Northumberland’s GCSE students praised for character and resilience on results day
25 Aug 2022 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news
Students across the county proudly celebrated their achievements today as they collected their GCSE results, with the vast majority going on to their preferred post-16 destination.
The class of 2022 are the first year-group since the pandemic to return to exams and should be “applauded” for their resilience and hard work, said headteachers.
Councillor Guy Renner-Thompson, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Children’s Services said: “Well done to all the students receiving their results today, I hope you are all very proud of what you have achieved, especially considering the upheaval of the last few years.
“We’ve been hearing some fantastic individual successes – both in terms of students receiving the top grades, but also of those who have overcome challenges in their lives to achieve the success they deserve.
“We have fantastic schools, with brilliant staff and supportive parents and carers. We are proud to be investing record amounts in new and refurbished facilities to make sure they get better and better.
“I wish all our students the best in their next steps – whether that’s sixth form, college, apprenticeships or employment and encourage those who are still unsure to speak with their school or reach out to the council’s Careers Guidance Service.”
Close friends Ava and Amy, both students at James Calvert Spence College, Amble, gained matching results of 8s in English Literature and the top grade of 9 in everything else. They also also studied a BTEC, with Amy receiving a distinction star for hers and Ava a distinction.
Ava now plans to study fashion, sociology and history at JCSC Sixth Form and said: “I’m really happy, I worked really hard so I’m so glad.
“It was difficult during lockdown, the motivation was quite hard with online lessons, it was a difficult time for everyone, but the teachers were so incredible and we all got through it.”
Amy, hopes to study veterinary medicine at university and has also chosen to study at JCSC Sixth Form where she will take A-Levels in Chemistry, Biology and Maths. She said: “I was quite nervous, I didn’t expect to do that well – especially in physics and music, so I am very pleasantly surprised!”
Freddie, also a JCSC student, has already landed a joinery apprenticeship with Persimmon Homes.
He said: “I enjoyed joinery with my dad and have known that was what I wanted to do for a while. An apprenticeship appealed to me as you have a job secured and being a joiner is then something you can do for the rest of your life and earn a good amount of money too.”
JCSC Headteacher, Neil Rodgers, said: “We’ve had lots of happy, smiling students here today, which is what we like to see.
“The majority of young people are coming back to our sixth form, but thanks to the fantastic careers advice they’ve had, there are others going on to apprenticeships and other further education providers too.
"There were excellent results in the science subjects of Biology, Chemistry and Physics which all had pass rates of over 96%.
“Performing Arts and ICT had pass rates above 85%, and there were many notable performances across the other, wide range of subjects we offer at key stage 4.
“I think this cohort in particular need to be applauded for the resilience that they’ve shown and the character they’ve built up over these last few very difficult years of the pandemic. They’ve had all the disruption and then had to come back in and sit exams as if nothing has happened.
“We couldn’t be more proud of the young people that they’ve become, ready to contribute to society.”
Listen to JCSC students talk about their plans for the future here:
https://youtu.be/yyWiyTkCi9c
NEXT STEPS
Students unsure about what their next steps could be can access advice from the Council’s Careers Advice service.
The team of fully qualified, experienced, and impartial careers advisers and assistants are here to support young people.
They can help you to:
- find the opportunities you are looking for
- tell you about courses and apprenticeships in the area
- plan a route to the career you want
- help you improve your job search skills
- help with benefits.
Text or ring us on: 07827 244027
Find out more information here