TEENAGERS in the Denton area are waking up with a feeling of contentment after scoring high grades in their GCSE exams.
A trio of now former pupils at Denton Community College stood out as they achieved brilliant grades.
Zakaria Ahmed earned five GCSE grades at Grade Nine while Hannah Tyler and Kai Hao Chen each achieved four at the highest level.
And at Audenshaw School, the number of students achieving Grade Four or above in both English and Maths was an impressive 87 per cent, much higher than other schools in the area and the highest in the school’s history.
The percentage of students achieving Grade Five or above in both English and Maths was 62 per cent – once again the highest in the school’s history.
More than a quarter of students (27 per cent) achieved a Grade Seven or above in at least one subject, with 55 Grade Nines achieved in total.
Students outperformed 2018 results across multiple subjects, with an increase of Grades Nine to Four going up by more than 50 per cent in Spanish.
There are several pupils who overcame the odds to achieve good grades.
Michael Brown was encouraged to do well in his studies by his mum, who spurred him on to achieve a Grade Nine in maths.
The pair faced tragedy when Michael’s dad passed away when he was aged just four.
He said: “Not having my dad around is rubbish, but my mum is the most supportive person I could ever meet.
“She knows maths is the subject I’m most confident in, so she encouraged me to work really hard in that subject particularly.
He’ll continue studying his favourite subject at college, which he’s already certain will be a very different experience to school.
He said before going to celebrate at Nandos with his friends: “I will really miss school because I know maths at college will involve even more studying!”
While maths and physics whiz Callum Wong celebrated a haul of four Grade nines and four Grade eights – a year after becoming the first student to sit the GCSE maths exam early.
His Grade nine result in year 10 – the first time a pupil has sat the GCSE maths exam a year early – took his overall results to an outstanding five Grade nines.
“I’d been getting Grade nines in my mock exams so I asked if I could take it early and my teacher agreed,” he said. “I was here on results day last year so it was a bit like a practice run.”
The 16-year-old, from Denton, is off to Loreto College where he will study maths, further maths and physics, with the possibility of studying a fourth A level in computing too.
“I want to do something in money or physics eventually,” he added.
“I’ve enjoyed being at the school and I’ve had lots of opportunities. Last year when my friends were taking their mocks I was doing the real thing but I’m glad I did.”
Jeanette Saw, Headteacher at Audenshaw School, highlighted the incredible drive and ambition demonstrated by students and teachers alike to achieve landmark results.
She said: “This was one of our favourite days of the year because it’s so rewarding seeing these exceptional young men celebrating the remarkable achievements they worked so hard for with their friends and family.
“I am so proud of everyone and would like to congratulate both our students and our teachers on a fantastic year for results.”