GCSE results day 2023: Live updates as Suffolk students receive grades
As students across Suffolk celebrate their GCSE results, we bring you live updates and photographs from schools across the county.
GCSE passes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have fallen for the second year running – with 68.2 per cent of grades marked at grade 4, compared to 73.2 per cent last year.
This is part of a national plan to bring results back in line with pre-pandemic levels, which were 67.3 per cent (marked at grade 4) in 2019.
Bury St Edmunds
King Edward VI School
At King Edward VI School in Bury St Edmunds, 70 per cent of all the school’s GCSE pupils were awarded grade 4 or above.
A total of 237 pupils took GCSE exams at the school, 62 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 4+ in both English and maths.
Derri O’Regan, headteacher at the school in Grove Road, said: “‘We are exceptionally proud of this year group who are the first year to see a return to normal GCSE grading standards since 2019.
“The challenges that many of our young people have overcome to achieve their grades has been massive.
“Many students have struggled with their mental health and hidden beneath the grades and figures are some amazing stories of determination and resilience.”
Ruby,16, a student of King Edward VI School, who has autism, is celebrating after getting two grade 6s, one 5 and five 4s.
“I’m very proud of how far I’ve come because in the exams the questions are never simple,” said Ruby.
“I have always had to try a lot harder because I have autism. I’m very happy with my results.”
Case study: Alfredo Luppi
King Edward VI pupil Alfredo Luppi said he is ‘really happy’ with his results.
He said: “I wasn’t sure what I was expecting but overall I’m really happy with what I’ve achieved. It’s the best that I could do and I’m just happy with what I’ve done really.
“Coming up to the table and getting the envelopes was very nerve racking but it’s open now and we’ve seen what we got. I’m just happy it’s over now really.”
Describing the impact of the pandemic, he said: “The school dealt with it really well.
“We had lots of online learning and lots of help from teachers.”
Alfredo will now head to Abbeygate Sixth Form to study maths, economics, geography.
County High
Staff at Bury St Edmunds County High School were delighted with pupils' results this year. Of the 214 students in the year group, 72 per cent achieved grade 4 or above in English and Maths.
One pupil who was extremely happy with his results was Harry Lovett, 16, from Bury. He achieved two 9s, an 8, five 7s and two 6s.
He said: "In Chemistry I got a 9 somehow and I'm so confused how I did that. Also, somehow I got a 9 in English Literature - I was not expecting that at all. I'm very happy with that."
He would now like to study A-levels with plans to attend university.
"I'm going to do A-level Biology, Chemistry and Geography and I'd like to study veterinary medicine at university."
James Ladbrook, 16, also from Bury, achieved three 9s, three 8s, three 7s, a 6, and an A in his Free-standing Mathematics Qualification (FSMQ).
He said: "I was feeling pretty nervous - I was waiting for this day to finally be over for a while but I'm happy. I got the results I needed."
He will now go to sixth form at St Benedicts Catholic School to study Maths, Physics, Computer Science and Further Maths.
Headteacher Sally Kennedy said: "It is wonderful to be able to celebrate with our students. They were assessed against the extremely demanding pre-Covid standards despite having faced significant disruption to their education and so they should be particularly proud of their achievements.
"We are excited for our students as they take their next steps and look forward to news of their future successes and to them returning to inspire those following in their footsteps at County High.
"I would also like to thank the County High staff for their dedication to their students and unwavering commitment."
Head of year Rick Hamill added: "It has been a real pleasure to work with this year group. They have shown tremendous academic resilience, as well as contributing enormously to life of the school beyond the classroom. They should be very proud of their achievements, and I wish them all well with their plans for next year."
West Suffolk College
Hazel Williams, 46, from Bury St Edmunds, took a GCSE in biology at West Suffolk College and secured a grade 5 result.
She took the qualification to fulfil her ambitions of becoming a teacher.
Hazel said: “By doing this I’ve broadened my mind by coming here. I’ve learned a new subject, I’ve met new people and I’ve gained confidence back in myself.”
St Benedict’s Catholic School
Imogen Senior, headteacher of St Benedict’s Catholic school in Bury said: “As a comprehensive school we take pride in the progress and success of all our students not just the highest grades and the results this year show once again that all our students can achieve their potential regardless of starting point, background or any other factor.
“We are incredibly proud of this cohort of 151 students and their achievements under the tragic circumstances these exams were taken.”
A Year 11 student at the school, Salvador Modke, died in May this year, after a collision with a car in Thetford.
The headteacher continued: “This year group have shown themselves to be compassionate, kind, and resilient young people.
