Health and Social Care, Grade 8s in English Language, English Literature, Maths, Geography and Chemistry and Grade 7s in Physics and Spanish.
• Jamie O’Neill who achieved Grade 9 in Geography, Grade 8s in English Language, Maths, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science, History and Spanish and Grade 7 in Physics.

Josh Sunnocks

Ryde School

Ryde School says 36% of GCSE grades were at 9 or 8, with more than half the results in English and Maths at grade 7 and above for the second year in a row.

There was 98% at the 9-4 pass rate. 99% of pupils achieved five GCSEs including English and Maths and 91% of boys and 86% of girls achieved the Ebacc that requires pupils to achieve in a range of subjects including Maths, English, Science, Languages and Humanities.

57% of the results in Maths and 56% in English Language were graded 7 or above.

Head Master Mark Waldron commented:

"It is so good to see pupils receiving these well-deserved results today. As a year group the pupils and teachers have not only had to contend with two years of disrupted learning, they have also faced more assessments and work load in the final months of the course than previous years. I am really very proud that we have sustained and improved on last year’s results whilst maintaining high standards and there is much to celebrate on both a personal and school-wide level.

"Given our pupils’ wide range of abilities, it is especially pleasing to see a big increase in the number of pupils getting their Ebacc and 100% of pupils getting a 4 or above in Maths and English. They have certainly earned these results today and parents and teachers, who have worked alongside them in these challenging times, should happily join in the celebrations."

20 Ryde School students achieved an 8 or 9 in at least seven subjects. These include:

• Matthew Beasley
• Joseph Caddick
• Ruby Dalloz
• Marie Dartigues
• Amanda Dutton
• Daisy Dyer
• Imogen Elsmore
• Sara Hesse
• Saffron Irons
• Pippa Lewin
• Harry Minchin
• Ailsa Nuttall
• Tallulah Pearce
• Karina Piper
• Millie Platt
• James Potter
• Genevieve Thompson
• William Turrell
• Álvaro Vincente Tarragó
• Erin Young.

Carisbrooke College

Carisbrooke College students and staff are celebrating what's been described as a "fantastic set of GCSE results".

Staff say their hard work has paid off though, with an impressive set of results.

Head of School at Carisbrooke College, Karen Begley, said:

“I am immensely proud of each and every one of our year 11 students. They remained motivated throughout the year and worked really hard to make sure that they achieved their full potential.

“My sincere thanks go to staff and parents alike who have supported our students to ensure their success through some very difficult periods. I wish all of the students the very best as they take the next step in their educational journey.”

If any student across the Island is still undecided about their next step, The Island VI Form is operating a drop-in session on Friday August 13.

You can pop in or find out more by emailing [email protected].

Medina College

Staff at Medina College say they would like to pay tribute to the hard work and determination of teachers and pupils.

Matthew Parr-Burman, Executive Headteacher for the Isle of Wight Education Federation and Head of School for Medina College, said:

“The students at Medina College have performed fantastically this year. They have gone through the toughest year in education that I have ever experienced and have exceeded all expectations. I am very proud of them all.

“The results this year are generated by Teacher Assessed Grades which reflect evidence gathered over a much longer period of time than traditional examination based results. Teachers have shown integrity in this process and I am pleased that the results show the true
abilities of students.

“I am extremely proud of our school and would like to thank the staff and parents for their support. I wish each and every student all the best for the future.”

The majority of students are remaining within the Isle of Wight Education Federation community, by moving on to take A Level and vocational Level 3 courses at The Island VI Form.

However, there are students also progressing into a range of apprenticeships and other further education studies both on and off the Island.

Priory School

At Priory School in Whippingham there was a 100% pass rate in GCSEs, to complement the 100% pass rate at A-Level earlier this week.

99% of ALL GCSEs were at grade 9-4 or A*-C (98% in 2020; 91% in 2019), while 100% of candidates received 5+ GCSEs including English and Maths at grade 9-4 or A*-C (100% in 2020; 93% in 2019).

Bethan Attrill, Mia Dunford, Daisy Turner

42% of GCSEs were graded at 9/8/7 (A*/A) and 62% of GCSEs were graded at 9-6 (A*/A/B)

Again, Science gained a clean sweep with all subjects at Grade 9-4 – repeating the success of 2019.

Of note was Chemistry in Triple Science where all grades were 9-7 (A*/A).

Laura Spicer

All French exams were at grades 9-7 (A*/A).

Two students, Nicholas Larrey-Troy of Y9/S3 and Laura Spicer of Y7/S1 both gained grade 9 or A** in Spanish with distinction.

The school gave particular mention to exceptional individual performances from:

• Bethan Attrill 9 GCSEs all grade 9-7 or A*-A
• Mary Broadsmith 10 GCSEs at grade 9-4 with 8 grade 9-7 or A*-A
• Mia Dunford 10 GCSEs all grade 9-7 or A*-A
• Daisy Turner 9 GCSEs at grade 9-4 with 8 grade 9-7 or A*-A

We'll update this article throughout the day.