GCSE pupils celebrate exam successes

7:44pm Thursday 21st August 2008

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Sixteen-year-old Nabeel Qureshi was in a state of shock yesterday.

Like thousands of teenagers throughout the city, the Bradford Grammar School pupil finally received his long-awaited GCSE results.

And for Nabeel, life will never be quite the same. After studying a remarkable 13 different subjects over the past two years, he discovered he had gained the elite A* grade in each and every one.

He said: “I am surprised to have done so well. I didn’t expect this! It has all been quite a lot of work. For the last few years I have not really known the results but today it has all paid off. I am very happy.”

Nabeel plans to return to the school next month to begin A-levels in economics, history, English and maths.

“I would like to eventually do economics at the London School of Economics or Oxford or Cambridge,” he said.

Stuart Rees, Nabeel’s form tutor, said he was “blown away” by his success.

Schools across the district were also celebrating yesterday with many notching-up their best-ever pass rates.

Salt Grammar School will re-open in new, state-of-the art premises as the Titus Salt School in September. Pupils gave the school site a fitting send-off by notching-up the Baildon school’s best-ever GCSE figures. A total of 68 per cent of pupils gained five or more passes at grade A* to C.

Head teacher Sue Mansfield said: “We are very proud of this year’s GCSE results. Achievement for all is the fundamental ethos of our school and 99.6 per cent of our students will leave with at least one GCSE.

Boys at St Bede’s Catholic Grammar School in Heaton, Bradford, also got in on the act. The five A* to C pass benchmark was met or bettered by 62 per cent of pupils.

Clare Kernan, the school’s Key Stage Four leader, said: “I am delighted, and so proud of our boys and staff who have worked so hard to achieve these results. Year 11 have done their school, their families and themselves proud.”

Staff and students at Queensbury School were also celebrating after setting another GCSE record. A total of 59.5 per cent gained at least five good passes.

Head teacher Alan Worthington said: “I would like to pay tribute to the hard work staff and students have put in to achieve these results and to parents for their support over the past academic year.”

Dixons Academy recorded another set of impressive results this summer – notching up its best-ever marks along the way. A total of 99.4 per cent of pupils gained five or more passes at grade A* to C, bettering the previous best of 98.8 in 2005. Some 89 per cent of students gained five or more passes including English and maths.

Principal Nick Weller said: “The five A* to C including English and maths result is especially pleasing as this is now the headline measure at GCSE and represents a 15 percentage point improvement on a year ago.”

Pupils at Carlton Bolling College also made history. A total of 45 per cent of students achieved at least five A* to C grades with 25 per cent achieving five good passes including English and maths, both figures surpass the school’s previous best.

And Challenge College hit the heights. A total of 54.4 per cent of 16-year-olds achieved five or more A* to C passes - a 12 per cent increase on 2007.

Sian Harris, head teacher, said: “The achievement of our students provides them with a fantastic springboard for their futures. As a school we are looking forward to most of our students joining us in the sixth form, with a bumper crop of A-levels in two year’s time.”

Some 76 per cent of pupils at Bingley Grammar School achieved five or more passes at grade A* to C with 65 per cent equalling the benchmark with English and maths, once again the school’s best marks.

Head teacher Chris Taylor said: “I am delighted. This year’s results provide evidence that our focus on learning and exam preparation strategy as well as a dogged determination to give the best quality education possible to our students has paid off.”

John Gaskin, Education Bradford managing director, said: “Congratulations to all students, some of whom have made outstanding individual performances. We would also like to congratulate teachers, parents and staff for their hard work in helping students achieve their grades.”

e-mail: dan.webber @telegraphandargus.co.uk