Suffolk GCSE results 2022: Live updates as students across county discover their grades
Today students in Suffolk have discovered how they have fared in their GCSEs, after becoming the first pupils to sit the exams in two years.
Throughout the day we will be updating you with results from schools in Bury St Edmunds, Thurston, Stowmarket, Haverhill and Sudbury - alongside many other Suffolk schools.
Keep an eye on the Suffolk News website and social media channels to see GCSE result updates from your area.
GCSE results are now graded in numbers from 1 - 9, with 9 being the closest equivalent to what was previously an A*.
Students need a 4 for a standard pass and 5 for a strong pass.
Nationally top grades for GCSEs are down on last year – but remain higher than pre-pandemic levels.
A total of 26.3 per cent of entries were awarded 7/A or above, down from 28.9 per cent in 2021 but up from 20.8 per cent in 2019.
Some 73.2 per cent of entries received a 4/C grade or above. This is down from 77.1 per cent last year, but higher than 67.3 per cent in 2019.
Last year was a record year across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with the number of pupils achieving top grades (7 and above) rising by 2.7 per cent to 28.9 per cent.
On their website, the Office Qualifications and Exam Regulation (Ofqual), said: "The approach exam boards take to grading will reflect a midpoint between summer 2019 and 2021.
"Results will look different to summer 2021, because the nature of the assessment is different, it will be more meaningful to make comparisons with 2019 results, therefore, because this is when exams were last sat."
Suffolk News reporters will be keeping this page updated throughout the day.
Sybil Andrews Academy in Bury St Edmunds
The personal achievements of students, and their GCSE results, were praised at Sybil Andrews Academy in Bury St Edmunds.
Trenica King, Headteacher said: “We have enjoyed celebrating with our students results that 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.”
Ms King also paid tribute to school staff and students’ families for their support throughout the students’ time at the school.
For more results and pictures from the Bury St Edmunds area, click here.
County Upper School in Bury St Edmunds
Staff at County Upper School have spoken of their pride in the class of 2022.
The 'fantastic' set of results will see the majority of the 203 students progressing onto their preference courses with a high number of students exceeding the grades they expected to achieve.
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."
St Benedict's Catholic School in Bury St Edmunds
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.
King Edward VI School in Bury St Edmunds
King Edward VI School 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.
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."
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 specific 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 staff, families, parents and carers."
Notable success included Jess Wood, 16, who achieved five Grade 9 results, four Grade 8, and a Distinction.
Katy Wilson, 16, achieved eight Grade 9s, one Grade 7 and one Grade 8.
Augustus Pirt, 16, 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.
SET Ixworth School
Students at SET Ixworth School are celebrating a range of GCSE successes this year.
This includes securing their first-choice post-16 destinations, exceeding their targets – some by up to three grades higher than expected – and achieving top grade 9s across core subjects and a diverse range of options including triple science, statistics, ancient history and drama.
Pia Parker, SET Ixworth Head of 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."
Felixstowe School
Students at Felixstowe School have been praised for their determination and resilience after celebrating further improvement in their GCSE and Level 2 BTEC qualifications.
Notable achievements included Hayley Cameron who achieved seven grade 9s and three grade 8s and Charlotte Fensom who gained four grade 9s, two grade 8s and a Distinction star.
Headteacher Emma Wilson-Downes said: “The past couple of years have been incredibly difficult for young people, and our students have been incredible in rising to the challenges they have been presented with."
Breckland School in Brandon
Jon Winn, principal at Breckland School, congratulated all students on a 'fantastic' set of results.
“We are very pleased with the attainment and progress of many students whose hard work and dedication has been rewarded," he said.
Notable achievements included Rey Holness with eight grade 9s, one grade 8 and one grade 7; Ryn Holness with five grade 9s, three grade 8s and two grade 7s as well as Wiktoria Raczkiewicz with three grade 9s, two grade 8s and one grade 7.
Castle Manor Academy in Haverhill
Students at Castle Manor were been praised for showing 'huge resilience and determination' following three years of disrupted educated caused by the pandemic.
Headteacher Vanessa Whitcombe said: “I am so proud of all of our students and their achievements. These results come from a huge amount of hard work in uncertain times and our young people have surpassed themselves.
