GCSE results day 2023 is here and nerves have been running high across Rugby.
Education chiefs have warned that, as with A Levels last week, GCSE results nationally could take a dip due to a return to pre-pandemic grading.
See how local schools have performed as the results come in.
Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College
Staff at Avon Valley are delighted with the ‘excellent’ set of results achieved by students this year.
The school achieved a strong set of results across all GCSE and BTec subjects, with 62 per cent of the cohort achieving a grade 4+ in English and Maths.
A school spokesperson said the highest performing student in the school, Martyna Sienkiewicz, achieved a ‘fantastic’ set of results.
Other high achieving students include Christiana Nicolae, Elise Brooks-Broodie, Maisha Akand, Jack Taft and Jack Cooke.
Headteacher Alison Davies said: “It is fantastic to see our students achieving such an impressive set of results. This is a real testimony to all the hard work put in by students, staff and parents.
“The last few years have been a huge challenge for all students, and many of them missed significant amounts of time through illness and isolation. To do well students needed to show real dedication to their studies, and I am pleased that our students rose to the challenge.
“I would like to congratulate the class of 2023 and wish them all the very best as they move on to the next stage of their education.”
Princethorpe College
At Princethorpe College, from a cohort of 159 pupils, 42 per cent of all entries were the coveted 9, 8 or 7 grades, with 16 pupils achieving all 9, 8 or 7 grades.
Headmaster Grove du Toit said: “I would like to congratulate all of our Year 11 pupils. I am delighted with the excellent results they have achieved in spite of the unprecedented challenges and disruption to their learning of the last few years; it is a privilege to be amongst so many happy pupils and to be able to celebrate each individual success.
“We are of course delighted with the high number of top grades, but we are proud of all our pupils who have worked hard and done their very best. Whilst their results are important, this year group have also demonstrated many fine qualities worth celebrating, such as kindness, respect, determination and friendship.
“All credit goes to our pupils and staff for their commitment and hard work. The College goes from strength to strength, and we look forward to welcoming the vast majority of this cohort back into our successful Sixth Form for the next stage of their education.”
Ashlawn School
There were lots of smiling faces at Ashlawn School in Rugby this morning when students celebrated a host of top GCSE results.
Among them were six students who all achieved at least five Grade 9s each – Natasha Wright, Blythe Kilburn-Small, Ana Carlig, Sangwon Kang, Ava Rogerson and Eva Diaz-Aliste.
Natasha Wright, who achieved eight Grade 9s and a Grade 8, will now join Ashlawn School’s Sixth Form to study A-Levels in French, English Literature and Art. She said: “I secretly hoped for these results, so it is a relief to finally know. I worked really hard and am so pleased it paid off.”
Blythe Kilburn-Small was delighted to find out that she had achieved seven Grade 9s and three Grade 8s, including a Grade 9 in Art which she studied as an additional subject in her free time. She said: “I’m feeling good about my results, I’m pretty thrilled actually. I’m going to celebrate with an Afternoon Tea today!”
Sangwon Kang achieved six Grade 9s, one Grade 8, one Grade 7 and a Level 2 Distinction. He said: “I’m pleased with my results. I did a lot of revision, made sure I understood the content and focussed on preparing for my exams. I’m looking forward to studying A-Levels in Chemistry, Biology, Maths and Further Maths now before I apply to Medical School.”
Eva Diaz-Aliste achieved five Grade 9s, three Grade 8s and a Grade 7, and plans to study her A-Levels with the hope of pursuing a career in the creative industry in the future. She said: “I’m so shocked, I did so well. I’d like to say thank you to my teachers, I couldn’t have done it without them!”
Malwina Marchewka was also celebrating after attaining three Grade 9s, four Grade 8s and two Grade 6s. She said: “I’m so surprised, I didn’t think I had done so well, particularly my Grade 9s in Biology, Physics and Psychology. I’m looking forward to starting Sixth Form now.”
Kyle Gregory, who achieved three Grade 9s, two Grade 8s and four Grade 7s, is now planning to study Economics, Business and PE at Ashlawn School’s Sixth Form with the hope to go on to a higher-level apprenticeship or become an entrepreneur in the future. He said: “I’m happy with that – I was particularly pleased to get Grade 9-9 in Combined Science. My advice to students joining Year 11 now is if you just make sure you’re prepared and get your revision materials ready early it makes it so much easier.”
Fin Hughes achieved three Grade 9s, one Grade 8, four Grade 7s and a Grade 6. He said: “I’m pretty happy with my results, they were better than I expected especially in Psychology. We had some great support from the school – thank you!”
Other top performers who deserve a special mention are: Samuel Smith, Aiden Porter, Eva Vipond, Amellia Gerrard, Olivia Turner and Lenny Wallis.
Paul Brockwell, Principal at Ashlawn School, said: “Over the last few months we’ve been talking a lot about ‘our best, always’, an ethos that we want our whole school community to live by, every day.
“Today, I’ve seen the results of these young people working hard and trying their best in abundance and there have been some truly outstanding individual achievements. Given all that these students have been through as a result of the pandemic, that is even more remarkable.
“I would like to applaud all of our students for their tenacity and focus. They are inspirational young people who should be celebrated not only for their achievements, but also as the fantastic members of the local community that they have become.
“We are delighted to be welcoming so many of our amazing students back to our Sixth Form, as well as those joining us from other schools, and are looking forward to sharing Ashlawn’s exciting journey together with them over the next two years.”
Rugby High School
Rugby High School students are celebrating the fact that nearly a third of all grades awarded this year are a grade 9, with well over half of all grades at 9-8.
In a year where there were concerns that results would ‘fall’ to pre-pandemic levels, Rugby High School students and staff have outperformed pre-pandemic grading by nearly 10 per cent.
