A total of 183 Year 11 students were celebrating on Thursday morning at Budehaven Community School as they received their GCSE results. For the first time, they were joined by their Year 10 friends and colleagues who have taken up to half of their GCSE examinations this year.

In Year 11, particular congratulations go to Rachel Lowson who gained eight A*s and three A grades and was this year's highest performing student with an average score of 56.7 (a student who gains an A* in every exam they take scores 58, and a student gaining an A in every exam scores 52). Dudley Chown was the highest achieving boy with 52.78. Other students who averaged more than 52 were Nicola Payne Heard, Libby Hamilton and Erin Wotznika, and a further nine students passed all their GCSE exams with A*, A and B grades, a fantastic achievement.

94 per cent of the year group gained five GCSE passes. 81 per cent of students achieved five GCSEs with the higher grades A*-C, and 62 per cent of the year group gained 5A*-C grades including English and Maths, the key measure used by the government; both figures are the highest the school has ever recorded. Headteacher, David Barton was understandably delighted with the students' success. "These results are excellent and I am thrilled that our students have done so well. I am particularly pleased with the results of those students who have not always found school easy and have sometimes found school work challenging. The fact that 94 per cent of the whole year group have gained five or more GCSEs at grades A* - G is very pleasing indeed not only for the students but for their families as well. The majority of the students are returning to Budehaven Sixth Form; others are going on to college or into employment and we all wish them well for the future."

The Year 10 students are the first to collect results following the schools decision two years ago to start GCSE examination courses in Year 9 rather than waiting until Year 10. David Sellars, Deputy Headteacher, has spearheaded this development and was understandably keen to see the first set of results. "The feedback that we have had from students, parents and teachers over the last two years has been very positive but the proof of the pudding was always going to be in the results" he said. "I'm really pleased with how well the students have done. There are some fantastic results achieved by our Year 10s including some who already have a number of A*s, A's and B's to take into Year 11. Well done."

Jeremy Dowling, Chair of Governors was full of praise for the students' achievements. "Students and staff have worked extremely hard. These GCSE results will prove a springboard for young peoples' future success in the years to come."

See this week's 'Post' for the full results.