Eden pupils celebrate GCSE results

Ullswater Community College students celebrate GCSE results

Youngsters from across the county are getting their GCSE results today.

Pupils will be considering their next steps – sixth form, college or apprenticeships are all on offer, among other options.

This is the first year group to have taken GCSE exams since 2019, after COVID-19.

Overall grades for GCSEs are expected to be lower than 2020 and 2021. Grades were based on teachers’ assessments, and this led to a rise in top marks. However, the class of 2022 is expected to pick up higher marks than those awarded in 2019.

Vicki Jackson, chair of Cumbria Association of Secondary Headteachers, said: “Students in all schools across Cumbria must be congratulated on achieving their exam results this year. They have worked tirelessly over the last two difficult years, with determination to fulfil their aspirations.

“Staff who work in schools also need to be congratulated for supporting students in our county. Without the dedication and commitment of teachers and support staff our students would not have been so successful.

“We thank parents and carers for their support for our young people and their schools in what have been unusual times in education since the onset of the Covid pandemic and the subsequent impacts.

Peter Blackburn, the association’s vice-chair, added: “We wish all the students the very best and whether they are remaining in their current school for sixth form or heading off to other providers, we hope that they have all got the grades they need for those next steps.

“Cumbrian schools have worked together and supported each other to ensure that of our young people receive a high quality education. As in previous years schools across Cumbria have agreed not to use the results to make comparisons between schools whose contexts are very different and this gives us an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the achievements of our children.”

Councillor Sue Sanderson, Cumbria County Council’s cabinet member for schools and learning, said: “My congratulations go to all students in Cumbria who have received examination results today.

“Results day is always a day of excitement, high emotions and mixed feelings depending upon individual results. I want to take this opportunity to congratulate our young people on all their hard work, after which you can now focus on the future and the opportunities that lie ahead.

“I also want to say thank you to all the headteachers, teachers, parents and carers for their support to our young people over the last few months.”

Need help deciding what to do next?

If you’re unhappy with your GCSE grade, you should first talk to your school or college. If you still think you’ve been unfairly graded after a review, you can ask your school or college to appeal.

Careers organisation Inspira has produced an online toolkit of resources for youngsters not sure what to do after their GCSEs here or youngsters can book an appointment to talk to an adviser face-to-face, over the phone or online.

Centres will be open as normal for face-to-face drop-ins, Monday to Friday, 1pm-5pm.

Extra appointment times are also available in the immediate hours and days after GCSE results:

Thursday August 25 and Friday August 26, 1pm-6pm.
Saturday August 27, 10am-noon.

Phone or virtual appointments can be made by contacting an adviser at the following centres:

Carlisle (covering Carlisle and Eden): 01228 596272.
Workington (covering Allerdale and Copeland): 01900 604674.
Barrow (covering Furness and South Lakes): 01229 824052.

Ullswater Community College, Penrith

Headteacher Stephen Gilby said: “As a Cumbrian and community school, we are incredibly proud to serve our children, their families and the communities they come from.

“Recent years have been incredibly challenging, for both students and staff. The achievements of our students this year, and the way they have approached their time in school, makes them a credit to themselves, their families and the school. I want to congratulate them all on their achievements.

“The overwhelming majority of our students will be very pleased with their results and now have the keys to go onto to their chosen next step. Their results reflect their hard work and their dedication, as well as the support they have received from their families and the teachers and staff of UCC.

“It is only right that we recognise that the variability in how students and schools have been affected by COVID-19 and I want to encourage everyone to focus on the success of our students and celebrate their achievements as individuals with their own story to tell.

“We congratulate all our students and families today and wish them every success for the future – needless to say, I remain incredibly #ProudtobeUCC.”

Marcus Castle and Cath Jones, heads of Year 11, added: “The students have done an incredible job, they have worked so hard through the most challenging times we have seen in school in many years.

“They have been so supportive of one another and their families have also made a significant contribution to the fantastic results they are all collecting today. We’re really proud to have been a part of their journey, to have been able to get to know them and to set them on their way to making a huge contribution in their future careers. Well done, each and every one of you!”

