VIDEO: GCSE joy for West Sussex pupils
Pupils from across the Observer area have been celebrating after collecting their GCSE results today (Thursday, August 21).
Schools and colleges have been celebrating this year's crop of bumper results.
Full reports:
Bishop Luffa School
Bognor Regis Community College
Bourne Community College
Chichester High School for Boys
Chichester High School for Girls
Felpham Community College
Lavant House School
Manhood Community College
Midhurst Grammar School
St Philip Howard High School
The Weald School
Westergate Community School
For a picture gallery click here.
For more pictures and reports from these and other schools see next week's Observer on sale August 28.
For A Level results click here.
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MAPBishop Luffa School
It is not often that pupils surpass the most ambitious GCSE targets set them, but this year Bishop Luffa School pupils did it in style.
87 per cent of pupils were awarded at least five A*-C grades in any subjectand 79 per cent pupils gained at least five GCSE grades A*-C including English and Maths.
Nearly 35 per cent of all entries were awarded A* or A grades.Almost every pupil gained at least five GCSE grades including English and Maths.
The results beat the school's targets and exceeded value added estimates.
"These are outstanding results," said Nick Taunt, headteacher.
"Pupils deserve to be absolutely delighted with how they have done. Right across the ability range pupils have proved to themselves what they can do.
"I am delighted that more than a third of all entries gained the top grades, but I am also proud of those pupils who are not academic high-fliers and yet still achieved impressive results.
"Behind the headline figures are many stories of young people who have come through difficult times.
"The fact that almost no pupil left school without at least five GCSE grades including English and Maths is a tribute to their determination and that of their teachers.
"Our young people are endlessly resourceful in the breadth and variety of their interests and activities.
"They have learnt to be resilient when facing setbacks and they are also able to reflect honestly on their own abilities. Above all, they have grown into genuinely likeable and impressive young men and women who respect each other and themselves. They can look forward to the next step with enormous confidence.
"I am immensely proud of our teaching staff and all those who work at Bishop Luffa for their excellent teaching and their unconditional support for our young people."
This year group have been the first pupils to try out the school's plan to make the curriculum more flexible.
Most pupils took the ICT short course (worth half a GCSE) two years ago when they were in Year 9, and many went on to take further ICT courses including the AS course last year.
One class also took RE a year early in order to take AS Theology in Year 11. The new Science curriculum also allowed pupils greater choice between applied and academic routes.
Deputy headteacher, Colin Lankester, said: "Our pupils have benefited from this increased flexibility and it is likely that more pupils in the future will take GCSE early in some subjects to allow them to pursue their wider academic interests."
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MAPBognor Regis Community College
Stories of success were being told at Bognor Regis Community College with high flying students achieving bumper GCSE results.
41 cent of the cohort of 280 students gained five or more A*-C grades in all subjects, with thirty per cent achieving the same including English and Mathematics.
Over 30 students achieved grades which, on a national data base, saw their progress matching those of the best 25 per cent across the country.
Headteacher, David Jones, said: "There are some stunning success stories across the complete range of abilities.
A total of 12 students Nathan Archer, Claire Baker, Sara Ballantyne, Will Crystal, Sara Luis De Jesus, Catherine Newman, Kasha Owens, Steven Porter, Sophie Potter, Daniel Purkis, Joshua Todd, and Emma Vincent gained over 500 points each.
"I am delighted for those students who have gained seven or more 'A' grades, and equally pleased for those who have worked hard to gain entry level qualifications," Mr Jones said.
"This group of young people have a great deal of which to be proud, and we expect to build upon these achievements in the Sixth Form and beyond."
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MAPBourne Community College
Record-breaking results are being celebrated at Bourne Community College.
An outstanding 80 per cent of students gained five or more A*-C grades in any subject and 47 per cent of these included English and Maths.
Head teacher Margaret Eva said: "Staff, parents and governor's are exceptionally proud of students' success.