“These results are just part of their Bennies education and whilst they are excellent results, they are part of a much bigger picture which is even more impressive and we feel that releasing raw attainment figures at this point does not take this into account, but we are confident that the progress 8 data will be strong as attainment for this group is above or in line with 2022 figures.
“We are especially proud of the students who joined us from Ukraine and all that they have achieved.”
St Benedict’s Catholic School pupil Phoebe Harpur-Davies, 16, from Bury, could not believe her achievement after she received 12 grade 9s.
This is the second time a pupil at the school received 12 grade 9s with Adam John achieving this last year.
Phoebe, who is one of 125 students in England to achieve 11 or more grade 9s, said: "It's amazing. I can't really believe it. It was very stressful leading up to it and then to see all the work pay off is crazy.”
Another pupil celebrating success at St Benedict’s was Angel Jose,16, from Bury St Edmunds.
Angel achieved nine grade 9’s, two 8’s and a 7 and she said she felt relief on receiving her results.
She will now go on to do A-levels.
"I want to do further maths, maths, computing and business," she added.
Sybil Andrews Academy
Sybil Andrews Academy celebrated with Year 11 students as they collected their GCSE results this morning.
A total of 62 per cent of students achieved an English and maths grade 4 or higher – an improvement of 10% from the summer of 2019 when pupils last sat exams under the same parameters.
Kevin Blakey executive headteacher said: ‘I am very proud of all of our students and their achievements.
“Our congratulations go to all of them, along with best wishes for their next steps. They have been supported by teachers, support staff and, of course, parents - and we thank them all.”
Thurston Community College
At Thurston Community College 37 per cent of their 267 students achieved at least one grade 9, whilst 90 per cent of pupils received at least one grade 4.
A total of 68 per cent of the students achieved grade 4 or above in both English and maths.
Nicky Mattin, principal at the school near Bury St Edmunds, said: “Students receiving their results today will go onto great things.
“I would personally like to congratulate them on all their achievements as well as thanking all staff, teaching and support, for their dedication, hard work and commitment.
“Not forgetting the amazing parental support that many have needed over the past few years. With all the pressure that our students have felt themselves under, the Thurston community has once again risen to the challenge.”
SET Ixworth School
A total of 68 pupils took GCSE exams at the SET Ixworth School near Bury.
Mark Barrow, executive headteacher at SET Ixworth School, said: ““I often tell the students to control what they can control and to not worry about things they can’t change or influence. It is fantastic to see this cohort taking ownership of their learning and working so well with our staff.
“There are also individuals in this year group who have overcome significant challenges in terms of mental health and difficult personal circumstances, and it has been great to see hard work rewarded and personal goals met or exceeded.
“I would also like to recognise the unwavering support of our parent and carers and the tireless efforts of our committed staff.”
Culford School
At Culford School near Bury St Edmunds a total of 97 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 9 – 4.
Claire Bentley, interim head said: “ “We are delighted with the results of this tenacious year group whose hard work has brought grades that are well-deserved. We congratulate them on their dedication and achievement, and thank our staff for their continued level of ambition for all pupils and for providing both encouragement and support to each and every one of them.
“For our pupils, these results are just the beginning and just one part of the Culford journey. We look forward to welcoming them back for Culford VI and the excitement that lies ahead.”
Stowmarket
Stowupland
Stowupland High School
GCSE students at Stowupland High School celebrated as they picked up their exam results this morning.
Headteacher, David Brewster said: “We are delighted by our students’ results and immensely proud of everyone who completed their GCSEs this summer.
“I am very grateful for all the support and guidance that has been provided both at home by parents and carers along within school by our teachers and support staff.
“I look forward to welcoming students back into our Sixth Form and wish them all the best for their futures.”
Student Paige Phillips, 16, from Stowmarket, said she was thrilled with her results.
“My results are a lot better than I thought they would be,” she said. “It feels really good – I’m literally buzzing.
“Next I plan to stay at Stowupland Sixth Form to study Geography, Sociology and English Literature.
“To celebrate, I’m going to Norwich to do some sixth form clothes shopping.”
Mildenhall
Mildenhall College Academy
A total of 193 pupils took GCSEs at Mildenhall College Academy, with 53 per cent achieving Grade 4+ (including English and maths).
Principal of the school Nicola Hood said: “We are delighted with our results this year which have seen a dramatic increase in the number of students achieving the very top grades.”
She continued: Students at Mildenhall College Academy this year achieved 65 per cent more top grades (grades 9-8) than their peers did last year. This is significant in light of the fact that they had significant disruption over two years of their learning in Years 8 and 9 and unlike last year sat the full suite of examinations covering the full content.
All students have done well and should be very proud of the examination results they have achieved. Perhaps more importantly they should be proud of the young people they have developed into over the course of their education and the resilience, determination and courage they have shown.”
