Marriotts headteacher Beth Honnor has spoken of her pride at seeing students at the Stevenage school “overcome with emotion” when opening their GCSE results today.
“I am so proud yet again of Marriotts’ students for their strong performance at GCSE,” she said.
“They, like students across the country, have faced real challenges this year in light of national changes. However, they demonstrated a fantastic work ethic and commitment and this has paid off in great progress.
“As always they have ‘Aimed High and Worked Hard’. It was wonderful to see so many students overcome with emotion and happiness on opening their envelopes today. This is why we all do the job that we do.”
Deputy headteacher Ed Hutchings added: “Huge congratulations to all of our Year 11 students receiving their results today, it has been another strong year for Marriotts School with students making really good progress and achieving some amazing grades.
“We are very proud of our students and look forward to welcoming so many of them back into our sixth form next year.”
The school has picked out a number of students and praised them for their achievements.
Among them was Sultan Cadir, who achieved grade 8s in English language and mathematics, A* grades in physics, chemistry, art and design, and turkish. Overall Sultan obtained the equivalent of 6A*, 2A and one B at GCSE, with one Distinction* and one Merit at BTEC. “I’m really ecstatic with my results and how they turned out better than I expected,” she said.
Tyler Circuit pushed the boundaries in English literature, achieving one of the first top grades on the new scale – a grade 9.
He said: “Marriotts School has always nurtured and challenged me, I am so grateful to my teachers for giving me their time and support. It has really made a difference.”
Assistant head and English teacher Nicola Rees said: “I am so thrilled and proud, he has also achieved a C in AS creative writing, a tremendous achievement.”
Charlie Chaudhry achieved grade 8 in English literature and 7 in mathematics, with overall GCSE grades of 2A*, 3A, 2B, 1C and a BTEC Distinction.
He said: “All the intervention and extra help paid off. At times it was hard to stay motivated, but having the support from teachers has helped me massively – thank you Marriotts School.”
Maddie Ryan managed straight Distinction*s in her three BTEC subjects – health & social care, dance and sport, as well as GCSE grade 5 in English language and mathematics, grade 4 in English literature, two Bs in science and a C in German.
Karolina Szczepanik achieved an A* in art after putting in hundreds of hours of extra practice and revision, as well as a grade 5 in mathematics and a 4 in English literature which will allow her to pursue her artistic passion at sixth form. Karolina said: “I am so pleased that my time and effort made a difference.”
Marshall Ndlovu made “fantastic progress” with two Cs in science, grade 5 in English literature and 4 in mathematics. He said: “I know my work across the whole year helped make this progress. Working at home, getting support from my family and the school has all helped me improve.”
Oliver Arnold achieved Grade 4 in English language, literature and mathematics, as well as a B in history.
“I am so pleased with the support I got from the schoolm,” he said.
“I sometimes have my moments, but my teachers had faith in me and helped me to succeed.”
Further standout achievements include the following students:
Anna Barrowclough (New GCSE grades 7, 6 and 5, 2As, 3Bs and two BTEC Distinction*s)
Connor Bird (New GCSE grades 8, 7 and 7, 1A*, 2As, 2Bs and two BTEC Distinction*s)
Owen Browning (New GCSE grades 7, 6 and 6, 3As, 1B, 1C and a BTEC Distinction*)
Euan Da Rocha (New GCSE grades 8, 8 and 6, 1A*, 4Bs and a BTEC Distinction* and Distinction)
Jake Greenaway (New GCSE grades 7, 6 and 5, 2As, 3Bs and a BTEC Distinction* and Distinction)
Georgia Lambley (New GCSE grades 8, 7 and 6, 1B, 2Cs and three BTEC Distinction grades)
James Moore (New GCSE grades 7, 6 and 5, 1A, 5Bs and a BTEC Distinction*)
Jake Pickard (New GCSE grades 7, 6 and 5, 1A*, 3B, 1C and a BTEC Distinction*)
Annie Powell (New GCSE grades 6, 5 and 4, 2As, 1B and three BTEC grades at Distinction*, Distinction and Merit level)
Lisa Schnapp (New GCSE grades 8, 6 and 5, 1A, 3Bs, two BTEC Distinction*s and a Distinction)
Oskar Steczek (New GCSE grades 7, 5 and 4, 3As, 1B, 1C, 1D and two BTEC Distinction grades)
Jack Thomas (New GCSE grades 7, 7 and 6, 3As, 1B, 1C and a BTEC Distinction*)
Lauren Summers (New GCSE grades 8, 8, 5, 1B, 3Cs, and one BTEC Distinction* and two Distinctions)
Lauren Morgan (New GCSE 6, 5, 4, 1B and 2Cs, and two BTEC Distinction*s and a Merit)
Regarding not releasing overall results, a statement issued on behalf of the Stevenage secondary schools headteachers said: “This year there have been many changes in how students in Year 11 are assessed in their GCSE examinations.
“For English and maths, grades have moved from A*-G to 9-1. Examinations have become more rigorous and controlled assessment is no longer part of the English exam.
“This summer is the first time students sat the new English and maths GCSE. Throughout the year schools across the country have struggled to predict and assess what students will achieve as no grade boundaries were in place. The new system has led to confusion for students, parents and schools alike.
“With these national changes, year-on-year comparisons of attainment are not appropriate and headline progress measures will be unavailable until the official performance tables are released.
“As headteachers in Stevenage, we continue to work hard in our own schools and together as a family of schools, to raise achievement and improve the life chances of every single student in our care. This year we want to celebrate the individual success of each and every student.”
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