GCSE high achievers embody Brentwood School values

Brentwood School students today demonstrated how academic ambition, co-curricular endeavour and a spirit of community service offer a winning combination as they collected their GCSE results.

Joseph Payne, who proved himself the epitome of the School’s values and won this year’s Society of Old Brentwoods Prize for Virtue, Learning and Manners, secured a clean sweep of top grades, 9s/A*s, a feat even more remarkable given his achievements as a footballer with Colchester United FC (and the school’s 1st XI, which he represented despite being two years younger than the majority of his teammates.)

His achievement was matched by fellow Speech Day prizewinner Achinta Kundra who also scored 72 points (9s/A*s). Achinta, a keen charity advocate who spends time working on behalf of various foodbanks, was recently awarded the school’s Year 11 Food and Nutrition Prize. She was ‘looking forward to the freedom of study with the IB Diploma.’

Joseph, Achinta and many of the GCSE top performers were among Brentwood’s first group of Peer Mentors, a programme which sees older students supporting younger pupils with strategies to improve academic and motivational outcomes. Headmaster Michael Bond said such success ‘proved involvement in community actively helped students academically.’

This year’s GCSE class of 2023 collected their results under the shadow of media headlines predicting 30,000 fewer papers graded 7 or above as qualifications returned to pre-pandemic standards in terms of course content and grading. Like their Year 13 peers, the nation’s 16 year olds went through three national lockdowns when they were in Years 8 and 9.

Despite offers to turn professional, Joseph, who will soon be heading off on the school’s pre-season football tour of Portugal, is looking forward to a return to school and, following in the footsteps of famous sporting alumnus Frank Lampard (OB 1985-1995). Proud parents, Mark and Helen, praised their son for putting ‘so much effort into everything he did.’ He could still be a professional footballer but ‘education has to come first.’ Joseph said studying A Levels in Economics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Further Mathematics in Brentwood’s Sixth Form ‘guaranteed his future and gave him a back-up plan.’

Martha Machray (10 grades 8-9), a self-confessed germanophile, was one of only two UK finalists who took part in the Goethe-Institut's IDO (Internationale Deutscholympiade) in 2022. She was also awarded a Society of Old Brentwoods Prize for Virtue, Learning and Manners. Martha, who is immersed in the Music life of the school, will now join Brentwood’s popular International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.

Summer rain could not dampen the spirits of CCF Navy cadet Emma Burgess. Musician and chorister Emma, who is just back from the Music Department’s highly-acclaimed Dorset tour, also secured an impressive 10 grades 8-9. With ‘better than expected’ grades, she was looking forward to starting her Spanish, Geography and Psychology A Levels. “I am looking forward to meeting new people, taking new lessons and having more time to study Spanish,” she said.

Also back from Dorset with standing ovations ringing in her ears after performing a stunning duet of Orange Coloured Sky, was singer Charlotte Dewar who deserves another round of applause for 11 grades 8-9.

The Peer Mentor team also included Torin De Silva (11 grades 8-9); Sahara Dhir (10 grades 7-9); Elsie Playle (10 grades 7-9); Cyrus Khorshid (8 grades 7-9) and Adaolisa Odukew (9 grades 7-9) all successfully combined community service with academic prowess.

1st XI hockey and netball stalwart Jessica Philpot (10 grades 7-9) will continue her co-curricular passions when she returns to school next month as a Sixth Former studying Economics, Politics and History at A Level.

Fellow hockey enthusiast Zoe Smithers (10 grades 7-9) will join 1st XI footballer Jeshurun Sagoe (11 grades 8-9); cricketer Daniel Green (10 grades 7-9), and tennis player Reggie Edwards (10 grades 7-9) as part of the new A Level cohort.

Actress Lucy Benjamin, best known for playing Lisa Fowler in EastEnders, was ‘thrilled’ with daughter Bessie’s results (9 grades 6-9): “We are looking forward to her continuing her journey in Brentwood Sixth Form,” she added.

Proud mum and Parents Association (FoBS) stalwart Mrs Machel Kriel was delighted with son Daniel’s of 11 grades 8-9. “We are so thankful to Brentwood School for all their support in helping Daniel develop his potential since Year 3.”

Today’s results followed an excellent set of results at A Level, International Baccalaureate and BTEC, which saw over 80% of students get their first choice destination, and a similar number moving on to a ‘Top 20’ UK university.

Headmaster Michael Bond said: “Year 11 students across the country have had to show determination and resilience in overcoming the unprecedented challenge presented by Covid and the return to pre-pandemic grade distributions. Our GCSE cohort have done so alongside some outstanding contributions to the broader school community and - along with my colleagues who have supported them throughout this journey - they deserve our congratulations.

Our three Sixth Form pathways - the International Baccalaureate Diploma, A Levels and BTEC Extended Diploma allow us to help our students onto courses for which they are well suited and we are looking forward to welcoming students into our Lower Sixth where I’m sure they will continue to thrive.”