Thetford
Thetford Academy
Students and staff at Thetford Academy are celebrating today following the GCSE results, with 60 per cent of students achieving 9-4 in maths and English, up from 51 per cent in 2019.
There were some stand-out performances from individual students. Twin brothers Taylor and Tyler achieved between them twelve Grade 9s, six Grade 8s, one Grade 7 and a Starred
Distinction. Both Taylor and Tyler Mark-Conlon will be continuing in the Thomas Paine Sixth Form.
Brandon
Breckland School
A total of 60 per cent of students at Breckland School in Brandon achieved grades 4-9 in English and maths.
Annabelle Culley-Tea, head of school praised students who have worked incredibly hard to secure the platform for their future successes.
She also thanked previous headteacher, Jon Winn, for his leadership of the school over the last five years as well as the incredible and dedicated staff at the school and the families who do so much to support their young people, particularly in the exam years.
Mrs Culley-Tea added: “We are very proud of all our students and we look forward to hearing of their bright and exciting futures.
“These results confirm the school’s continuing growth and success and shows that this is a school where the students and teachers work effectively together for every child.
“The school continues to be ambitious and has the support of its community to be able to realise its aspiration to be the exceptional school the community of Brandon so clearly deserves.”
Newmarket
Newmarket Academy
Pupils at Newmarket Academy have been praised after 38 per cent of the 163 pupils taking GCSEs achieved grade 5 and above in English and maths, up from the 32 per cent recorded in 2019.
“We would like to congratulate all our fantastic Year 11 students who have received their GCSE results," said Martin Witter.
“We would also like to thank our young people, their families and all the staff at Newmarket Academy for all of their hard work over the years.
“We wish our students all the very best for their exciting next steps we are sure they will go on to do amazing things.”
Sixteen-year-old Ray Williams's results tally included four grade 9s, and three grade 8s, and will see him heading to Hill Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge next month to study maths, further maths, economics, and politics at A level.
A former pupil at Ditton Lodge primary school in Newmarket Ray said he was very pleased with his results.
He will be joined there by Luciana Colorado, 16, who will be studying A levels in maths, biology, and chemistry, after achieving two grade 9s and three grade 8s. Her results also include a grade 6 in French and Btec qualifications in health and social care, hospitality and catering and health and wellbeing. Luciana, who moved to the academy in Year 9 said she eventually hopes to study medicine at university. "I was at school in Cambridge but once I moved to Newmarket my grades improved," she said.
Cole Sebastian, 16, managed the equivalent of three A*s and two grade As among his results and will be studying business, maths, and IT, at Long Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge. His parents Nick and Tamara praised his hard work and the support given to students by the academy staff.
Sharma Green, 16, said she was very pleased with her results, including three grade 8s which see her heading to Abbeygate Sixth Form College in Bury St Edmunds where she will be studying criminology, sociology, philosophy and ethics. Sharma, who is dyslexic, said: "I felt overwhelmed at times but worked through it and am very pleased with my results." Mum Sonia, who was with her daughter as she opened her results, added: "She has worked very hard and I am very proud of her."
Haverhill
Samuel Ward Academy
Students at Samuel Ward Academy have been praised after picking up their GCSE results.
Kev Geall, head of school, said: “We would like to congratulate all of our Year 11 students on the hard work, determination and resilience that have led to these results.
“These students have had to overcome so many challenges in recent years and I am delighted that they have developed the skills and qualifications needed for success in the next phase of their lives and beyond.
“Well done to staff and parents for all their efforts in supporting these students in achieving these successes.
“We wish all of our students every success for the future and look forward to welcoming many to Haverhill Community Sixth Form.”
This year, grade boundaries in England were returned to unadjusted pre-pandemic levels and 64% of our students achieved grade 4+ in both English and mathematics.
Notable achievements included Alice Griffiths who achieved six grade 9s and three grade 8s, Megan Edwards who achieved 5 grade 9s and one grade 8, Alex De Carvalho who achieved three grade 9s and four grade 8s and Dan Quarrell who achieved three grade 9s and three grade 8s.
Castle Manor Academy
GCSE students at Castle Manor Academy earned praise after an excellent set of results for the cohort.
School leaders paid tribute to the “resilience and incredible hard work” of students who have achieved the best set of results the school has ever had – despite the fact their Year 11 was their first uninterrupted school year since 2018-19.
After 60 per cent of students achieved grades four or above in English and Maths, headteacher Vanessa Whitcombe said: “The class of 2023 should be delighted with their results.
“I am so proud of how hard they have worked and how their maturity, resilience and focus has really developed over the year.
“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.”
