Wrexham Students Celebrate GCSE Success

Students across Wrexham are celebrating success today with their GCSE and vocational examination results.

Early indications have shown that 95% of pupils have achieved the Level 1 Threshold. This is in line with previous years’ high performance.

The Level 1 threshold is a volume of qualifications at Level 1 equivalent to the volume of 5 GCSEs at grade A* – G

More than three-quarters (77%) of pupils in Wrexham schools achieved the Level 2 Threshold (at least 5 passes at A*-C), which is a significant increase on last year’s performance of 67%. Just over half of students achieved the Level 2+ Threshold indicator which means at least 5 A*-C passes including English or Welsh (first language) and Maths. This is a significant increase on last year’s performance of 45%.

In total, 1211 pupils sat a broad range of GCSE, vocational and skills qualifications.

Councillor Michael Williams, Lead Member for Children’s Services and Education, said: “These are very pleasing results and I congratulate our pupils for their diligence and hard work. I wish them well as they move to the next stage of their lives be it further education, training or employment. We will continue to support our schools as together we aspire to achieve educational excellence for young people in Wrexham.”

A number of students at Coleg Cambria also received their GCSE results this morning, and with an impressive pass rate of over 99% at the college, there were plenty of celebrations taking place.

Students taking GCSE exams at Coleg Cambria are often doing so to improve on the grades they attained whilst at school. For many the new results are conditions of higher education and training opportunities which they will now go on to pursue.

Among those celebrating was sixty-seven year old Adrian Millsted from Saughall, who received an impressive A* in his Maths GCSE, proving that it’s never too late to gain new qualifications or improve on past results. Other mature students celebrating included thirty-seven year old Yazbeth Tshiboyi who gained an A grade in English, fifty-three year old Kevin Davies who received an A grade in Maths and thirty-eight year old Michelle Jones who also gained an A grade in Maths alongside studying her Access to Social Science course.

Also celebrating was twenty-eight year old Victoria Lee from Chester. Victoria received a remarkable A* in her Science GCSE and will go on to study AS Level Physics, Biology and Chemistry at Coleg Cambria in September.

At Ysgol Rhiwabon, Headteacher Alun Harding reported that 84% of the cohort had gained at least five A* to C grades and that no student would leaving without a qualification. The school achieved 100% success with the Welsh Baccalaureate which is the equivalent to three GSCE grade A passes. Vocational courses were also successful with over 200 higher grade passes being achieved.

Amongst the students achieving excellent results were Mollie Drake, Shaun Edwards, Deon Haywood, Piotr Ocsowski, Anna Simoes, Geraint Williams, Jennifer Williams and Meg Wooding who between them secured 34 A grades of which 13 were at A *.

“Yet again an incredibly high percentage of our students have achieved 5 GCSEs or their equivalent. The results are a testament to the hard work and dedication of both staff and students and I look forward to welcoming many of them back to our 6th form in September”, concluded Mr Harding.

“Pupils and staff were celebrating today at The Maelor School as 98% achieved 5A*-C and 76% achieved 5A*-C including English and Maths. Headteacher Mr Simon Ellis said “These are outstanding results and amongst the best in Wales. Pupils, their parents and staff have worked incredibly hard to perform so well. Our focus on excellent lessons and good behaviour has seen the school progress from very good results to these outstanding ones. We are looking forward to working with many of them next year.”

At the Maelor school, 98% of pupils achieved 5A*-C and 76% achieved 5A*-C including English and Maths. Headteacher Mr Simon Ellis said “These are outstanding results and amongst the best in Wales. Pupils, their parents and staff have worked incredibly hard to perform so well. Our focus on excellent lessons and good behaviour has seen the school progress from very good results to these outstanding ones. We are looking forward to working with many of them next year.”

John Davies, Wrexham’s Head of Life Long Learning said: “I warmly congratulate our young people on all their successes. With support from their teachers, parents and carers, they have worked very hard indeed to achieve this level of performance. I am particularly pleased to see the significant improvement in the number of grades achieved at A* – C, particularly in the very important subjects of English or Welsh and Mathematics.

“There have also been many outstanding achievements by students of all abilities and significant improvements made by some schools.”

Are you getting your GCSE results today? How are you celebrating? Tweet us @wrexham to let us know!