GCSE results - Kirklees and West Yorkshire results here

Aug 28 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

THOUSANDS of Huddersfield teenagers celebrated record exam results.

They joined in the nationwide celebrations with the best-ever GCSE results.

Students across Kirklees got results which have risen again by over 2% in the number of students achieving five good grades in their GCSE exam results.

It was the fourth year in a row that results had improved.

Clr Cath Harris, cabinet member for children and young people said: “I would like to congratulate all the pupils who have received their GCSE results.

“All those involved should take pride in their achievements. I would like to thank them, their parents and their teachers for the hard work and commitment which has led to their success.”

Colne Valley Specialist Arts College celebrated the best GCSE results in the school’s history.

Headteacher Carol Gormley said: “We are absolutely delighted with the achievements of all our students this year. These outstanding results reflect the hard work and commitment of all our staff and students and are a huge improvement on last year.”

There were similar celebrations at Holmfirth High School, about to start its 50th anniversary year.

Record GCSE results were posted with 78% of pupils achieving at least five good GCSE grades with 69% of the cohort achieving five good grades including English and maths.

There were some outstanding individual successes including Billy Wray who achieved 13 A*/A grade passes, Olivia Casey, Jennifer Cockin, Claire McGenity, Athena Mellor, and Aniesa Hussain 12 A*/A passes and Sarah Madine and Alice Jackson with 11 top passes.

Headteacher, Dr Andy Williams, said: “These were outstanding results from a quite exemplary year. Given that five of the previous seven year groups had each in turn beaten the existing school exam records, for this year group to surpass the previous records again was fantastic – a marvellous tribute to the hard work and ability of the young people concerned, and a reflection of the excellent support they have received from school staff and their families.”

Students enjoyed results at Huddersfield Grammar School with excellent performances.

Staff and students at Castle Hall School in Mirfield are also celebrating the best results in the school’s history – with the axe hanging over the school in the autumn.

Some 73% of students achieved five or more GCSEs including English and maths at grades A* to C, the Government’s preferred measure of school performance. Some 81% of students achieved five or more A* to C grades overall.

Headteacher, Andy Pugh, said he was absolutely thrilled with the results.

“I would like to congratulate students and staff for all their hard work, and thank parents for their support at this crucial time in the children’s lives.

“These results are excellent overall, and include some fantastic performances by individual students. They are well above the stretching targets set for us by the local authority, which are based up on the performance of the top 25% of schools nationally.

“Today is all about students and their achievement, but it also demonstrates the capacity and potential of our staff team to deliver excellent results for students.

“The past year has been a challenging one for us with the threat of closure hanging over us under Kirklees’ Building Schools for the Future proposals.

“I am sure these exam results will give councillors food for thought as they prepare to decide upon the future of a highly successful and popular local school in September.”