‘Fantastic outcomes a testament to hard work’

Students from The King’s School are celebrating some amazing achievements, unexpected grades and overcoming adversity after achieving a ‘spectacular’ set of GCSE results.

Headteacher Faith Jarrett said the ‘fantastic outcomes’ are a testament to hard work and was delighted to report that more than 83 per cent of the year 11 pupils earned five or more GCSE passes at A*-C – 72 per cent including English and maths.

An ‘amazing’ third of all grades were A* or A, and 80 per cent were C or better, with 41 per cent of the cohort achieving the Government’s benchmark of three or more A*-A grades.

Top student Jaime-Lee Burke earned nine A* and three A grades after studying hard for two extra GCSEs.

She said: “I feel surprised and enthusiastic. I did not expect it to go quite so well, I barely slept last night. I’m going to study at Exeter College.”

Harry Light was another high achiever, managing to get nine A* and three As, despite breaking his hand playing football the week before exams.

He said: “It went really well, I broke my writing hand so I had to scribe all of my exams. I’m just really happy it’s all over now.”

A delighted Bernie Voce said: “It’s amazing! I did much better than I expected and I will be going on to sixth form. I’m just so chuffed right now – I worked really hard.”

Jacob Madeley was happy to gain the marks needed to go on to study performing arts at Exeter College.

Headteacher Faith Jarrett said: “Across the full spectrum of ability, students have secured some excellent grades of which we are truly proud.

“The top end students have just done amazingly well and got some fantastic results. Across the board we have got students who smashed their target grades.

“A great many of the students have met or exceeded their target grades, which is a testament to all their hard work and support from their teachers and families.”

She added that it has been a difficult year with volatility in some of the core exams and changes regarding which qualifications count in the national league tables.