Students and staff at Durham Academy are delighted to have achieved the school’s best progress results to date.
The Ushaw Moor, County Durham, comprehensive school’s 53-strong Year 11s confirmed that 72 per cent of students achieved at least a Grade 4 in English, while 79 per cent of students who took a GCSE in French achieved a Grade 4 or better.
And 87 per cent of students achieved a Grade 4 or better in art, with further improvements in history, maths as well as massive gains in English literature.
Students who attended lessons for at least 96 per cent of the time achieved at, or better, than national expectations.
Many students at the school - part of the Advance Learning Partnership - exceeded target grades by two or more grades, with staff keen to highlight the progress students have made between primary school and the end of GCSEs.
Head teacher Alison Jobling said: “We are proudly celebrating the achievements of our young people who have worked tirelessly to secure their GCSE results and who absolutely embody our values of being confident, ambitious and respectful.
“The Academy has continued to improve outcomes and these students absolutely demonstrate our aspirational school culture, showing the excellent progress that can be made through hard work, great teaching and exceptional pastoral care.
“Every result tells an individual story and each student has been on a different journey through life and school. We would like to thank them and their parents and carers for their excellent partnership. Every one of them deserves to be congratulated.”
James Bruce, 16, was almost three grades above his targets in all subjects because of his “relentless hard work, positive attitude and attendance.”
Despite arriving in Year 8 with English as his second language, Romanian-born Octavian Ilie achieved two grades above his targets in all ten GCSEs.
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Octavian, who plans to do a computing and IT apprenticeship, said: “I am feeling great. I didn’t expect the results to be that high. I felt very anxious beforehand, I am relived now.”
Jaydie Day not only leaves school with a grade 8 in English Language (three grades above target) but also as a published author.
Caitlin McEleavey achieved one grade above her target in all subjects by “flourishing in the small school environment” after joining in Year 9.
And Scott Lloyd, 16, will be looking to excel in electrical engineering after delight at his results, including passing Maths and science with 6s.
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