Head teacher Mark Grady said: “We are blown away by these results. The average grade achieved by our students was a grade 8 – a real testament to the quality of education students receive at RHS, and proof of our students’ determination and hard work to achieve the very best. We could not be happier for our students and their families, and they should be rightly proud of such outstanding results.
“Once again, our outcomes prove that RHS is absolutely the place where you can rely on getting the very best grades and support to ensure you can make successful next steps in life. This is a testament to the incredible work of our staff, and of course, the dedication and commitment of our students and families, working in partnership with us to gain the very best outcomes.
“I’m sure our students have read the doom-laden news stories about fewer top grades and that speculation is difficult to read when waiting for your results. But I am so pleased to say that the 2023 cohort have been prepared brilliantly, and have achieved incredibly highly. We are so proud of their efforts, and wish them every success in their next steps, the vast majority of whom will be staying on to complete A-Levels at Rugby High School.
“In more fantastic news for our students, several students – nearly seven per cent of the cohort – gained eight grade 9s or more, and 79 per cent of all grades awarded were grades 9-7. We are, quite simply overwhelmed at the success stories of our students.”
Harris Church of England Academy
Harris Church of England Academy are pleased to announce a strong set of GCSE results – in a year where the DfE have announced that grade boundaries would be higher and that top grades would be reduced to pre-pandemic levels.
More than a quarter of students achieved grades of 7+ in English, with 14% achieving the same high levels in Maths.
Top performers included Chloe who achieved five grade 9s, two grade 8s and a grade 7, Katarina who achieved five grade 9s, two grade 8s and three grade 7s, and Gloria achieved two grade 9s, four grade 8s, and two grade 7s.
Headteacher Roberta Harrison said: “It was incredibly rewarding to see the resulting success of a combination of students’ efforts and a curriculum tailored to their strengths.
“We wish all of our students the very best for the next stage of their learning journey.”
Rugby Free Secondary School
Year 11 students at Rugby Free Secondary School are proudly celebrating the school’s second set of externally-examined GCSE results.
Year 11 students performed especially well in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, Sociology, Computer Science, Creative iMedia, Drama, Maths and Health & Social Care.
There were multiple success stories in Year 11, including:
- Daniel B: seven Grade 9s, one Grade 8, two Grade 7s
- Denise: five Grade 9s and six Grade 8s
- Marc: five Grade 8s, four Grade 7s, two Grade 6s
- Khalil: one Grade 9, four Grade 8s, two Grade 7s
- Daniel S: one Grade 9, two Grade 8s, four Grade 7s
- Petala: two Grade 9s, one Grade 8, one Grade 7, three Grade 6s
- Caitlin: one Grade 8, four Grade 7s, three Grade 6s
- Steffi: one Grade 9, two Grade 8s, one Grade 7
- Jacob: one Grade 8, one Grade 7 and three Grade 6s.
Headteacher Iain Green congratulated Year 11 on their achievements, adding: “This year group has faced so many challenges across their educational journey, yet they have still been hard-working and committed until the end. There are so many positives within the year group, and we wish all students every success in the next stage of their futures.
“I’m sure everyone has read the newspapers and listened to the media over the last few days about how tough things will be, and that must be difficult when waiting for your results. Students have shown true resilience during their time with us, and we are very proud of them.
“I am already looking forward to next year, as our new team and vision takes shape.”
Key Stage 4 Raising Standards Leader, Mandy Milsom, said: “Year 11 students have demonstrated hard-work and enthusiasm in bucket-loads, and their ability to be resilient to the challenges they have faced has been showcased time-and-time again.
“Year 11 students have created a real team spirit that has been evident throughout their final few weeks together. We all wish them every success either at Sixth Form, College, or in their next educational step. Thank you and well done on being such great role-models for the rest of the school.”
Lawrence Sheriff School
At Lawrence Sheriff School, out of a cohort of 120 students, 115 achieved at least one grade 7 or above in their GCSEs – over 95 per cent of students.
Some 65 per cent of students achieved a grade 7 or above in both English and Maths. Almost 40 per cent of all entries were awarded a grade 8 or 9, and 65 per cent of all entries were awarded grade 7 or above.
Headteacher Teresa Mpofu said: “We are utterly delighted for our students. This year group have worked incredibly hard and have been a pleasure to work with.
“However, our students are so much more than a set of exam results: they have character, they are kind and they want to make a difference in their communities.”
The vast majority of Lawrence Sheriff students will continue into the sixth form along with a growing number of students who join the mixed sixth form from local schools.
Bilton School
Bilton School celebrated almost universal improvements across the board compared to 2022. Nearly 70 per cent of students attained at least a grade 4 standard pass in both Maths and English, with 46 per cent gaining a grade 5 or above in both subjects.
Some standout individual performances included:
- Neeraja Kanesaruban – six grade 9, one grade 8, one Distinction*
- Abbiraami Thevamanoharan – four grade 9, two grade 8, two Distinction*
- Rubi Samra – four grade 9, two grade 8, one Distinction*, one grade 7
- Bethan Smith – four grade 9, one grade 8, one Distinction*, one 7
- Imogen Llewellyn – one grade 9, six grade 8, one Distinction*
- Hana Zaman – one grade 9, three grade 8, two Distinction*, two grade 7
- Ranudi Jayasinghe – two grade 9, three grade 8, one distinction*, two grade 7.
Headteacher Tim Chambers said: ‘We are really proud that our Year 11 students have achieved so well this summer, in spite of the incredible challenges that they experienced during their upper school education.
“We are so pleased to be able to send our students onto the next stage of their journey knowing that everyone has worked so hard to gain their achievements. Lots of our students produced excellent results, and importantly met their personal learning goals.
“Well done to all our students and staff for their fantastic dedication, as well as the unwavering support from parents.”