“Our congratulations go to all of them, along with best wishes for their next steps. They have been expertly supported by teachers and support staff and of course parents - and I would like to thank everyone involved in helping our students to reach their goals.”
For more results and pictures from Haverhill schools, click here.
Samuel Ward Academy in Haverhill
Andy Hunter, headteacher at Samuel Ward Academy, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the GCSE results that our students have earned this year.
“Across the country, schools are seeing a drop in grades from levels that teachers assessed last year. But our students have bucked that trend and gone on to achieve even more highly.
“The whole year group worked enormously hard and showed remarkable resilience and maturity.
"I congratulate each and every one of them, but particular mention has to go to Isabelle Miller and Sienna Sanders who each achieved a remarkable nine GCSEs at grade 9, and to Ryan Murphy who achieved seven grade 9s and two grade 8s."
Stowmarket High School
Head Dave Lee Allen said: "We've got through it - staff have been amazingly resilient, students knuckled down, and families have supported us.
"They're now all onto their next stages, which is a brilliant thing."
He added: "I think every school will have its top performers, and we've certainly got a number of those. But, equally, we've got pupils with special needs who've come out with some lovely grades.
For more results and pictures from Stowmarket and Stowupland, click here.
Stowupland High School
There were happy faces as Stowupland High School students picked up their GCSE results this morning.
After the trials and tribulations of the past few years, the school reports that students have shown amazing resilience and have achieved some highly impressive results in their GCSE exams.
Outcomes across both core and option subjects show just how hard they have worked during their time at High School, with many students achieving top grades.
Among these are Cheyenne Edwards, who obtained 10 GCSEs, all above grade 7, including 9s in English Literature, English Language, Biology, Chemistry and French.
She said: “I did pretty well,” she said, “I’m feeling good.
“I’m staying here at Stowupland to do A-Levels next. I’m planning to have a bit of a rest first though.”
Mildenhall College Academy
After a tough few years, students and staff from Mildenhall College Academy were absolutely delighted with their GCSE results.
The 198 students in the cohort responded brilliantly to the impact of the pandemic, being the first year to sit public examinations since 2019 with different arrangements put in place for 2020 and 2021.
The school is still waiting on a couple of results so are unable to yet release the percentage of which students got 4s and above in English and maths.
The academy’s star of the show was Thomas Surridge, 16, from Beck Row, who achieved grade 9s in all of his subjects and received a distinction* in sport studies.
For more results and pictures, click here.
Newmarket Academy
A Newmarket headteacher has congratulated GCSE students who received their results today for their 'amazing resilience' during the pandemic.
Students at Newmarket Academy received their grades this morning after studying through lockdowns and taking the first in-person exams since the pandemic started.
Headteacher Martin Witter said: “Newmarket Academy would like to pass on our thanks and congratulations to all our wonderful Year 11 students who have received their GCSE results today.
Thomas Gainsborough School in Great Cornard
At Thomas Gainsborough, several of the 262 students were awarded with impressive grade 9s, the top grade at GCSE.
One such pupil was Shania Warren, 16 of Hadleigh, who achieved seven grade 9s, one BTec distinction* and two grade 8s.
She said of her success: "I am a bit overwhelmed but I am really happy with them and really glad - the hard work paid off."
Headteacher Helen Yapp was at the school celebrating with the young people and she said she and the teachers are 'incredibly proud' of the student successes.
"We're overjoyed with the results. They had a terrible two years, they worked so hard, and the vast majority of them absolutely got what they deserved," she said.
For more details and pictures from schools in the Sudbury area, click here.
Ormiston Sudbury Academy
More success came at Sudbury's Ormiston Academy, where the 98 students did particularly well in food and performing arts subjects.
Top achiever at the school was Leah Chappell, who was awarded seven grade 9s, a grade 8 and a grade 7.
Leah said: "I am really relieved, I wasn't sure my work was going to pay off. It was really scary hearing grades may be lower - I was worried it could be really rare to get high grades.
"I am really excited to start A-levels and hopefully achieve similar to get into uni."
One of the students who made the most progress from the time he arrived to receiving his results was Klay Bates.
Klay got 8s in many subjects and was handed a distinction* in music.
He said: "It's amazing - it makes you feel like all of that effort and work you have done was worth it.
