Writhlington Year 11 students are celebrating this week. GCSE results at the school were exceptionally strong, with an A*/C pass rate of over 70 per cent in both English and Mathematics. 60 per cent of students passed at least five subjects at A*–C including English and Mathematics. There is an increasing emphasis on the progress in these key subjects made at secondary school and Writhlington students performed exceptionally well.

Results for the number of Writhlington students achieving the Government’s ‘better than expected’ progress were significantly above national figures. 73 per cent of students passed English Language at A*–C and 71% passed at this level in Mathematics. Results in other subjects were equally strong, with an A*–C pass rate of over 70% in seventeen different subject areas, including Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Additional Mathematics, Philosophy and Belief, Business and Music. Almost 130 students achieved at least seven A*–C grades and the proportion of students with at least five A*–C grades including English, Maths and Science was up six percentage points on last year.

There were many highly impressive individual achievements. Among those students with exceptional performances were: Hannah and Kate Slater, (both of whom achieved 8 A* and 2 A grades), Sam Burry (6A*/3 A grades), Gemima Carpenter (2 A*/6 A grades), Amber Clark (4 A*/6 A grades), Georgia Clark (2 A*/3 A grades), Tom Davies (3 A*/3 A grades), Robert Duffy (4 A*/3 A grades), Joe Grainger-Hull (3 A*/6 A grades), Danielle McMenemy (2 A*/6 A grades) and Isabelle Vallis (3 A*/6 A grades).

Speaking about the results this week, Writhlington School’s Headteacher, Mark Everett, said: “I am delighted with the success of all our students. Their dedication, commitment and hard work has been striking throughout this year and they deserved to do well. The majority of our students are staying on to undertake their A Levels and we have the highest ever number of Sixth Form students progressing to university.

“I am especially pleased with our English and Mathematics results this year. The progress made by students of all abilities in these subjects has been very impressive and reflects the very hard work of everyone at the school. What pleases me most about our results is the fact that all of our students have obtained qualifications which help them to pursue their chosen career paths. They are a credit to the school and their families.”