Yorkshire students receive GCSE results

Gracie and Madeline received their results at Thirsk School on Thursday

Students across Yorkshire have been celebrating - or commiserating - after receiving their GCSE results.

Just over 18% of GCSE grades this year in the Yorkshire and Humber region were the top 7/A grades or above, which is about the same figure as last year.

However, the proportion of students in the region achieving the lower 4/C grades this year was just under 64%, which is less than the England average of about 67%.

Thirsk School headteacher Emma Lambden said while she was "over the moon" with her school's results, she described this year's students as a “forgotten” group in the aftermath of the Covid pandemic.

Ms Lambden said: “We tend to think, oh, Covid’s over. But, actually, these students had not long been in secondary school, and the next time they came back, we were asking them to make those big grown-up decisions like choosing GCSEs.

“So, I think it’s a big well done to all of them.”

Thirsk School headteacher Emma Lambden said she was "over the moon" with her students' results

Thirsk School students Gracie and Madeline, both 16, said they were happy with their results.

Gracie said she had achieved what she needed to go on to study at York College.

“I’m really happy because I can do the course I want at college. I’m going to do uniformed services at York. It’s police, Army, fire and prison-type services,” she said.

Meanwhile, Madeline, who will need to need to retake her maths GCSE later this year, said depending on that crucial grade, she aimed to become an air hostess.

“I’m doing a travel and tourism course and then, after I’ve completed that, I’m going to apply to an airline," she said.

Astrea Academy students Denis, Sabrine and Nicola all received the results they needed for their next steps

At Astrea Academy Woodfields in Balby, South Yorkshire, principal David Scales said he was delighted to be able to celebrate with students.

“It has been an exceptionally challenging time in education," he said.

"What’s day-to-day inspiring is seeing young people who challenge those odds and put in all that hard work and effort and then it gets rewarded on a day like today.

“Today is a day of celebration and a time to recognise the incredible achievements that these young people have made.”

Student Denis, who received the grades he needed to go on to Doncaster College, said it had been a challenging journey.

“I came here from the capital city of Romania, Bucharest. It’s been hard moving from one country to another.

"I had to leave all my friends and it was hard to make friends here because I didn’t know the language.”

Abi, another Woodfields student, who received 8s and 9s across the board, said: “I’m going to go to college to study maths, further maths and English literature. I’m hoping to go into finance.”

Lucas from Dixons Trinity Chapeltown was delighted with his results

In West Yorkshire, student Lucas at Dixons Academy Chapeltown, in Leeds, said he felt “amazing” on opening his results envelope.

“I got six 9s and some 8s and then a 6 in the subject I thought I was going to fail," he explained.

"I’m very happy. With these results I can get into my wanted college, which is Leeds Maths School.”

Emma Hickey, head of secondary at the academy, said this year's students had made excellent progress, with the school achieving results above the national average for English and maths.

Ms Hickey said: "The students have performed incredibly well. Our students have worked incredibly hard for the last five years they’ve been with us.

"Today is obviously the culmination of their hard work. We want all students to succeed at university - or a real alternative - and thrive in a top job and have a great life."

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