"It was difficult with covid definitely. At home it was proper hard and not the same, but I am so happy with myself."
Lesley Turner, drama teacher and assistant headteacher, said of their work: "Having taught drama over the internet during the pandemic the fact that they have got the same results as the years before is amazing."
Kesgrave High School
Teachers at Kesgrave High School are 'over the moon' with the results as students picked up their GCSE results this morning.
Four students managed to snag the top prize, achieving Grade 9s in every subject, with 79 per cent of pupils getting at least a Grade 4 in Maths and English.
Julia Upton, the headteacher of Kesgrave High School said she was 'absolutely thrilled' with the performance.
For more results and pictures from the Ipswich area, click here.
Ipswich School
Many happy faces were seen as pupils of Ipswich School picked up their GCSE results this morning.
Nearly a third of all Year 11s, 41 pupils, achieved Grade 7 or above in what is the school's largest cohort to date and 100 per cent obtained at least five GCSEs at Grade 4 or above.
Headteacher Nicholas Weaver said the past two years had really 'tested everything we know about schooling' as lockdown turned bedrooms into classrooms.
Suffolk New College
A 39 year old is one of 337 students who passed Maths and English at Suffolk New College, 20 years after her first attempt.
With campuses in Ipswich, Otley, Halesworth and Leiston, Suffolk New specialises in conducting GCSEs for students who failed during their time at school - with many bagging top marks.
Deputy Principal of the College, Alan Pease, said the faculty were proud of their achievements, with it being the first year of exams for two years.
Thetford Academy
Students achieved 60 per cent of grades 9-4 across maths and English.
Dan Carter, principal at the academy, which is one of Inspiration Trust’s secondary schools, said: “Congratulations to our Year 11 students who have worked incredibly hard to achieve their results, securing their places on their next pathways to success.
"On behalf of myself and the team at Thetford Academy, we wish them all the very best for the future.”
"Thetford Academy is extremely proud of the achievements of all of its GCSE pupils this summer, and the school has seen significant improvements in a wide range of subjects.
"Some 100 per cent of grades in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and French were at grade 4 or above. Another 20 per cent of all GCSE grades were at grade 7 or above, which includes 54 grade 9s - double the number that was seen in 2019."
For more results and pictures, click here.
Ormiston Denes Academy in Lowestoft
Pupils at the school have shown immense 'determination' over the past few years.
One student who did particularly well was head boy Archie Muir.
He successfully achieved 9s in English language, combined science and Spanish, and 8s in English literature and maths.
For more results and pictures from Lowestoft schools, click here.
East Coast College and Lowestoft Sixth Form College
Students at East Coast College’s Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth campuses achieved an 89 per cent pass rate in English and maths, with the number of students achieving grades 9 to 4 in English 15 per cent higher than the national average for further education.
Lowestoft Sixth Form College recorded a pass rate in English of 91 per cent and 78 per cent pass rate in maths.
One student who was proud of her results was Lauren Hopley. She took GCSE English and received a grade 9. She currently works in clinical support at the James Paget University Hospital, and her result will allow her to progress her training in nursing.
“I’m so happy, the result is much better than I expected," she said.
Chief Executive Stuart Rimmer said: “Congratulations to all our students who have passed their GCSE exams this year. For many students these qualifications provide an important gateway to university, further training or achieving their dream job and we are proud that East Coast College can help them on their journey."
Woodbridge School
Woodbridge School has praised this year's cohort of year 11 pupils after they achieved 'outstanding' results in their GCSEs.
The school, in Burkitt Road, has revealed 77.5 per cent of the 85 pupils who sat exams achieved grades nine to six, while 96.7 per cent recorded grades nine to four.
Grade nine was the school's most common result, with 21.4 per cent of pupils achieving the highest mark.
For more from the school, click here.
Sir John Leman High School
Pupils at Sir John Leman High School in Beccles rejoiced as they celebrated impressive results in their GCSEs.
Among them was Jack Fisher, who achieved eight 9s, one 7, one level 2 distinction and one A.
Reporting by Tamika Green, Kevin Hurst, Charlie Masters, Cameron Reid, Ash Jones, Chris Morris, Kaia Nicholl, Ben Robinson, Steve Barton and Paul Derrick.
