Records tumble at Worthing schools as students receive GCSE results

Record results were recorded at many of the area’s schools, with the national picture seeing a slight rise in overall A* to C grades.

Davison High School for Girls marked its first full year with a new head teacher with a record set of GCSE results.

A year on from the appointment of head Chris Keating, a total of 72 per cent of students achieved five A* to C grades including English and maths.

This headline figure was a two per cent improvement on the school’s best ever performance, while 82 per cent managed five A* to C grades.

Andy McDonald-Bowyer, director of study for Year 11, said: “I am really proud to see that the students have achieved such pleasing grades. They have been an exceptional year group to work with and their results are fully deserved.”

St Andrew’s CE High School for Boys also recorded their best ever results.

A total of 54 per cent got five A* to Cs including English and maths, up six per cent on last year.

The school also saw an 11 per cent rise in the five A* to C rate, at 69 per cent.

Similarly, Michael Ramirez, assistant head teacher of Chatsmore High School said that this year’s results are ‘the best that we have ever had.’

Eighty eight per cent of pupils achieved five A* to C grades while 63 per cent of these included English and maths.

Six students achieved nine or more grade A* and A grades.

Mr Ramirez said: “We have made some really good progress here when you look at the students from year seven.

“We have also had some of the best A* and A grade successes that we have had in a long time.”

Durrington High School was also celebrating, with 64 per cent of students achieving five or more A* to C grades including in English and maths.

Head teacher Sue Marooney said: “With year groups at Durrington of 360 it makes our achievements even more significant.

“The majority of GCSE subjects this year gained 80 per cent or more at A* to C with 30 students gaining eight or more A* and A grades.

“We are delighted to continue to be above national standards. Durrington is looking forward to exciting projects on the horizon as we challenge ourselves to go beyond our best.”

98.3 per cent of pupils at Our Lady of Sion School achieved five or more passes with A* to C.

Head teacher Michael Scullion said: “Some children have done spectacularly well but all of our children have worked very hard and have got good results and we are proud of all of them.

“We work very hard in this school to create an atmosphere of encouragement, support and cooperation, the teachers work hard for the children so that they can progress to the next level of education.”

And at Worthing High, it was a family affair, with two sets of twins among the star performers.

Stephen and Jenny Brown and Matthew and Jack Leitch were both celebrating a mixture of A* and A grades.

Matthew, 16, said: “It feels great. We are quite competitive, so it’s a relief to have just beaten him. We are both going to Bhasvic.”

The school celebrated an eight per cent rise in its headline five A* to C rate, including maths and English, up to 58 per cent.

For the full story, see the Herald, out Thursday, August 28.