This is Derbyshire --
A dip in GCSE results at many schools did not stop pupils from celebrating their individual successes as Zena Hawley, Caroline Jones and Joey Severn found out.
RESULTS in at least half of the city's 14 secondary schools fell this year in line with a dip in national average GCSE figures – with blame being aimed at the examining boards.
These included Bemrose School and Merrill Academy, where the number of pupils gaining five or more A* to C grades, including English and maths, fell below the Government's floor target of 40%.
But there were some improved results including at Landau Forte College, Woodlands School and Noel-Baker Community School.
Last year, 57.1% of pupils in Derby gained five or more A* to C grades, including English and maths, beating all previous records.
But it is believed that this figure may stay the same or fall when the results are finally calculated. Nationally, the percentage of pupils gaining the top grades fell by 1.3% to 68.1%.
Changes in grade boundaries and tighter marking by examiners is being blamed for the reduced figures with Jo Ward, head of Bemrose school, whose five or more A* to C grade figure, including maths and English, fell from 41% to 33%, calling on the Government to sort the situation out.
At Merrill Academy, where just 28% of pupils gained five or more A* to C grades, including English and maths – down from 37% last year – principal Andy Scott also said he was disappointed with the marking.
He said: "In particular, the English results have come in lower than predicted and have affected our overall pass rate."
But it didn't stop Merrill's Leon Nixon celebrating after achieving all his GCSEs at A* or A grade.
He said: "I was confident that I had done well and worked hard to ensure that I got good grades which would firstly enable me to go on and do A-levels and then stand me in good stead to go on to university."
At Lees Brook Community School in Chaddesden, head teacher Phil Dover said that about 18 pupils had narrowly missed out on a C grade because of the exam changes.
But this did not bother Collette Cunningham, 16, of Oakwood, who achieved two As, four Bs and four C grades. She said: "I will be studying A-levels at the Joseph Wright centre from next month. I struggled with science and the teachers were really helpful."
Roxanna Podgorska, also 16, of Chaddesden, achieved three Bs, three Cs and three Ds. She moved from Poland eight years ago and said: "To get what I have after having to learn a new language is pretty good."
At Landau Forte College, in Fox Street, results were up from 53% in 2012 for five or more A* to C grades, including English and maths, to 56% this year.
Head teacher Liz Coffey, said: "We have improved but the changes in maths have really affected us. The results that we have had this year would have, a few years ago, been the best we had ever posted but changing the grade boundaries is not helping many pupils."
It was not a problem for Holly Kingsley, 16, from Derby, whose two As, three Bs and four Cs, will allow her to stay on at the school to take A-levels. She said: "In the future, I would like to study psychology or film directing but I don't know which yet."
Star pupil Aisha Ahmad, 16, of Normanton, achieved eight A* and three As. She said: "I am staying here to study and I want to take medicine eventually at Birmingham University."
At Derby Grammar School, Littleover, it was smiles all round as Henry Staley, Oliver Dixon and Andrew El-Khanagry achieved 10 or more A* grades, and Richard Bowen and Peter Rugg gained 12 A* grades each.
At nearby Derby High School, four pupils achieved a clean sweep of nine A* grades – Alice Carlin, Tanya Fahmy,
Amala Purandare and Esha Singh.
Head teacher Denise Gould said: "These girls have done exceptionally well to have achieved so many A* grades, when we know that fewer have been awarded."
Alan Brady, head teacher at Woodlands School, Allestree, was celebrating after results improved. A total of 70% of pupils gained five or more A* to C grades, including English and maths, up from 56% in 2012.
He said: "Several students got really excellent grades, including Emma Sharpe, Robert Hyde, Alix Jan-Smith, and Megan Clarkson.
Chellaston Academy slipped a couple of percentage points from 82% in 2012 to 80% this year, while West Park School, Spondon, dipped from 81% to 70% in the past 12 months.
They also fell by 2% at Murray Park School, in Mickleover, to 53%. Head teacher Martyn Owen said: "We are very pleased that we have maintained our standards despite the problems that have occurred nationally which we know will have affected some of our students."
Results at the newly named City of Derby Academy – formerly Sinfin Community School until June this year – slipped by 1% as 41% of pupils achieved five or more A* to C grades, including English and maths.
Principal Howard Jones said: "There is an increase in the number of pupils with A* and A grades and those achieving at least one qualification.
St Benedict Catholic Academy, Darley Abbey, and Littleover Community School pupils achieving five or more A* to C grades remained unchanged with 55% and 77%, respectively.
At Noel-Baker Community School, Alvaston, where results improved by 1% to 43%, head teacher Mal Kerr paid tribute to pupil Luke Gorse, who needed lengthy hospital treatment after a bike accident when a lorry reversed into him over a year ago. He still managed to achieve seven A* to C grades.
Mr Kerr said: "We are all really proud of his achievements in the face of such adversity." Reported by This is 15 hours ago.