Top marks included:

Holly Broomhall – 4x grade 9 / 3x grade 8 / 1x grade 7 / 1x grade 5
Ben Johnston – 4x grade 9 / 3x grade 8 / 2x grade 6
Lucy Gee – 3x grade 9 / 3x grade 8 / 1x grade 7 / 2x grade 6
Anna Hogg – 3x grade 9 / 2x grade 8 / 3x grade 7 / 1x grade 6
Hannah Holmes – 6x grade 8 / 3x grade 7
Kai Akrigg – 1x grade 9 / 4x grade 8 / 3x grade 7 / 1x grade 6
Robert Ramsey – 2x grade 9 / 3x grade 8 / 2x grade 7 / 2x grade 6
Rachel Abbott – 1x grade A* / 5x grade 8 / 2x grade 7 / 1x grade 6
Chloe Toon – 1x grade 9 / 3x grade 8 / 2x grade 7 / 1x grade D / 2x grade 6
Alex Gate – 1x grade 9 / 3x grade 8 / 3x grade 7 / 1x grade 6 / 1x grade 5
Ellie Harrison – 3x grade 8 / 4x grade 7 / 2x grade 6
James Heape – 1x grade 9 / 2x grade 8 / 3x grade 7 / 2x grade 6 / 1x grade 5
Lucy Benson – 1x grade *2 / 1x grade 8 / 4x grade 7 / 3x grade 6
Katie Rouse – 2x grade 8 / 4x grade 7 / 3x grade 6
Olivia Allcock – 2x grade 8 / 3x grade 7 / 3x grade 6 / 1x grade 5
Katie Broadhead – 1x grade 8 / 4x grade 7 / 4x grade 6
Niall Eland – 1x grade 9 / 1x grade 8 / 2x grade 7 / 4x grade 6 / 1x grade 5

Appleby Grammar School

Headteacher Elaine Sargent said: ” Cumbrian schools are proud to serve our children, their families and the communities they come from. Over the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic this, for sustained periods has been a trying time, for both students and staff.

“The achievements of the students are all the more special given the challenges they faced while studying over the last two years. We congratulate them all on the manner in which they have coped in these quite extraordinary times.

“The adaptations to the exam series this year has allowed for the students to take their exams in a manner as close to a normal year as possible. Whilst these changes were not always ideal, the students should be rightly proud of their grades.

“It is only right that we recognise that the variability in how students and schools were affected by COVID-19 means that any meaningful comparison between schools is simply inappropriate.

“It is for this reason that we would caution against such comparisons and instead encourage everyone to focus on the success of our students and celebrate their achievements as individuals with their own story to tell.

“It has been a great morning at Appleby Grammar School as many staff came into school to celebrate with students as they collected their results. A number of students achieved the very highest grades in almost all of their subjects and we are absolutely delighted for them.

“We know however that it is not just about grades but the journey and the progress made. For that reason, we would like to celebrate all of our students who have made us incredibly proud today by achieving grades that have surpassed even their own expectations.

“We will be welcoming a large number of students back into our Sixth Form and wish every success to those heading off to take up apprenticeships or start college courses in September. Well done!”

Kirkby Stephen Grammar School

Headteacher Gary Hartley said: “We congratulate all the young people on their achievements today and wish them all every success in the future.

“Our students are also more than the sum of their grades and so today we want to celebrate the individuals who have shone for all sorts of reasons.

“Congratulations to all of our students for perseverance and resilience during unprecedented challenges regardless of the grades they achieved. Every student turned up for every exam, which is amazing in itself.”

Top marks included:

Clemency Clark, who achieved seven grade 9s, two grade 8s and a Distinction.
Nina Keegan, who achieved seven 9s, and two 8s.
Esme Thompson achieved six 9s, an 8 and two 7s.

Mr Hartley added: “There were many other excellent results, including students who significantly outperformed their targets. An example is Rowan Dey, who achieved three grade 8s, two 7s, a 6 and two 5s. Some of these grades were three grades above his target grade for those subjects.”