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Search forAll the hard work pays off with those long-awaited GCSE results
Thursday, August 28, 2008, 00:00
You could almost taste the nibbled fingernails as anxious teenagers gathered in the school's dining hall to patiently queue up for that piece of paper, which held the key to their futures.
For some, there would be disappointment — but for others, relief and even shocked surprise at having done better than they hoped.
Ed Russell, 16, from Ilfracombe achieved an incredible eight A* grades — but was hoping it would be bumped up to 10 once a technicality over coursework grading had been sorted out.
"I was a bit nervous beforehand — but I'm even more nervous now, as I'm waiting to see if I could get two more A* grades."
Ed plans to go on to Sixth Form to do Maths, Further Maths, History and English Literature, followed by a career in finance.
Andy Roberts, 16, from Combe Martin was pleased to have got "everything above a C-grade."
And Peter Roach, 17, also from Combe Martin was in for a pleasant surprise: "I was nervous. But English was my weakest subject and I got a B."
He plans to go to study History, Biology, Chemistry and Maths at A-level.
Ellie Swanson confessed she was "too nervous to eat," before arriving at school to collect her results — but was pleased with her six GCSEs which will enable her to go on to study Beauty Therapy at North Devon College.
And her friend, Gabby Prentice, is planning to go to the same college to study Art and Design, after getting seven GCSEs, with an eye on a career as an arts teacher.
And with seven GCSEs, Zoe Martin is heading for the same college destination, for a course in travel and tourism.
While Peter Brown said he was "surprised and pleased" with his amazing tally of 10 A-grades plus one A* and one B-grade.
He hopes that after A-levels he will be heading for Plymouth or Bristol university to study IT.
Head of IT Stewart Dine said: "We got a 100% pass rate in IT at grades A to C this year — which is very important, considering we are a media arts school."
And assistant head Paul Roberts said: "We are very pleased with the results. There were certainly plenty of smiley faces here and the majority of students have got what they needed to take the next step in their careers.
"We have a healthy number returning to Sixth Form next year to do A-levels and Level Two courses, and a number who will be leaving us to study courses at North Devon College or to take up apprenticeships.
"But for those who were a bit disappointed, we are also offering plenty of support for Level Two options or other choices."
Elsewhere both Holsworthy Community College and Bideford College are celebrating their "best ever" GCSE results.
In Holsworthy, 75% of candidates achieved five or more higher level passes and a total of 59% of pupils gained five or more A*-C grades including English and Maths.
Nearly 150 of Bideford College's students gained five or more GCSEs graded A* to C — 46.8% of students.
The 2008 result is a 7.6% increase on the previous year, with the boys results up by a massive 15%.
Principal, Veronica Matthews, said: "Our students have done really well — these are the college's best results ever.
"The boys in the year group have performed particularly well and I am really pleased with the results and what they mean in terms of the work that we are doing at the college."
WHAT A RESULT: Ilfracombe College pupils Zoe Martin, Emily Garrad, Ellie Swanson and Gabby Prentice show off their certificates. Photo: Rob Tibbles 0808-138_07
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