Despite major changes to the GCSE exam system, students in North Tyneside are seeing their months of hard work pay off as the borough celebrates another great year of GCSE results.
Both nationally and regionally, schools are expected to report that the major changes coming into place have resulted in very different results to last year.
This is primarily due to the new, more demanding content in both the maths and English GCSE courses and the removal of coursework from specifications, with assessments now done predominantly through exams. These changes mean that results can’t be compared to previous years.
However, many pupils in North Tyneside have once again achieved good results this year, with the number of young people achieving grade 4 and above in English and maths at 65 per cent, which early indications suggest will be above the national average.
A number of schools achieved great results, as well as a host of individual success stories.
North Tyneside’s Elected Mayor, Norma Redfearn, said: “North Tyneside’s young people have shown time and time again just how brilliant they are – and to get such great results, despite the changes being made to the GCSE system, is further proof of this.
“From the head teachers and their staff, to the students, to the parents, everyone is committed to doing their best at all of our schools and they can be very proud of their efforts.
“I would like to take this opportunity to wish all the young people the best of luck for the future, no matter what path they choose.”
Cllr Ian Grayson, cabinet member for Children, Young People and Learning, said: “These results are yet another achievement for young people in North Tyneside to be proud of, in what has been an incredibly tough year for high schools across the country.
“Following on from our best ever A-Level results, and with over 90 per cent of our schools rated as ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, there aren’t many better places than North Tyneside for a young person’s education.
“I would like to say a huge congratulations to everyone getting their results back today. They have worked incredibly hard and earned these impressive results.”
At Monkseaton High School students had every reason to celebrate, with a number of individual success stories
Oonagh Stewart has been hailed ‘a superstar’ by her teachers at the school, after being ranked in the top 1% of students in the country.
The 16-year-old joined the school in October last year, after moving to the area with her family from Nigeria.
Despite having no formal teaching in English, she stunned her teachers after picking up straight 9s under the new grading system for English Lit, Language, and Maths, on top of six A* grades in other subjects and two As.
She was completely lost for words so it was left to Paula Clayton, Head of English, to do the talking.
“She’s a superstar. So humble. From the beginning she was genuinely committed to doing well, she hadn’t done English at all as a foreign language. She read all the classics on her own and spent so many hours in the library. It was just incredible. I’ve never met anyone so committed and so humble. I’m thrilled for her.”
Headteacher Tracy Crowder said: “Once again, we are celebrating a great year of results from our students sitting GCSEs and we couldn’t be any more proud of what they have achieved.
“The commitment and dedication that all of our students have shown over the years has been nothing short of outstanding and I wish you all the very best of luck for the next stage of your lives.”
George Stephenson High School, in Killingworth, saw 65 per cent of pupils achieve at least five GCSEs at A*-C equivalent, with 67 per cent achieving grade 4+ in both English and maths.
Headteacher Ian Wilkinson said: "We are very proud of all our students. They have worked very hard throughout what has been a very difficult year for them and they deserve these excellent grades.
“The majority of our students are joining us in the Sixth Form next year and we would like to wish them, and all the students leaving us, every success in the future. This is great news for the school, coming a week after we celebrated a great set of A-Level results and we are now looking forward to the new academic year starting.”
At Norham High School, in North Shields, teachers and students celebrated the student’s results with an airport-themed party – where students could come along and collect their results before departing on to the next stage of their life.
Student Jodie Tuffiin achieved A*/A in all of her subjects, as well as a grade 9 in maths. Delighted with her success, she said: “I’m really over the moon with my results, especially maths.
“I’m really going to miss Norham, all the staff have been so supportive over the years.”
Meanwhile, at Churchill Community College, in Wallsend, staff got dressed up for a Wizard of Oz-themed party to celebrate the students’ results.
Churchill also featured a number of students who achieved impressive grades, including in English and Maths, as well as Music, Art and Photography students achieving 100% A*-C pass rate, and Health and Social care achieving 95%.
Amongst those very high achievers are Ellen Law who achieved 7 A*/A grades, as well as Maths at Grade 9, Emily Swann who achieved 6 A*/A grades and Maths at Grade 9. Georgina Mitchell achieved 7 A*/A grades, including in Maths and English, as did Rhianna Sowerby. Artida Bajrami and Rebecca Hills achieved 6 at A*/A including in English and Maths.
Executive Headteacher of both schools, David Baldwin, said: “Our GCSE students have done us all immensely proud with these results.
“We set incredibly high standards for all of our students, and it is fantastic to see them work so hard to reach their full potential and achieve their goals.
“I would like to say a massive ‘well done’ and ‘thank-you’ to all of our students, from myself, the staff and the governors at both Churchill and Norham. Seeing you progress over the last few years has been an absolute pleasure and I wish you all the very best for the future.”
Whitley Bay High School students also performed exceptionally well, with over 80% of all Whitley Bay High School students achieving the new 9 - 4 grades in both English and Maths.
Headteacher of the school, Steve Wilson, said: “We are delighted to be celebrating another excellent year of GCSE results.
“It really has been a fantastic couple of weeks for Whitley Bay High School, with this coming on the back of our best ever A-Level results.
“I would like to wish all of our students the best of luck for the future. The work ethic they have shown here will take them very far in life.”
Included amongst the many success stories is Emma Dalhuijsen who achieved the amazing combination of the new top grade 9 in both English Language and Maths alongside her 5 A* grades and 3 A grades.
Shaking with delight, Emma said: “The teachers at Whitley Bay High School are brilliant, I am so grateful for their support, especially in Maths.
The extra revision sessions staff offered were extremely helpful and really helped me achieve my results. All the teachers are so approachable and always available to help.”
Emma is keen to study medicine and will be taking Maths and the 3 sciences in Whitley Bay High School’s Sixth form.
Notes to editors:
The information given above relates to all secondary and special schools in North Tyneside.