"Results are well above their targets reflecting the tremendous skills of our teachers and support staff who inspire and motivate our young people to achieve success.
"These excellent results will equip students to continue their studies at Chichester College and their progress to the University of Chichester.
"Parents have worked closely with teachers and their support and encouragement cannot be underestimated.
"Every child has benefited from this tremendous support structure. My warmest congratulations to each and every student."
Further successes at The Bourne are four members of the support staff who studied alongside students during the last two years in Maths and Spanish and passed with flying colours!
Site manager, Paul Johnson and inclusion assistant Auriol Holland passed GCSE Spanish together with a parent Mrs Prescott.
Two inclusion assistants, Marcel Allman and Kate Cameron passed GCSE Maths which will help them in the next stage of their 'new' careers to become qualified teachers.
Amongst the high achievers are Lewis Egerton, 5 A*s, 3 A and 4B. Katie Pugh (head girl) 5 A*s, 5 A and 2B. Sophie Moore 4 A*s, 1A and 6 B. Lee Prior 4A*s, 3A and 4 B. Jack Dridge 4A*s and 3B. Ryan Arnell 4A*s, 1A and 2B. Jessica Prescott 3A*s, 3A and 5B. Aimie Merrett 2A*s, 4A and 4B. Aimee Ware 1A*, 6A and 5B. Alice Edwards, 1 A*, 6A and 4B.
Director of learning, Helena Jewer, said "I am so proud of all the students who have achieved tremendous success. Their results will stand them in great stead for their future careers."
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MAPChichester High School for Boys
It is hats off to the boys as pupils from Chichester High School for Boys achieved record results.
65 per cent of the year group achieved five A*-C grades at GCSE in any subject – over a 17 per cent rise on the previous year - with 55 per cent achieving including five top grades including English and Maths.
Nationally it is a well recorded fact that girls on average achieve 10
per cent more than boys at GCSE.
Headteacher John Robinson was delighted with the bumper results.
"Since I joined the school in 2005, I have had every faith in the ability of Chichester High School students and my staff to achieve these results," he said.
"Many developments, improvements and changes have been made to the curriculum, teaching staff, governors and leadership team over recent years.
"We are now justly celebrating these fantastic results.
"Boys often get a hard, but motivate them well, interest them in the subjects that make them tick, introduce different learning styles and you have a formula for success.
"I naturally congratulate our Year 11s but I also take this opportunity to thank the untiring work of our voluntary governing body and our key leadership team members.
"It is a team effort that yields these results – I cannot forget the support of the parents. It has been a true partnership. Well done!
"In addition many of these successful pupils are staying on with us to study for their AS, A levels and BTEC in preparation for university entrance and Modern Apprenticeships. Let's see how well our boys can do at 16-19!"
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MAPChichester High School for Girls
Record breakers were praised at Chichester High School for Girls which is celebrating its best ever results.
Of 235 girls, 73 per cent achieved five or more grades at A*-C – an improvement of seven per cent on last year.
64 per cent of girls achieved five or more grades at A*-C including English and Maths – an improvement of eight per cent on last year.
25 girls managed to achieve A* or A in nine or more subjects.
Headteacher Fiona Oliver-Watkins, said: "We are absolutely delighted with these results. We have smashed our target for the new measure of five or more A*-C grades including English and maths by two per cent.
"We congratulate not only those who obtained the highest grades, but also the girls who improved their performance in the middle ranges.
"They all helped to make this a record year at GCSE for the Girls' High School; they reflect the high standards and hard work of our teachers. We would not have achieved them without the wonderful support of our parents."
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MAPFelpham Community College
Felpham Community College students had another year of good GCSE results with the majority of them achieving five or more A*-C.
There were some tremendous individual results with a number of students gaining a clutch of A* and A grades.
A number of Year 11 students also achieved an AS qualification in critical thinking which is an option taken in the sixth form.
