Students make the grade!

ONE BURTON SCHOOL IS CELEBRATING ITS BEST EVER GCSE RESULTS

- By JOSEPH RICHARDS

HUNDREDS of students were celebrating after finding out their GCSE results yesterday.

Across the country, 15 and 16-year-olds who sat their exams in May and June learnt whether they got the grades they needed to move on to their choice of A levels, T levels, BTECs or apprenticeships.

The de Ferrers Academy, in Burton, celebrated some of the school's strongest ever results.

More than two thirds of students achieved a grade 4 or above in English and Maths, with close to 50 per cent managing a grade 5 or above in the crucial subjects.

In fact, students across almost every English Baccalaureate (EBacc) subject achieved impressive outcomes that exceed all national averages and expectations.

Principal Ali Bickle said: "The Class of 2025 have achieved results that have surpassed the high standards we set last year.

"The fact that nearly 20 per cent of all exams sat secured a 7 or above, a total of nearly 650 exams, is testament to the hard work and dedication our students have put into these exams.

"These results are an important milestone as these students progress to the next stage of their very exciting futures. We are delighted that so many of them will be staying with us to study in sixth form."

Just 13 students secured nearly 120 Grade 7s or above, with 65 of those grades being a 9.

With eight grade 9s and one grade 8, William Philliskirk is the highest performing student at the academy and is going on to study Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Economics at the DFA Sixth Form. He has aspirations of Oxbridge with a view to a career in Maths or Physics.

His advice is to take advantage of every minute of every lesson. "That way, when you come to revise it is much easier to recall the information. The key to success is to start revision early," he added.