Ipswich GCSE results: Suffolk New College, Ipswich School and Royal Hospital School celebrate results
As pupils across Suffolk celebrate their GCSEs results, Suffolk News looks how pupils at schools in Ipswich fared.
Suffolk New College
Hundreds of pupils from Suffolk New College collected their results today.
In total, 262 pupils achieved at least a grade 4 in Maths and English – while 714 students earned a functional skills qualification English and/or Maths.
The majority of these were aged between 16 and 18 – but some mature students took resits.
74-year-old Anne Blowers collected her GCSE results today.
She decided she needed to get back to work after lockdown, and after gaining a job at the college had to resit her exams – and secured a functional skills and a level 8 in English.
In addition, Ipswich bin man Sam Wahl also collected his results.
His results have put him on the path to becoming a counsellor.
In addition, 18-year-old Toby Guy, also from Ipswich, sat his GCSE in English after securing a level 5 in Maths last year.
He was home-educated, so he didn’t take resits.
He said: “I got a five in my GCSE English and I’m pleased to pass.
“The college has been supportive in helping me with things I don’t understand. Next up I’m doing a carpentry course in Ipswich.”
Chris Gilbert, the director of English and maths at Suffolk New College, said: “I am so proud of all the learners and the staff who have supported them throughout this academic year.
“We are delighted that we have been able to help so many people develop their numeracy and literacy skills.”
Marianne Flack, the deputy principal of Suffolk New College, said: “The overall picture is looking very positive in terms of our results this year – not just in terms of GCSEs but also across all of our vocational qualifications and apprenticeships.
“We would like to congratulate everyone for all their hard work and determination this year – and we look forward to helping new and current students achieve great things as they either start a course or return to one of our four campuses next month.”
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.
“We are delighted to celebrate their achievements today, following the successes of our A Level students last week.”
Three outstanding successes were Lily Newland, Madeleine Weaver and Ananya Mishra, who each achieved all of their exams at grade 9.
Andrew Bradshaw, the head of middle school, who wished the students a successful future, said: “It has been lovely this morning to see our Year 11 students back in school and to celebrate their GCSE results with them.
“They are a great group of young people who have contributed a lot to school life - on the sports field, in the concert hall, on stage and generally making the most of all their opportunities.”
Royal Hospital School
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 interference from the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, 91 per cent of exams resulted in at least a level 4 grade.
The school’s top performer was Molly Nichols, from Manningtree, who achieved a clean sweep – 10 level 9 grades.
Currently on holiday in Spain, she said: “I am so pleased with my results and look forward to celebrating with my family on a sunset cruise this evening.”
She will go on to study A-Levels in Classical Civilisation, Geography and Mathematics at RHS’s Sixth Form from September.
Jesse Dallas, from Maldon, was the school’s top-performing boy.
He earned levels 8 or 9 on all ten subjects.
Jesse said: “I am really happy with my results and look forward to celebrating with family later”.
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.
“RHS is proud to recruit pupils from diverse backgrounds, which is what makes our school so special; to give pupils the opportunity and support to achieve to their full potential and to provide a platform for their post-16 education takes the support and dedication of teachers as well as a team of other colleagues who share a belief and interest in developing our pupils.
“I am immensely proud of all that they have achieved both academically and through their wider commitment to life at RHS, with many balancing their academic work with involvement in sport, music, sailing, debating and the numerous other opportunities available here at the school. We look forward to welcoming the vast majority back to join us in the Sixth Form, which is often see as the most memorable and exciting two years”.
SuffolkNews is offering live updates on GCSE results across the county.
Reporting by Martyna Wiecha and Ash Jones.
