Bury St Edmunds GCSE results: St Benedict's Catholic School, County Upper School, King Edward VI School, Thurston Community College, SET Ixworth School and Sybil Andrews Academy pupils celebrate their hard work
Students in the Bury St Edmunds area have opened up their GCSE results today, the first exams to be sat since the start of the pandemic.
We bring you live results from St Benedict's Catholic School, County Upper School, King Edward VI School, Thurston Community College and Sybil Andrews Academy.
This story will be updated throughout the day as the results come in. For results from across the county, click here.
County Upper School
At County Upper School, in Bury St Edmunds, a total of 203 students collected their results at the school.
Overjoyed by her grades was Anna Cartwright, who had eight 9s and an A in additional maths.
She said: "I was just so surprised, in some of them I did not think I was going to get that."
Anna said she will now be moving to Ipswich to play basketball and study at Copleston Sixth Form.
Carmen Leacy, from Newmarket, took home eight 9s and an 8.
She said: "It just hasn't sunk in yet, it is just such a shock."
With her grades Carmen will be going to Hills Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge to study business, economics and psychology.
County Upper's headteacher Sally Kennedy said: “These students were subjected to huge disruption to their education with a lockdown in the first year of their courses and very high levels of disruption last year.
“The fact that they have achieved so highly is tribute to their resilience character and hard work – and also the determination of their teachers that they should receive the very best education and support through very difficult circumstances.
St Benedict's Catholic School
At St Benedict's Catholic School, 160 students sat their exams with 78 per cent of its students achieved four and above in English and Maths, compared with 71 per cent in 2019 and 67 per cent in 2018.
Headteacher Imogen Senior, said: "We are really very proud of this cohort of students and the results that they have achieved. Being the first year group since 2019 to sit formal GCSE exams and to have endured the disruption of Covid throughout their GCSE studies placed a huge weight of expectation and pressure on these young people and they have risen to the challenge magnificently."
The school's top achiever was Adam John, from Bury, who swept the board with twelve 9 grades.
He said he will be keeping his options open on the future career front, but will be going to the school's sixth form to study maths and all three science subjects.
Also continuing their education in the school's sixth form in September were Dmytro Heyzerovskyy and Vladyslav Siusko.
Both Ukrainian, the students joined Year 10 in March and sat GCSEs in English as an additional Language and maths - with Dmytro getting a six in maths and a five in English and Vladyslav achieving two sevens - as well as both doing combined science.
Another high achiever at the school's results day was Catherine Dunn, from Bury, who took home eleven 9s.
She said: "I am really happy with getting through all the disturbances over the last couple of years and pushing through, it is amazing."
She will also be going to sixth form at the school to study maths, further maths physics and chemistry.
Sybil Andrews Academy
Sybil Andrews Academy has hailed a successful year of GCSE results.
Among those marking the occasion was Beth Lovell, who did not attain a single GCSE below a grade 7.
This includes seven 9s, in maths, statistics, biology, chemistry, physics, French and religious studies.
Beth said: "It was great - but really overwhelming, as well. It was a lot of work.
"The revision wore me out so much, and I became so exhausted by the end of the exams. But it was so worth it.
"I thank all my teachers for educating me into this."
Lucy Graves attained 9s in art and geography, while friend Gloria Stevens was awarded 8s in geography and computer science.
Lucy said that the fallout from the pandemic had had an impact upon study this year: "It's been difficult because of Covid, but the advance information helped."
Gloria agreed, saying: "I'd say it mostly impacted motivation, and how we felt doing the work, and actually knowing the subject."
Matthew Baker spoke of the challenges balancing his swimming career with his GCSEs.
On top of his results, he this year netted a national swimming medal - and will now be attending Abbeygate to study maths, biology and psychology.
Matthew said: "Although it proved to be a challenge balancing swimming and studying, I am delighted with my results and looking forward to further study at Abbeygate."
The school's head, Trenica King, said: "We have enjoyed celebrating with our students their results, which reflect five years of hard work and study.
"We are extremely proud of our Year 11 students. Their motivation, resilience, and positive approach has been rewarded and we wish them all the best in the future."
King Edward VI School
King Edward VI School in Bury St Edmunds recorded excellent results from their pupils today. There was no drop in GCSE results from last summer, with 80 per cent of 239 students achieving grade 4 and above. And 25 per cent were awarded grade 7, 8 or 9.
One pupil who was extremely proud of her results was Rose Cross, 16, from Moreton Hall who achieved six grade 9s. She said her results were 'really great' and that she was 'really happy'.
She hopes to go into dentistry and would like to study biology, chemistry and maths at A-level.
Lucia Berry, 16, also achieved several grade nine GCSEs. She was awarded seven grade 9s and was particularly pleased with her English results, achieving an 8 in her language exam and a 9 in the literature exam after struggling with the subject.
"I'm in shock really, I didn't expect to do so well because I didn't do so well in my mocks," she said.
