Liveblogs

York College & University Centre sent hearty congratulations to all their students who gained the GCSE grades they were hoping for today.

Despite the acknowledgement this year that GCSEs would be subject to significant grade deflation after higher marks were awarded during the Covid pandemic, that has not been witnessed today on campus at Sim Balk Lane.

The pass rate of male students at York College was higher than both last year and in the pre-pandemic summer of 2019.

York College’s 16 to 18-year-old students also achieved a higher ratio of Grades 9-4 than in 2022 and our adult learners (aged 19+) performed better than in 2019.   

Principal Lee Probert said: “It has been great to hear so many of our students’ GCSE success stories today and it has been encouraging that the predictions of many doom-mongers, looking at the wider national picture, were not witnessed here at York College.

“I would also like to reach out to everybody in and around the city of York who has received their exam results today.

“We look forward to welcoming many of you on campus next month, regardless of whether you received the results you were hoping for or feel that you did not quite fulfil your potential on this occasion.

“GSCE qualifications can lead to a variety of Further Education options at York College, including A Levels, T Levels, vocational qualifications and high-quality apprenticeships.

“However, schools, colleges and private training providers also have lots of alternative options for further study, so please get in touch with us and let us help you choose your next steps.”

Among those celebrating today was Yang Cheng, who achieved a GCSE Grade 7 in English Language.

Having moved to Huntington from Hong Kong a year ago, Yang studied the GCSE alongside his AS Levels, for which he also received A grades in Maths and Physics, as well as a C in Design and Technology last week.

The GCSE qualification will now mean he can pursue his ambition of studying Mechanical Engineering at university after he has completed his A Level education at Sim Balk Lane.

He said: “I’m pleased with my results and I believe that, through hard work, I got a higher grade than expected. I’ve never got a 7 before – the highest I had got was a 6, so I was quite surprised.”

Adult learner Rosie Chapman, meanwhile, could not contain her excitement after gaining the Maths and English GCSE grades she requires to apply for a career in the Police Force.

“I feel amazing, I want to dance,” she declared. “I was very surprised that I’d passed, especially Maths.

“It was very unexpected. I’m 31 now and this is the first time I’ve tried to get these GCSEs again since I was 16.

“I needed to pass so that I can progress in my career. At the moment, I work as a hygiene supervisor but I’d really like to get into the Police Force. With these GCSEs, when they are next recruiting, I can now apply.”

Former Millthorpe School student Sophie Carter-Wheatley was also all smiles after gaining pass grades in her English Language and Maths GCSEs, alongside the Level 2 Beauty Therapy Distinction she achieved.

Sophie will now progress to our Level 3 Beauty Therapy course as she pursues her dream of one day opening her own business.

She said: “I was retaking Maths and English and the College really helped me improve so much by allowing me to work remotely from home and benefit from one-to-one tuition. I chose York College because I heard lovely things about how good the support was from the tutors and in terms of mental health.”

Pupils and staff at Millthorpe School are celebrating an excellent set of GCSE results this year.

Headteacher Gemma Greenhalgh said: “We are all incredibly proud of our students at Millthorpe. They have achieved excellent results.

We have been thoroughly impressed by their resilience, dedication and relentless determination to succeed; they are a credit to our school. They have remained positive, good humoured and supportive of each other throughout their GCSE years.

“We are very grateful for the support of all of our parents and carers who have motivated their children and continued to work alongside our staff to ensure the students achieve the grades they have worked so hard to achieve.

“I would also like to publicly thank all my colleagues who have worked so hard to support and inspire our students.”

She added: “Many of our students deserve recognition for their achievements, which may not always be the highest grades, but represent real success for them.”

These Millthorpe students achieved at least eight grade 7/8/9s (equivalent to A/A* and above): Imogen Barratt, Harrison Bottomley, Dulcie Kyle, Alex Pugh, Florence Partridge, Myles Smith, Bella Gill, Jet Stokes, Hannah Jeffreys, Harvey Karmazyn, Joseph Balderson, Mal Collins, Theo Moir, Sean Kerr, Angus Moody and Olivia Weatherstone.

