Students across Sefton have been praised after a number of schools received "outstanding" GCSE results.
This year marked the first time pupils had ever sat exams. The proportion of GCSE entries awarded top grades hit an all-time high after exams were cancelled for two years on the bounce due to the pandemic.
Overall, 28.9% of UK GCSE entries were awarded one of the top grades, up by 2.7 percentage points on 2020. Now with the examination process back to normal students who have spent two years of their education learning from home have risen to the challenge.
READ MORE: Wirral teens celebrated for 'outstanding' results after 'trying' time
Results across Sefton show how students have overcome the challenges after a difficult two years. At Christ the King in Southport Keisha Macdonald told the ECHO about how she was adopted by her dad, a single parent, in Indonesia but two years ago she began to fear he was ill. She managed to bring him to the UK and still complete her GCSEs
She said: "I joined [Christ the King] at the beginning of year 10. It was hard. English is my first language but I had to adjust to the country and the school.
"When I first got to the country I was put into foster care because my dad was very ill. I'm comfortable now but it was hard because I lived with my dad my whole life."
Keisha managed to secure five 5s, one 6, and a 4 in her exams and is looking to stay on at Christ the King Sixth Form. Erin Wheeler, headteacher at Christ the King, said: "The number of kids that got 7+ is incredible. The amount that they have been through with the pandemic and to come out doing so well is amazing. I really have no words to describe how proud I am."
At St. Mary’s College in Crosby, 53% of all passes at the school were at the highest 9 to 7 grades, and 42 % of candidates achieved seven or more passes at these top levels. A quarter of students recorded ten or more 9 to 7 grades.
Elsie Manson from Crosby was top of the class at St. Mary’s this summer with 12 top-level GCSE passes, 11 at grade 9, and one at grade 8. Elsie said: “It’s been an incredible and happy few years at St. Mary’s College. I look forward to joining the St. Mary’s Sixth Form and the exciting opportunities it will bring.”
Elsie was one of a group of ‘fab four’ star performers who achieved 45 GCSEs between them, all of them at the highest 9 to 7 grades. St. Mary’s College Principal, Mike Kennedy said: "These results are a tribute both to the hard work of our students over the past five years, and the ongoing support they have received from staff and parents over this period.
“In addition, as the first students to sit public examinations since 2019, the results also reflect their resilience and positivity, and their determination to ensure that their learning continued, despite the obstacles they have faced in recent times.”
At Range High School in Formby, 38% of all of the grades were graded at 7 to 9 or equivalent to A* to A in the old grading system. Furthermore, over 88% of all of the grades were graded from 4 to 9. Headteacher Mike McGarry said: "It represents a huge achievement, especially in light of the pandemic and the impact of lockdowns on our students’ education."
"I would like to congratulate our entire Y11 cohort, their parents, and of course our teachers and support staff who have worked tirelessly to support our young people. Well done to everyone."
At Chesterfield High School in Crosby students, GCSE results were above the national average in both English and Mathematics with 87% of students getting grades 9 to four in English. With 17% of students getting grades 9 to 7 in Mathematics
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