51 per cent of pupils gained five A* to C grades in any subject while 41 per cent gained five top grades including English and maths.
It is interesting that Felpham bucks the national trend in that boys' achievement is catching up with girls.
Headteacher Peter Cook said: "These results taken together with our excellent key stage 3 and sixth form results simply highlight the quality of learning and teaching at Felpham."
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MAPManhood Community College
It is another year of good news for Manhood Community College which is celebrating its GCSE results.
Half of all students achieved five or more GCSEs with A* to C grades in any subject, with 30 per cent achieving five or more top grades including English and Maths.
"2008 has been a year of good news for Manhood Community College," said executive headteacher Mark Vickers.
"We have received an excellent Ofsted report; building work on our new sports centre started and is now well underway; we were awarded specialist science college status and now our students have continued the good news by easily exceeding many of our targets with their GCSE results this year.
"We are delighted that our students' hard work and determination to succeed has been recognised in their results.
"Over the last year our staff have worked closely with students to help them prepare for their exams and it is clear that the students have responded well to the support that we offer."
Over the last few years the GCSE results at Manhood Community College have continued to rise.
Last year the school achieved the highest level of passes in its 45 year history and this year's results have continued at a similar level.
Mr Vickers told the Observer he was pleased 50 per cent of students were getting at least five top grades.
But he added: "This measure only tells part of the story of our success.
"Our ethos is that 'Every Child Matters and Every Child Succeeds' and we are very proud of the fact that we provide the best opportunities for children with every level of ability.
"We want to make sure that every child reaches their best and once again this year every pupil has left Manhood Community College with at least one GCSE pass.
"At the top end of achievement, we are very pleased that around 20 per cent of our students have obtained more than 10 GCSE's passes.
"Our highest achiever has obtained 18 passes with most of these being A* grades."
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MAPMidhurst Grammar School
Students, staff and parents at Midhurst Grammar School were celebrating their results this morning – with good reason.
Of the 215 students in Year 11, who took GCSE and equivalent examinations, 60% have achieved 5 or more A* - C grades.
The school has achieved its own target of 50 per cent of students achieving five A* - C GCSEs including English and Maths - an 11 per cent improvement on last year's figure.
Acting headteacher, Helen Beauchamp, is delighted to report another good set of results.
She said "Everyone has worked very hard to sustain the improvement of recent years.
"I am so proud of the students and grateful to the staff for all of their hard work and commitment.
"This means that all associated with Midhurst Grammar School can go forward into the Academy with heads held high.
"The achievement of the students is also a reflection of the support of their parents and the successful partnership and good relationships that exist at Midhurst Grammar School between students, parents and staff."
Even more impressive is that 30 per cent of the students achieved eight or more A* - C grades.
98% of the year group achieved at least one GCSE and 93% achieved 5 or more A* - G grades.
Mrs Beauchamp also congratulated the 14 students who achieved good results in COPE and ASDAN awards.
"These students are not always recognised as their results are not reported in the same way as GCSEs," she said.
"All of these students did exceptionally well to achieve level 2 qualifications and we are just as proud of their achievements. The majority of our students are going on to the 6th form, to college or to employment that includes training, and these good results bode well for their future success."
A significant number of students achieved exceptional results – 15 students gained eight or more A* / A grades.
James Sly, gained 11 GCSEs at Grade A or above, 7 of them at A*. Ben Mitchell and Francesca Mollett achieved 10 grades at A or above, 6 of them at A*.
Melissa Chisholm, Tom Dove, Michaela Norman, Oliver Knights, Oliver Skanberg-Tippen, Mo Smith, Karina Blair-Robinson, Bryony Hill, and Ella Lewis all achieved 9 grades at A/A* and Adam Baranowski, Catherine Lewis and Michael Redfern all achieved 8 GCSEs at grades A/A*.
