Students across Cumbria receive their GCSE results

Schools across the region opened their doors from 8am on Thursday, August 22 as pupils opened those all-important envelopes with their grades inside.

Students had a long summer of waiting for their results (Image: WLA) This year group started their senior school life during the pandemic and had their education severely disrupted throughout their time at school.

The proportion of GCSE entries awarded top grades has fallen from last year but is higher than before the Covid-19 pandemic, national figures show.

Students receiving their results at Cockermouth School (Image: Cockermouth School) More than a fifth of UK GCSE entries were awarded the top grades - at least a 7 or an A grade - this year, down 0.2 percentage points on last year when 22.0 per cent of entries achieved the top grades.

This is higher than the equivalent figure for 2019 - before the pandemic disrupted schooling - of 20.8 per cent.

There were high achievers across the county with Keswick School celebrating its best ever set of GCSE results today.

More students have secured a grade 4 or above than in any previous year in the school’s history, including during the pandemic, with results jumping up by almost 10 per cent from last year.

Keswick School's Laura-Jane Donoghue-Weir and Emily Grave (Image: Keswick School) Simon Jackson, Headteacher, said: “I am hugely proud of all our students. They have achieved some outstanding results.

"The GCSE grades awarded today reflect their hard work and dedication. They have been a pleasure to have as part of our Keswick School community.

"It is also great to see such fantastic GCSE outcomes following the full Ofsted inspection when the school was graded as ‘outstanding’ in every category in April of this year.

“I would also like to pay tribute to our exceptional specialist teaching and support staff. They are an incredibly committed group of staff who always go the extra mile to support our young people.

"It is through their care and encouragement that students at Keswick School become confident and highly articulate young people.”

Austin Friars pupils also celebrated their GCSE results day, with more than 32 per cent of all results achieved at grades 9-7.

Some pupils on a school sports tour received their results in South Africa.

Ernestine Koo said she was ‘thrilled’ to have achieved 9 grade 9s and 3 grade 8s, including full marks in her Chinese GCSE. She said: "I'm really happy with my results and feel that the extra hours I put in during study leave periods have definitely paid off.

"I would like to thank all of my teachers at Austin Friars - especially Mr Hattrell, Mr Love, Miss Chan and Mr Harris.

Ernestine Koo picking her results up at Austin Friars (Image: Austin Friars) "I've tried not to think too much about results day during the summer holidays, so now I can finally celebrate."

Year 11 students from St Benedict’s in Whitehaven returned to school to collect their GCSE results and celebrated with parents and teachers, and friends.

Students received their results either via e-mail, or most came into school to collect them. They then had the chance to speak to their teachers, careers advisors and have a Sixth Form interview if they required.

Mrs Jackson, Headteacher at St Benedict’s said: “We are extremely proud of the achievements of all our students today, after all of their hard work in their GCSEs.

"We wish them all the best for their futures whatever they decide to do, and are looking forward to welcoming many of them back to our Sixth Form in September.”

Grace Savage & Ruby Hardy celebrating their excellent results together at St Benedict's (Image: St Benedict's) Notable results this year included Grace Savage who gained nine Grade 9’s in Combined Science, English Language, English Literature, Geography, History, Higher Maths, RE & Spanish and one Grade 8 in Further Maths

Ben Wrigley who gained five Grade 9’s in Biology, English Language, English Literature, Geography, Higher Maths, three Grade 8’s in Chemistry, German & Physics, one Grade 7 in Physics and one Grade 5 in Further Maths.

Helena Maude, Gwen Mears, Toby Smallwood, Luke Beattie, Daniel Beasley, Daniel Carr, Selim Yildiz achieved a host of grade 8’s and 9’s across a variety of subjects at William Howard School.

Students celebrating at William Howard School (Image: WHS) The Headteacher of William Howard, Kath Pigdon said: “Cumbrian schools are proud to serve our children, their families and the communities they come from.

“Results this year demonstrate yet again the resilience of Cumbrian youngsters and their dedication to their studies.

"The achievements of the students are all the more special for the challenges many families have faced due to the cost-of-living crisis, and we congratulate them all on the manner in which they have conducted themselves in what continues to be extraordinary times.”

Students celebrate at Workington Academy (Image: Workington Academy) Cllr Elaine Lynch, Cumberland Council’s Executive Member for Lifelong Learning and Development, said: “Congratulations to all the students across Cumberland who have received results today.

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“Results day can bring a mix of celebration, excitement, and varied emotions. Whatever your results today I want to congratulate you on all your hard work up to this point, and I wish you all the very best as you move towards your future through further education or employment.

“Thank you to everyone who has supported our students as they worked towards these exams and beyond. So, a special thank you to the headteachers, teachers and teaching assistants, parents and carers.”