GCSE results day: Celebrations and congratulations as students get their rewards

For the first time since 2019 teenagers have sat their exams in person, as well as having coursework count towards their final grades.

Nationally grades have declined in a pattern similar to last week's A-level results, but there were still plenty of celebrations as pupils opened their envelopes to learn their grades.

Here's a selection of photos and stories from across the Black Country, Staffordshire and Shropshire as pupils got their just rewards for their hard work.

The Learning Community Trust says it is ‘absolutely delighted’ with GCSE results at all three of its Telford secondary schools, which have broken several records.

The Trust runs three of the largest secondary schools in the borough - Hadley Learning Community, Ercall Wood, and Charlton.

Ercall Wood achieved its best-ever results as part of across-the-board improvements in attainment rates under the school’s new leadership team.

Hadley Learning Community maintained the levels of its record-breaking results in the year before the Covid lockdown, headlined by another particularly strong performance in English.

And Charlton School continued its improvements of 2019 by recording its highest ever percentage of pupils achieving 9-4 grades, and more students achieving high English grades than ever before.

The Trust also runs Queensway School in Telford, which caters for children and young people on the autistic spectrum, and those with social, emotional and mental health difficulties. This school has also recorded its best-ever results, with many students achieving GCSE grades of 4 or above in English, maths and science.

Dr Gill Eatough, chief executive of the Trust, said: “We’re absolutely delighted with these results, which reflect the hard work of our students during what has clearly been a challenging couple of years. “These are fantastic results, which have been achieved in spite of the huge disruption to learning caused by Covid. The catch-up programmes and revision sessions we put in place for them have obviously paid dividends.”

Education Secretary James Cleverly said: “Students receiving their results today should be extremely proud, and I want to congratulate them all. The teaching profession has worked incredibly hard and these results are a testament to the resilience of both our students and staff. “We have the most exciting range of post-16 options for students to choose from now, whether that’s one of our exciting new T Levels, an apprenticeship or A levels. There is an option for everyone. “I wish students the very best of luck, no matter what those next steps are.” Kirstie Hurst-Knight, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for children and education, said: “I would like to pay tribute to the endeavour and determination of all our pupils who have sat GCSEs, the first to be held since 2019. I would like to congratulate them with their results, given the disruption to their education caused by the pandemic. “I would also like to thank headteachers and their schools and colleges staff, including our virtual school who support our looked-after students. They have shown incredible dedication, and I acknowledge the huge amount of work that schools have undertaken to support all their students, given the challenging circumstances. “I also acknowledge the excellent support, guidance and direction that other members of our school communities, including parents and carers, have provided for the pupils. “The pupils’ achievements are a culmination of all the hard work, commitment and dedication that they have shown throughout their studies. I wish them all well in their future endeavours. “This is such an important period for young people as they move on from school to continued education at school or college, or as they enter further training and employment. We wish all of Shropshire’s pupils every success in the future.” Councillor Shirley Reynolds, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for Children, Young People and Education said: “I would like to congratulate and thank the borough’s pupils, their families, our school staff and governors for another very good set of results. “I also wish everyone who took their GCSEs this year every success with the future, whether they go on to do A-Levels, do a vocational qualification or leave school to start their working lives.”

Read the full article via Shropshire Live at: https://www.shropshirelive.com/news/2022/08/25/students-across-shropshire-receive-their-gcse-results/