A dip in GCSE results at many schools did not stop pupils from celebrating their individual successes as Zena Hawley, Caroline Jones and Joey Severn found out.
RESULTS in at least half of the city's 14 secondary schools fell this year in line with a dip in national average GCSE figures – with blame being aimed at the examining boards.
These included Bemrose School and Merrill Academy, where the number of pupils gaining five or more A* to C grades, including English and maths, fell below the Government's floor target of 40%.
But there were some improved results including at Landau Forte College, Woodlands School and Noel-Baker Community School.
Last year, 57.1% of pupils in Derby gained five or more A* to C grades, including English and maths, beating all previous records.
But it is believed that this figure may stay the same or fall when the results are finally calculated. Nationally, the percentage of pupils gaining the top grades fell by 1.3% to 68.1%.
Changes in grade boundaries and tighter marking by examiners is being blamed for the reduced figures with Jo Ward, head of Bemrose school, whose five or more A* to C grade figure, including maths and English, fell from 41% to 33%, calling on the Government to sort the situation out.
At Merrill Academy, where just 28% of pupils gained five or more A* to C grades, including English and maths – down from 37% last year – principal Andy Scott also said he was disappointed with the marking.
He said: "In particular, the English results have come in lower than predicted and have affected our overall pass rate."
But it didn't stop Merrill's Leon Nixon celebrating after achieving all his GCSEs at A* or A grade.
He said: "I was confident that I had done well and worked hard to ensure that I got good grades which would firstly enable me to go on and do A-levels and then stand me in good stead to go on to university."
At Lees Brook Community School in Chaddesden, head teacher Phil Dover said that about 18 pupils had narrowly missed out on a C grade because of the exam changes.
But this did not bother Collette Cunningham, 16, of Oakwood, who achieved two As, four Bs and four C grades. She said: "I will be studying A-levels at the Joseph Wright centre from next month. I struggled with science and the teachers were really helpful."
Roxanna Podgorska, also 16, of Chaddesden, achieved three Bs, three Cs and three Ds. She moved from Poland eight years ago and said: "To get what I have after having to learn a new language is pretty good."
At Landau Forte College, in Fox Street, results were up from 53% in 2012 for five or more A* to C grades, including English and maths, to 56% this year.
Head teacher Liz Coffey, said: "We have improved but the changes in maths have really affected us. The results that we have had this year would have, a few years ago, been the best we had ever posted but changing the grade boundaries is not helping many pupils."
It was not a problem for Holly Kingsley, 16, from Derby, whose two As, three Bs and four Cs, will allow her to stay on at the school to take A-levels. She said: "In the future, I would like to study psychology or film directing but I don't know which yet."
Star pupil Aisha Ahmad, 16, of Normanton, achieved eight A* and three As. She said: "I am staying here to study and I want to take medicine eventually at Birmingham University."
At Derby Grammar School, Littleover, it was smiles all round as Henry Staley, Oliver Dixon and Andrew El-Khanagry achieved 10 or more A* grades, and Richard Bowen and Peter Rugg gained 12 A* grades each.
At nearby Derby High School, four pupils achieved a clean sweep of nine A* grades – Alice Carlin, Tanya Fahmy,
Amala Purandare and Esha Singh.
Head teacher Denise Gould said: "These girls have done exceptionally well to have achieved so many A* grades, when we know that fewer have been awarded."
Alan Brady, head teacher at Woodlands School, Allestree, was celebrating after results improved. A total of 70% of pupils gained five or more A* to C grades, including English and maths, up from 56% in 2012.
He said: "Several students got really excellent grades, including Emma Sharpe, Robert Hyde, Alix Jan-Smith, and Megan Clarkson.
Chellaston Academy slipped a couple of percentage points from 82% in 2012 to 80% this year, while West Park School, Spondon, dipped from 81% to 70% in the past 12 months.
They also fell by 2% at Murray Park School, in Mickleover, to 53%. Head teacher Martyn Owen said: "We are very pleased that we have maintained our standards despite the problems that have occurred nationally which we know will have affected some of our students."
Results at the newly named City of Derby Academy – formerly Sinfin Community School until June this year – slipped by 1% as 41% of pupils achieved five or more A* to C grades, including English and maths.
Principal Howard Jones said: "There is an increase in the number of pupils with A* and A grades and those achieving at least one qualification.
St Benedict Catholic Academy, Darley Abbey, and Littleover Community School pupils achieving five or more A* to C grades remained unchanged with 55% and 77%, respectively.
At Noel-Baker Community School, Alvaston, where results improved by 1% to 43%, head teacher Mal Kerr paid tribute to pupil Luke Gorse, who needed lengthy hospital treatment after a bike accident when a lorry reversed into him over a year ago. He still managed to achieve seven A* to C grades.
Mr Kerr said: "We are all really proud of his achievements in the face of such adversity." Reported by This is 15 hours ago.