School students across Kingston and Surrey are celebrating their GCSE results today (Thursday, August 12) after months of disruptions amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Below is our round-up of some of the highlights from the region as secondary schools announce their performance and celebrate with their students.

 

Chessington School

Surrey Comet:

Here are some choice quotes from Chessington School, whose students are celebrating a "cracking" set of GCSE results: 

"The work ethic of our students during this challenging 18 months has been phenomenal I continue to be so incredibly proud of them all! Well done Class of 2021!" -Ms Wilson deputy headteacher

"I am so proud of the students, staff and all members of the community at Chessington School. Everyone has focussed doggedly on working hard, catching up and learning that's all we could have asked them to do against the changing backdrop of Covid 19. Today, it is clear that this has paid off. Very well done to all." -Mr A Ali, headteacher

"Another excellent year at Chessington School. I’m so proud of the students and staff for such a great set of results. I feel privileged to be a Governor and a parent of children at this school". -Karen Carman, chair of governors

"I can’t believe how well I did! I just want to thank all of my teachers for keeping me going online, in school and on weekends! Thank you". -Year 11 student

 

Three Rivers Academy, Walton

Surrey Comet:

"Students at Three Rivers Academy in Hersham celebrated excellent GCSE results today. In particular, Catherine Knell, Rebecca Tierney and Zorka Farkas who all scored grade 8 and 9 across the board," a spokesperson for the school said earlier today. 

Principal Barbara Mayaire added: "Students should feel very proud of what they have achieved. They endured significant disruption to their GCSE studies and showed resilience and determination beyond their years. 

"I would also like to give special thanks to our staff who have worked tirelessly to support students. Today was a really positive day and we look forward to welcoming back many of our outgoing Year 11 students into our Sixth Form in September." 

 

Kingston Grammar School

Surrey Comet:

Richard Challoner School, Kingston

Surrey Comet:

The school reported an "outstanding" number of grades 9-7 among their GCSE pupils receiving results today. 

Headmaster, Sean Maher, said: "We knew early on when this Year 11 cohort started with us in Year 7, that they had the potential to be an exceptional year group. Little did we know the challenges that they would be presented with in the lead up to their GCSEs. We could not be more proud of the obstacles they have overcome, the standards they have reached and the humility with which they did it. Huge congratulations to an exceptional year group on their exceptional GCSE results." 

 

Ewell Castle School

Surrey Comet:

"Ewell Castle School pupils and their families are celebrating our best ever GCSE results with 98.73 per cent of pupils achieving grades A*-C/ 9-4 and 45.24 per cent achieving grades A*-A/ 9-7.

"The number of our pupils who achieved five GCSE grades A*-C/ 9-5, including Maths and English, was 98.57 per cent," a school spokesperson said. 

Principal Silas Edmonds added: "Our pupils should feel rightly proud of their accomplishments and compelling GCSE results. Despite the Pandemic, they have remained focused and engaged with their studies, inspired by their teachers with the diligence to ensure that their education was not disrupted..." 

 

Claremont Fan Court School in Esher

Surrey Comet:

Year 11 pupils were "beaming with delight" following "excellent, well deserved" GCSE results.

  • 59.5 per cent of grades were 7, 8 or 9 (the equivalent of A or A*)
  • 96.5 per cent of grades were 5 or above (B grade or better)
  • Pass rate of100 per cent

Headmaster, Mr William Brierly: "This year group responded to the challenges of COVID-19 by taking their studies seriously from a very early stage, and having worked so well for their mock examinations in November, it was of little surprise, but much relief that our class of 2021 sustained a strong work ethic and surpassed their expectations."

 

Cobham Free School

Surrey Comet:

Founded in 2012, today marks the first ever set of GCSE results for the free school, which were described as "excellent" by school authorities. 

  • 40 per cent of grades awarded being in the highest bracket of 9 to 7, including:
  • Latin (86 per cent), Computing (85 per cent), Chemistry (81 per cent), Physics (75 per cent), Biology (65 per cent) and Classical Civilisation and Music (63 per cent).
  • 100 per cent gained "strong passes" in Physics and Chemistry, and 94 per cent in biology. There were also high percentages of students awarded strong passes in Art (94 per cent) and computing (92 per cent). 
  • 84 per cent of students achieved standard passes in English
  • 80 per cent in maths
  • 100 per cent of students obtained standard passes in classical civilization, Latin and Spanish.

Executive Head Michaela Khatib said:

"Congratulations to all our students, who have performed so well throughout a very challenging year. We are so proud of their achievements and delighted with the evidence that our vision for academic excellence is coming to fruition. The results are testament to the hard work of our student cohort and skills of the talented, highly dedicated teachers across the school."