Pupils jump for joy at GCSE success (From Western Telegraph)

Pupils jump for joy at GCSE success

PUPILS across Pembrokeshire are celebrating some excellent GCSE results as schools maintain the improvements won in recent years.

Several schools achieved above and beyond the Welsh average and the message from all headteachers to students, families and staff is one of congratulations for all-round hard work.

When averaged out, schools in Pembrokeshire have an A*-C pass rate of 59.3% and an overall A*-G pass of 97%, in line with Welsh figures. But local pupils are above the Welsh average in English, maths and science.

Pembrokeshire County Council's cabinet member for children, young people and Welsh language, Councillor John Davies, sent a 'well done' message to students and staff for their dedication. "Education is - and always has been - one of the county council's top priorities, and the results show that commitment is paying dividends," he said. Ysgol y Preseli, Crymych, maintained its high level of examination success with an impressive 77.6% of GCSE candidates gaining A*-C and an overall A*-G pass rate of 99.7%.

"The results, which are up on last year, are excellent," said headteacher Martin Lloyd. Top of Preseli's GCSE class was Mair Bell, who notched up 11 A*, closely followed by Steffan Messenger with ten A* and one A. Other top performers in the school were Bethan James (eight A* three A), Clare Lewis (six A* five A), Elin Gibby (six A* 2A 3B), Sara Davies (eight A* three A), Owain Gwynn (five A* six A), Anna Rose Sharkey (five A* three A two B), Lucy Collins (five A* five A one B) and Gareth James (five A* two A three B one C).

At Ysgol Dewi Sant, the A*-C percentage was also above the Welsh average, increasing again this year to 68%, with 98% of pupils achieving at least one GCSE pass. "We have had a number of students with a complete set of A* and As, and 23% of GCSEs were passed with an A* or A," revealed headteacher Walter Dash."

After last week's nail-biting incident at Sir Thomas Picton School, when some A level results went astray for a day, there was relief to find all the GCSE results present and correct, said headteacher Dr George Davies.

"Students have done pleasingly well, with a number gaining a full house of A* and A grades," he said. The 63.5% of pupils with five or more A*-C grades represented an increase in last year's figure, he added. There was another success story at Fishguard's Ysgol Bro Gwaun, where GCSE results improved for the third year in a row.

Headteacher Christine Wright was thrilled that the excellent GCSEs followed on from the school's 'fantastic' A-level results the previous week. Achieving nine of more A* or A grades were: Alis Deason, Thomas Cull, Debbie Harman, Emma Hayes, Lisa Lynn James, Dafydd Johns, Kelly Rowlands, Clare Stevens, Thomas Spain, Kate Tannahill, Bethan Tucker, Eleanor Walker and Oliver Whitby.

At Haverfordwest's Tasker Milward School, 22 pupils gained five A grades and above and there was a 59% A*-C pass rate. "These are the best results the school has ever achieved and reflect a great deal of hard work," said headteacher Chris Jones. Milford Haven School saw a 98% pass rate, with 48% of students gaining A*-C. Said headteacher Pamela Munday: "We are very pleased that we have the highest-ever number of pupils with more than 60 points from their GCSEs and, most importantly, every student has a qualification to take away with them for the rest of their life." Top students were Helen Kaye (seven A* two A), Andrew Rees (five A* six A) and Alexander Cosic (four A*, four A two B).

At the independent Netherwood School, Saundersfoot, principal Huw Morris was celebrating a 'wonderful' set of GCSE results. "This is the icing on the cake after our first A-level results, in which both students gained university places," he said. At GCSE, Rachael-Hannah Bush gained 11 passes, mainly As and Bs, and our other six British students had an average result of ten-and-a-half GCSEs per head."

PEMBROKE School was celebrating significantly improved results, with the proportion of pupils achieving five A*-C and five A*-G increasing by 10% on the previous year. Headteacher Frank Ciccotti commented: "I am delighted that a range of strategies put in place to improve results are working." Among outstanding individual results was one student with ten A* and many others with all A* and A grades.

Added Mr Ciccotti: "Improvements have not just been at the highest grades. We are pleased with the results across the board, with many more pupils achieving five GCSEs. This is a pleasing improvement, especially viewed against the national trend of lower pass rates. Most pupils have achieved results in line with targets." o Pictured are Paul Young, Andrew Morgan, Sophie Wint and Leigh Duffy celebrating A* and A grades at GCSE.