Dr Nick Mitchell, chairman of governors said "We are very pleased with this good set of results – the hard work of our students and staff has paid off.
"We wish all of our students all the best for a successful future."
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MAPSt Philip Howard High School
Success was being celebrated at St Philip Howard Catholic High School which has matched its previously best ever set of GCSE results.
Over 77 per cent of students achieved the benchmark of five or more GCSEs in any subject at grades A* to C , with 70 per cent of students achieved five or more top grades which include English and mathematics.
Nearly a quarter of all grades were A* or A, and three out of every four results were at grade C or above. The average point score per student was 397.
"We are delighted with these results, which show students at every level achieving their potential," said headteacher David Todd.
"We are not just celebrating the success of those students who achieved the higher A* to C grades.
"There are students who achieved lower results but nonetheless fulfilled their individual potential.
"We will receive an independent analysis of how much value we have added to the students' prior attainment later in the academic year but our own initial scrutiny suggests that we have provided each student with a very high standard of education.
"My thanks go to the teachers, tutors, teaching assistants, support staff for their single-minded commitment to our young people and their future."
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MAPWestergate Community School
Westergate Community School's GCSE results are its best ever with more than half of students achieving top grades.
More than 56 per cent of students gained five or more A* to C grades in any subject, with 40 per cent achieving the top grades including English and maths.
"Last year's results were our best ever and these are even better; I am really proud of all of the students and would like to thank all of the staff and parents who helped to make these results possible," said headteacher Steve Nelmes.
"We couldn't have hoped for a better start to this year a year that sees the beginning of our status as a specialist school in visual and performing arts.
"Not only were results good across the board but the number of higher grades, As and A*s were also pleasing."
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MAPThe Weald School
Weald pupils have been jumping for joy after receiving their A Level results.
The proportion of students achieving five A*-C grades in any subject is 75 per cent, while 57 per cent of students achieved five top grades which included English and maths.
Overall 77 per cent of entries were at C or better and more than a quarter of the entries were at grades A* or A.
This makes the results as strong as any the school has had. Boys have done exceptionally well this year in matching the girls, which is against national trends.
Headteacher Peter May said: "The students deserve congratulations for their hard work which has led to these excellent results.
"I am also very grateful for the commitment of the teachers and the support of the parents in helping the students succeed".
Many subjects performed very well with English Language, English Literature, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, all the Art and Design subjects, History, Geography, RE, Spanish, Drama, Music and the Business Studies subjects all achieved more than 80 per cent of their entry at C grade or better - with many of them over 90 per cent.
As usual there were some outstanding individual performances with 18 students achieving 10 passes at A* or A and well over 50 achieving five passes at the same level.
Particular congratulations should go to Daniel Bird, Alexander Clark, Lily Marsh, Freya Rowland, James Warwick, Emily Anderson, Angus Dunningham, Pierre Finnimore, Ivy Kenning, Becky Lines, James Longbon, Catriona Mitchell, Lucie Sherlock, Helen Spencer, Milly Strong and Stephanie Kirkham, all of whom achieved 11 or more A* to A grades. Alexander Clark, Freya Rowland and Ivy Kenning all achieved 9 or more A* grades which is a genuinely excellent achievement.
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MAPLavant House School
This year's excellent GCSE results at Lavant House were topped by 15 year-old Holly Edwards, who gained a straight run of A* grades in 10 academic subjects.
Holly is going on to study for her A Levels in Maths, Physics, English and History in Lavant's Sixth Form, and also intends to do her Community Sports Leader Award.
"All the girls did really well," said headmistress, Marian Scott.
"Our pupils are of a wide ability range and I congratulate each individual on her achievement.
"75 per cent of this year's group gained more than 5 grades A* to C, including English, Maths and Science.
"Holly is a real star, but there are many other girls who have shown great persistence and determination to achieve their own 'personal best' at this stage in their lives."
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Weather for Chichester
Monday 13 February 2012
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