Superb GCSE results at Denstone College

Left to right: Amber Harrison – (Ashbourne), Priya Toor – (Uttoxeter), Oliver Macara – (Littleover), Matthew Pepper – (Ashbourne), Edward Hughes – (Ashbourne), Lottie Fitzpatrick – (Rocester), Charlotte Montford – (Stafford)

Fifth Form pupils at Denstone College, near Uttoxeter, are celebrating after achieving a number of excellent results in their GCSE and IGCSE exams. 

Most exams taken were of the new, reformed style whereby candidates are numerically graded. 25% of these new GCSEs resulted in the top grades, 8 or 9, which equates to an A*. Indeed the new grade 9 has been designed to recognise the very highest achievement, above and beyond the old A*. The top two students in the year group were Luke Stride and Priya Toor who each achieved six grade 9s, the grade viewed as an outstanding A*, along with a further 2 A*s in IGCSE English Language and Literature; this is a tremendous achievement.

Over 40% of the reformed GCSEs taken were graded as 9 to 7 (equivalent to A*/A) and 99% of candidates achieved a pass in both Maths and English IGCSE. There were other noteworthy, individual successes: nine students achieved a clean sweep of grade 9 to 7 (or equivalent) in the exams that they took. They are Isabelle Carter, Lottie Fitzpatrick, Amber Harrison, Oliver Macara, Charlotte Mountford, Matthew Pepper, Charles Plummer, William Thowless- Reeves, and Priya Toor.

Girls and boys had success in a broad range of subjects. Creative Arts fared especially well: in Drama over half the pupils who took the subject attained grades 8 or 9, while in Art, 33% of the students attained those grades and for Music it was a fantastic 66%. In History, 65% of students achieved a grade 7 or above. In Maths IGCSE, 61% of those who took the summer exam attained a grade 7 or above.

Headmaster, Miles Norris said: “There are a great many successes to celebrate here. With the Government reforms that have been made to GCSEs for this cohort, pupils have faced tougher content with more demanding final examinations. Our pupils have performed extremely well and should be proud of their achievements.”

Left to right: Grace Andrea – (Burton On Trent), Brooke Wilson – (Burton On Trent), Lottie Fitzpatrick – (Rocester), Danielle Furness – (Ashbourne)