GREAT Academy Ashton is celebrating what it describes as a “record-breaking” set of GCSE results, with the school principal describing students as “simply inspirational”.
The Class of 2024, which had a Covid-disrupted start to secondary school life, received their GCSE, BTEC and OCR National results on Thursday (August 22).
At the Broadoak Road establishment, it’s been reported that this has been the “best Year 11 cohort for attendance, engagement, progression and now for outcomes” and they have achieved “outstanding results”.
For the 250 students who nervously opened their envelopes, it was the beginning of the next step in their education or the first step on their career journey.
The battle for ‘top spot’ was keenly fought, with Sanamdeep Kaur taking the crown by achieving top grades across the board in all of her subjects.
The award for most Grade 9s went to Corey Sowler, while the best performing student for the progress they have made was Demi-Lee Pearce, who achieved over one-and-a-half grades over the national expectation in every subject.
At a time when the set of results across the country are being reset in line with pre-Covid times, Great Academy Ashton’s principal is “over the moon” that his students have received results that reflect the work they have put in.
“Our Year 11 students, like all 16-year-olds nationally, have faced existential challenges and they have overcome them with a brilliant set of results,” said David Waugh.
“I know I am biased when it comes to our students, but I have to admit this group of students are simply inspirational. I am in awe of everything they have achieved and the great positive impact our staff have had.
“This year group has faced adversity not seen by previous generations of young people and they have simply ‘knocked it out of the park’!
“We ask our students to ‘be the best possible version of themselves’ in every aspect of school life and this year group has certainly done that, surpassing the previous examination records set. I am truly humbled to see how well each and every one of them has achieved in their GCSE and BTEC qualifications.”