"I had to read it so many times. I really struggled with English. I've had a tutor for over a year because I was really falling behind, but I've done really well on it."
Maxwell Lyon, 16, from Cockfield, had 'no words' when he opened his results to discover nine grade 9s and one grade 8.
"I'm going to Abbeygate Sixth Form and I'll be studying maths, further maths, physics and computer science," he said.
"I just have no words."
New head teacher Deri O'Regan, who has been in the post since April, said: "We are exceptionally proud of everything our students have achieved.
"Despite the many challenges of the last few years, the students of King Edward have shown great character and determination in achieving some of the best exam results in the long history of this school.
"We look forward to them accomplishing great things next year at our partnerships Abbeygate and West Suffolk College where every one of our students has a bright future.
"We're so grateful for all the hard work the staff has put in to offset the damage which has happened over the last few years due to Covid.
"The number one thing we need to make sure, is getting pupils back in school. Nationally there has been a big problem with attendance still. So come September we need to make sure that every child is back in school where they need to be."
West Suffolk College
Adult learners at West Suffolk College gained an overall pass rate of 92 per cent with their grades today.
From the results, 90 per cent of those studying maths received high grades between 4-9, with 97 per cent studying English received grades 4-9.
Seven other students also sat GCSE biology, with 86 per cent receiving a grade 4 and above.
Dr Nikos Savvas, chief executive of the Eastern Colleges Group, said: "GCSE results day is not just about young people, it’s also about adult learners who work towards these important qualifications as a gateway to their ambitions with further or higher education courses.
"Our exemplary teams have supported, encouraged and guided our students to achieve their goals with determination and resilience.
"We are a diverse and inclusive education group and as such we look forward to welcoming many new learners in September with open arms."
Many of the adult learners that received their results today will now progress to Access to HE or degree courses.
Thurston Community College
The achievements of 253 students were celebrated at the college this morning, along with their 'resilience in difficult in times'.
The college decided not to release general data, in agreement with some of the other schools and colleges in Suffolk.
Principal Nicki Mattin, said: "We are incredibly proud of all the hard work that went into achievement of these results in truly exceptional times.
"These students have maintained focus and commitment to their studies. They have show resilience and fortitude where many would have given up.
"I would like to thank and acknowledge the support from the whole of the Thurston community including stafff, families, parents and carers."
Jess Wood, 16, from Thurston, achieved five Grade 9, four Grade 8 GCSEs, including a Distinction in Drama.
She said: "I am over the moon - super happy.
It has been difficult, especially during the January to March lockdown of 2021 and then coming back to school for Year 11.
"I am now planning do A-levels in History, Psychology and English literature, leading to hopefully a career in law.
"I am particularly pleased with my Grade 8 in Further Maths as I wasn't expecting to do so well in that."
Friend Katy Wilson, 16, also from Thurston, achieved eight Grade 9s, one Grade 7 and one Grade 8.
She said: "I'm really happy with the results, especially History, Maths, and Further Maths.
"I also got Grade 9 in all the sciences which I enjoy.
"It has been tough combining working at home for Year 10 and and then back at school for Year 11. Even then people were off quite a bit with Covid.
"I eventually hope to go on study for a Maths degree and work in finance.
Augustus Pirt, 16, from Thurston was pleased with his results in languages.
He achieved a Grade 8 in French, a Grade 7 in Spanish and a Grade 7 in English Literature.
"I was expecting Grade 7s and 8s and I am very pleased with my results," he said.
"I love studying languages as it also gives you an insight into the cultures of different countries.
"The teachers have been great supporting us, even though it has been a difficult time.
Principal Nicki Mattin added: "The last three academic years have been a unique time our history and the memories our students take with them will include the closure of non-essential shops, theatres, cinemas and restaurants; clapping for the NHS; wearing face coverings; twice weekly lateral flow tests and the disruption caused by their school being closed for extended periods of time as we battled the global pandemic.
"The government is intending publishing performance data for schools or colleges later this year, but for now the focus should really be on our students and their stories as we celebrate their achievements and ensure they have the destination they want next year."
SET Ixworth
At SET Ixworth School students were celebrating a range of GCSE successes - from securing their first-choice post-16 destinations and exceeding their targets, some by up to three grades higher than expected.
Pia Parker, headteacher at the school, said: "Congratulations to an inspirational Year 11 cohort. Today is the students’ day and we are exceptionally proud of their individual achievements.
"As a small school setting, we have an absolute dedication to enabling success for every student and we are thrilled that, within the context of the last few years, we have maintained our unbroken record of positive value added at GCSEs.
"This is also the first year of GCSE and BTEC qualifications for our students at Forge specialist education unit since it opened in September 2021. We are delighted that students are celebrating grades in all their exams sat, including a top Grade 7 in English Language.
"As nationally, SET Ixworth Year 11 students have experienced unprecedented challenges during their GCSE years. It is a testament to the commitment, resilience and effort of our students and staff, alongside our supportive families and wider community, that we have so much to celebrate in a climate of such uncertainty."
