Sitting On Cloud Nine

Ryde Academy, Isle of Wight

Truly outstanding was Emily Bell who gained no less than ELEVEN grade 9s, an A* and an A. These are exceptional results which place her among the top achieving students in the country.

An ecstatic Emily (pictured above), said: “I am really pleased with all my results and that is down to all the hard work of my teachers encouraging me throughout my five years at school.”

Among her peers, other high achievers are Austin Smith with four grade 9s four grade 8s and one 7 one A; Amy Wade with three grade 9s two 8s five 7s and one A; Ruth Gale with five grade 9s one 8 grade three 7s and one A; and Isaac Humphries with five 9s three 8s one A* one 7 and one A.

Broadlands Academy, Somerset

Congratulations to many students who performed very well, especially Olivia Burton who achieved an excellent six grade 9s, two grade 8s and an A* - her results including straight 9s in biology, chemistry and physics .

Maltings Acacdemy, Essex

When you’re the country’s best athlete for your age, you would think GCSE exams are low on the priority list. But, for Jess Hopkins, achieving at Maltings Academy has been just as important as retaining her national under 17 heptathlon champion title for the third year running. As a result, she came away with two grade 8s, three grade 7s, three grade 6s and two A* grades. She said: “I feel fabulous! I literally could not be happier.” Dad Simon said: “We have always told her, school comes first before sport, so we have always made sure she does her studying, goes to athletics and does more studying. We have not had to pressure her one little bit.”

For Adam Burrows, not only did his results make history within your school but they also made their mark nationally. Adam passed nine GCSEs, eight of them at grade 9 and the other, business studies, with an A*.

Charlie Corbett, 16, was diagnosed with leukaemia just months before starting Year 10. With three and a half years of treatment ahead of him, he took the decision to sit his English and maths GCSEs a year early last summer. Despite still taking oral chemotherapy every day, as well as antibiotics to strengthen his lungs, monthly intravenous chemotherapy and undergoing a lumbar puncture every three months, Charlie picked up a grade 8, a 7, four grade 6s, a grade five and two Bs in his remaining GCSEs.

Greensward Academy, Essex

Charlie Cassidy, at Greensward Academy gained a near perfect set of seven grade 9s and two grade 8s. Charlie was understandably delighted with his results, and thanked all of his teachers for the role they played in his success, saying: “It was a massive relief to know that all the effort I put in, on top of the support my parents gave me, paid off. I will always be grateful for the time and patience my teachers had too... I could not have asked for more!”

Other outstanding individual successes at the Academy included Josie Kerr, Brandon Ellis, Katie Robertson and Jessica Newman. Josie Kerr said: “It seems like so long ago now that we sat these exams and it was always on my mind. It is such a good feeling to have finally found out that I have done better than I ever thought I could!" (Charlie and Josie are pictured)

Richmond Park Academy, West London

A number of RPA students achieved outstanding outcomes including Eleanor Crump (pictured with Principal Paul Mundy Castle) who gained no less than seven grade 9s, one grade 8 and one grade 7. Ellie was delighted with her results and is now planning for sixth form studying biology, chemistry, maths and history with the longer term goal of studying medicine in the army.

New Forest Academy, Hampshire

Congratulations to New Forest Academy students who have achieved some terrific results. The class of 2018 met the challenge of the new tougher GCSEs head on. Highest marks (pictured) went to Elizabeth Devane who gained 5 straight A’s, while Sean Dye was the highest achiever among the boys.

Kingsley Academy, West London

Exceptional performances from a number of Kingsley students, including Jessica Khan who achieved three grade 9s, two grade 8s, one grade 7 and two As; and Jasneet Korana gained four grade 9s, two grade 8s, an A* and two grade 7s.

Kingswood Academy, Kingston Upon Hull

Top GCSE performers who really did do the Humberside academy proud are Megan Hayton two grade 9s, four grade 8s and an A*; Joe Jackson three 9s,one 8, two 7s and an A*; and Josh Proctor four 9s, one 8, one 7 and an A*.

New Rickstones Academy, Essex

For 16-year-old Charles Smith, a diagnosis of stage four cancer inspired him to indulge in new passions of music and art. Charles picked up an A* in music and a grade 4 in art, despite undergoing six months of intensive chemotherapy to fight Hodgkin lymphoma, cancer of the lymphatic system.

Now in remission for 18 months, he also passed the rest of his exams with grade 5s and 4s. He said: “I’m quite happy, especially with the A* in music. Before my illness, I think I could have achieved higher grades, but I got similar results to my friends which puts my mind at ease.”

Firth Park Academy, Sheffield

And finally, there are some very special success stories at Firth Park. Rama Al Balki, who arrived as a refugee from Syria unable to read and write English in 2016, worked so hard and with such positivity to be awarded a A* in Arabic, and grade 5s in maths and science. Highest achiever is Dominic Luttrell who was awarded four grade 9s, three grade 8s and one grade A. Head Student Nauman Yousaf achieved two grade 9s, two grade 8s and three grade 7s.

Qasim Rana (pictured with Dominic and Principal Dean Jones) gained two grades 8s, four grade 8s, two grade 7s, 1 one grade 6 a grade A. Amaan Ali is an inspirational student who despite the barrier and pain of juvenile arthritis, has overcome all obstacles to achieve highly, hence his certificate for Bravery in the 2016 Sheffield Superkids Awards. He obtained a grade 9, a grade 8, two 7s one grade 6 and an A.