Top GCSEs 'a further step towards podcasts career'

Evie Roberts has already interviewed Stephen Fry on her podcast

A Manx student hopes "lots of As" in her GCSE results will help her realise her dream of turning her podcast - which tackles stereotypes around disabilities - into a full-time career.

Evie Roberts, who is blind, has already interviewed author Stephen Fry and broadcaster Fearne Cotton for her Talking in the Dark podcast.

The teenager, born with bilateral anophthalmia, said she was "really happy" with her results because she can now study A-Levels at Ballakermeen High School (BHS) and then hopefully study journalism at university.

Evie was one of more than 1,000 young people on the Isle of Man to pick up their results on Thursday. The overall pass rate remained at 98% for a third year.

The Department for Education, Sport and Culture also confirmed the number of students who received A* to C had dropped 2% to 71%, with those achieving top grades of A* to A remaining at 20%.

It said about 90% of students were set to attend sixth form or University College Isl of Man (UCM), with about 10% expected to move directly into employment.

More than 1000 students picked up their GCSE results on Thursday

Now set to study A-levels in sociology, music and classics, Evie said her GCSE revision had benefitted from "really useful" Youtube videos which "helped sum up topics" .

Evie's exams included braille papers, tactile images, a scribe and extra time, doubling the length of two-hour exams.

She said she had been left "incredibly tired after exam season".

Evie said she had taken a break from her podcast, which she hosts with the help of her teachers, to focus on her exams.

The teenager said she was looking forward to "getting back in the studio again soon... to keep telling people's stories".

Daniel Chen will return to study his A-Levels, including economics, at BHS

Elsewhere, 16-year-old Daniel Chen from Braddan said six to eight hours a day of studying had "paid off" as he "ended up getting really good grades, pretty much straight As".

Shaking after opening his results envelope, he said: "I'm just really happy with what I got, I don't think I could ask for anything more."

He is among more than 110 students who will return to BHS next month to begin their A-level courses.

Jhay Lordviloria will continue his studies at University College Isle of Man

Fellow student Jhay Lordviloria, 16, said he would miss everyone at BHS.

He is instead set to start a business studies course at UCM.

"I passed everything and got two As which I didn't expect," he said.

"Throughout my time at Ballakermeen I didn't pass maths so I was very surprised and so happy to get a C."

Because the Isle of Man has "dominant" finance and business sectors, Jhay said he was keen to concentrate on those industries, hoping it will "help me land a job" after his studies.

Jennifer Mordue is heading to Leeds to study at a performing arts college

Ahead of collecting her results, meanwhile, Jennifer Mordue from Douglas said: "I was so scared, I got like two hours of sleep.

"I've been panicking all week but honestly opening them and seeing I got what I needed was just a massive relief."

After receiving mostly C grades she has secured a place at a performing arts college in Leeds to study musical theatre, with the dream of "seeing the world while performing on cruise ships".

The 16-year-old said she had to look elsewhere for her next challenge since the Isle of Man did not offer the course she was interested in.

She said she was "sad to leave the island because it is a really big step to take at my age" but she was "really excited" to take on the challenge.

Graeme Corrin said he was 'really proud' of the students and staff at BHS

BHS head teacher Graeme Corrin said: "We've got to do some more analysis but the results look very positive, probably the best set of GCSE results we've had as a school."

He said "that meant we had lots of students with lots of options - I'm really proud of the staff and students".

Education Minister Daphne Caine told students: "Whatever your grades, you should be proud of your achievements and the resilience you've shown."