“Congratulations to Louisa Birch, Korbin Evans and Eloise Moore who all achieved an outstanding eight grade 9s!”

Ripon Grammar School headmaster Jonathan Webb praised students for working through adversity and disruption to achieve a strong set of GCSE results.

“I am delighted so many of our GCSE students have done so well this year. With the regrading of results to pre-pandemic levels there has been a degree of national uncertainty as overall pass rates have fallen.

“Our year group have worked through adversity and disruption to achieve a strong set of results which now allow them to access their chosen pathway for further study.

“My thanks as always to their teaching staff who have supported them so well,” he said.

The 122 students in the year group achieved a total of 432 grades 9-8, the equivalent of the old A* grades. More than 90% of grades were 9-5(A*-B)s and 57.3% were 9-7(A*-A)s.

Among those doing brilliantly is Leena Athab who achieved nine grade 9s and three grade 8s.

The 16-year-old, from Melmerby, plans to study maths at university following A-levels in maths, further maths, economics and physics.

Anastasia Bell hopes to study religion at the University of Cambridge following A-levels in religious studies, politics, German and chemistry.

The 16-year-old, from Thirsk, who achieved seven grade 9s, three 8s, one 7 and one 6, said: “I’m just so pleased all my hard work over the past two years has amounted to such a fantastic selection of results.”

 Will Bellaries achieved nine 9s, an 8 and a 7 and plans to study mathematics at university following A-levels in maths, further maths and music.

“I’m so relieved the past two years of hard work have paid off finally,” he said.

The 16-year-old, who took up piano when he was five years old, gained a distinction in his Grade 7 exam a week before taking GCSEs.

Some great results coming in from York High School today.

You can read headteacher Rod Sims’ take on the tireless work of all involved here.

Here are some of the refections of school leaders in different subjects.

English

We are delighted to celebrate success in our English results this year at York High School.  Well done to Jasmine Andrews for her grade 9 in English Literature and Alex Exelby for his 9 in English Language and congratulations to Lillie Brown for her superb 8. 

Mrs Young, Head of English, “We are so pleased with our results; students and staff worked tirelessly to continuously improve throughout the year”.

Maths

The Maths department would like to extend their congratulations to our Year 11 cohort. So many of our students worked incredibly hard and should be proud of their individual achievements. There have been a lot of fantastic results in Maths this year.

It is important to recognise the achievements of all pupils who worked diligently to achieve their target grades or above.  Exceptional performances came from Connor Power (9), Peter Dickinson (8) and Charlotte Gadd-Henderson (8).  

Humanities

Sixteen Grade 8 & 9s for the Humanities department at YHS this year across History, Geography and Religious Studies. Congratulations to Jasmine Andrews, Andrew Bijoy, Lillie Brown, Peter Dickinson, Alex Excelby, Mollie Galloway, Daniel Harman, Katrina Liddell, Emma Pamplin, Millie Stockdale, Joe Sweeting, Elena Wadsworth, Lennon Woodall & Hannah Wright. 

Mr Hardy, the head of Humanities, said: “I am very proud of these pupils who put in the extra time and effort to secure the highest grades. They are all exceptional and I expect great things from them in the future.”

Child Development

Brilliant results in Child Development at YHS.  Mrs Nicholas was over the moon at the Child Development results with Aimee Chapman and Lucy Clayton achieving Level 2 Distinction star (the highest grade possible).

Mrs Nicholas “Well done to all who studied Child Development and Health and Social Care this year and a special mention to Katrina Liddell who achieved a Level 2 Distinction star in Health and Social Care.” 

PE and Art

Well done to the 10 pupils who achieved Level 2 Merit and a special well done to Riley Harrison-Hawkins for achieving a Level 2 Distinction.

A fantastic effort from our Art pupils with a special well done to Mollie Galloway, Olivia Helm and Elena Wadsworth achieved grade 7’s. Well done to all!

DT and food

Well done to Katrina Liddel, Ewan Mcpherson, Elena Wadsworth and Beth Warriner for all achieving a grade 7 in their Food GCSE. These pupils have shown a great level of personal pride and independence in their studies. We are also delighted that Peter Dickenson and Connor Power received grade 7’s in Design and Technology, great work!