Sudbury
Ormiston Sudbury Academy
Caroline Wilson, principal at Ormiston Sudbury Academy said: “We are so proud of our students and the results they have achieved, which are incredibly well deserved.”
She continued: “They have worked hard over the last two years, and throughout their time with us, and it really is a pleasure to be celebrating their achievements today.
“I would like to thank all our students, their families, our staff and the wider academy community for their ongoing support, which has been so central to this success; we look forward to hearing about our students’ exciting progress on to the next stage of their education.”
Clare
Stour Valley Community School
Stour Valley Community School’s class of 2023 collected their GCSE results today.
Headteacher Rachel Kelly said: “We are delighted to see hard work and resilience recognised and we are particularly pleased to see that so many of them made such good progress from their individual starting points, at every level.
“This year group has been through some challenging times as we suffered the tragic deaths of two Y11 students during 2022-23. Our thoughts are also with Haydn and Harley’s families today.”
Some of Stour Valley Community School’s highest achievers gaining mainly 7 – 9 grades were:
Abigail Cole who achieved six 9s, five 8s and a 7; Mabel Stocker who achieved four 9s, three 8s, four 7s; Jordan Newton who achieved three 9s, five 8s, 2 7s; Esther Lawson who achieved three 9s, five 8s, three 7s; Miriam Bursell who achieved two 9s, six 8s, and a 7; Darcy Hertz who achieved one 9, three 8s, five 7s; and Phoebe Day who achieved nine 8s.
East Suffolk
Woodbridge
Farlingaye High School
Farlingaye High School in Woodbridge has praised its students for overcoming ‘tremendous challenges’ after a tumultuous few years as they picked up their GCSE results today.
You read a full report on the results from Farlingaye High School – here.
The school said 99 per cent of its pupils passed their GCSEs this year, with a record number of students wishing to stay on for Sixth Form.
Case study
Student Shivam Gogna scored top grades in his GCSEs despite having to travel nearly three hours a day to get to school.
His family moved to Ipswich but Shivam insisted on staying at Forest Gate Community School in east London.
The school has been ranked in the top 50 for GCSE exam results for the last six years in a row.
He said: “It has among the best exam results in the country so I wanted to stay to do my GCSEs here.
“The school ran extra revision classes before and after school every day during Year 11. It meant I sometimes left home at 6am and didn’t get home for 12 or 13 hours.”
His hard work paid off, scoring grades 6-9 in all his exams. He will now study A-levels in maths, economics and accounting.
His teacher at Forest Gate Community School Thomas Leather said: “He deserves great results more than most.
"He never missed a revision session, an intervention or even a class during the whole of year 11.
“He dedicated himself completely to getting the best possible results and his hard work has paid off. He is a shining example to his fellow students.”
Ipswich
Suffolk New College
One student celebrating GCSE success today is Anna Blowers, 74, from Nacton, near Ipswich.
Anne who works at Suffolk New College said: “I was really pleased with my results as you always do question how well you did.
“On the day it’s all about the exam and how you cope with it. The exam was in a hall with everybody else and I enjoyed it. I’m a bit of a nerd.”
“After lockdown I decided I needed to go back to work, applied for a job as a learning support practitioner at Suffolk New College and got it – and had to do my exams again.”
Anne was one of hundreds of learners to collect their results today at the college’s campuses in Ipswich, Otley and Halesworth.
Ipswich School
At Ipswich School 100 per cent of its pupils achieved at least five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English and Maths.
Of the 143 people who collected their results today, a total of 29 passed all subjects at grade 7 or above.
Nicholas Weaver, the headteacher of Ipswich School, said: “In a year with our biggest GCSE cohort of 143 students, this is an amazing achievement and shows how hard the students and their teachers have worked.”
Royal Hospital School
Royal Hospital School in Holbrook is celebrating as pupils achieved 101 grade 9s.
Simon Lockyer said it was a significant achievement due to inference from the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, 91 per cent of exams resulted in at least a level 4 grade.
The top performer was Holly Nichols, from Manningtree, who earned 10 level 9s.
Royal Hospital School in Holbrook, outside the town, is celebrating as pupils achieved 101 grade 9s.
Simon Lockyer said it was a significant achievement due to inference from the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, 91 per cent of exams resulted in at least a level 4 grade.
She said: “I am so pleased with my results and look forward to celebrating with my family on a sunset cruise this evening.”
Simon Lockyer, the headmaster, said: “I am really delighted for our 2023 GCSE cohort, who have had to navigate the disruption to some of their most formative educational years.”
GCSE reporting by: Kevin Hurst, Martyna Wiecha, Tamika Green, Ash Jones, Steve Barton and Suzanne Day.
