UPDATED - Wirral teenagers celebrating GCSE results

Aug 21 2008 By Lorna Hughes

TEENAGERS across the borough are receiving their GCSE results from schools today.

PENSBY HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

A record-breaking 76pc of pupils gained five or more grades A* to C with most achieving 10 higher grades.

Eleven pupils gained eight or more grades A*/A, of which six had 10 A*/A grades. Abbie Thomas achieved 10 A* and A grades. All pupils did well, with 97pc gaining five or more passes at GCSE and 94pc gaining at least one higher grade.

Headteacher Stephen Hyden said he was "very proud of these outstanding achievements" and praised the hard work and dedication of pupils and staff.

BIRKENHEAD SCHOOL

The school is celebrating the best GCSE results students have ever achieved, with 61 per cent of all grades at A* or A, with 29pc at A*.

Twelve of the school's 61 candidates achieved A* or A grades in all ten of their subjects, with over half achieving A* or A in at least seven subjects.

Among the high flyers were Nicholas Downward from Caldy and Philip Gwyn from Little Neston, who both gained nine A* grades. Language enthusiast Thomas Barria-Norton's grades included A*s in Latin, Spanish and Ancient Greek.

Headteacher John Clark said: "Much credit is due to both pupils and staff for the hard work and on-going commitment which their achivements reflect.

"Much credit is due to both pupils and staff for the hard work and on-going commitment which their achievements reflect. Maintaining ten or in some cases 11 "hard" subjects at the level now automatically expected by top universities as a pre-requisite for the most competitive courses is no mean feat."

WEATHERHEAD HIGH SCHOOL, WALLASEY

Sixty-nine per cent of students achieved five or more A*-C grades and 99pc of students achieved passes at GCSE.

Outstanding individual achivements included Naomi Anderton with 10 A*s and 1 A and Helen Blundell, who achieved 8 A* grades and 3 As.

Headteacher Neil Dyment said: "I am delighted that the students' commitment and hard work have been rewarded with some excellent results. The students have been given outstanding support from a team of very dedicated teachers.

"Most of the year group have secured places within the Weatherhead Sixth Form and their results will provide an excellent foundation for Advanced Level study."

HILBRE HIGH SCHOOL

The school is celebrating its best ever GCSE results, with 74pc of students achieving five or more A*-C grade. Among the high scores are Geraldine Burns, who attained 11 A* and A grades and twins Francesca and Felicity Southern, with 22 A* and A grades between them.

Headteacher Jan Levenson said: "We are overwhelmed by these exceptional results. I am thrilled for our students, many of whom have achieved outstanding grades.

"Their success is a tribute to their hard work and commitment and the tremendous dedication and support offered unstintingly by the staff here at Hilbre. I am very proud of these wonderful achivements."

WIRRAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL FOR BOYS

Half of all exam results were at A* and A, with 81pc of results at grades A*, A and B.

Twenty pupils gained A or A* in all of their subjects - Tom Keningley (Bromborough), chair of the school council, achieved 13 A* grades, Thomas Outram (Bebington), gained 12 A* grades and Michael Cearns (Heswall), gained 11 A* grades.

Chris Jowitt (Ellesmere Port), Sean Done (Ellesmere Port) and Ryan Howard (Wallasey) all gained 9 A* grades.

Headteacher David Hazeldine said: "It was very pleasing to see that the percentage of pupils gaining three or more points at grades A* and A had increased from 60pc last year to 66pc this year. There have notable achievements across the whole spectrum of grades."

UPTON HALL SCHOOL

The pass rate at A*-C increassed from 96pc in 2007 to 98pc this year. A 100pc pass rate at A* and A was achieved by pupils studying art and design - for the fifth consecutive year - chemistry and biology.

Marianne Forsey, Vicky Brown, Natasha Bintley and Emily Murphy all achieved 11 A*s.

PRENTON HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

Staff and students are celebrating GCSE results which saw 56pc of students gaining five or more A*-C grades and 44pc achieving A*-C including English and Maths.

Headteacher Paula Dixon said: "These record breaking results are our best ever and reflect the outstanding dedication and commitment of the staff, students and parents and carers. Well done to all."

NESTON HIGH SCHOOL

Headteacher Steven Dool said: “I am delighted to congratulate our students on achieving outstanding and record-breaking results this year. This has been aided by students being encouraged to challenge themselves to achieve aspirational targets and going on to do so.

"Team GB has done outstandingly well in the Olympics and Team Neston (made up of students, parents and teachers) has done likewise locally!”

Top performers this year include Melissa Sherlock (7A*,3A), Martha Broughton (5A*,5A), Charlotte Stewart (5A*4A), Sarah Rowlands (4A* 7A), Alex Peck (5A*2A 2B) and Laura Thompson (3A* 6A 2B).

WIRRAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

Staff and pupils are celebrating "unprecedented success" at GCSE level, with 99.4pc of pupils gaining at least five A*-C grades (including English and Maths).

Twenty-nine per cent gained all A*/A grades, with 66pc achieving six or more A*/A grades. Eleven girls - Lauren Gould, Emily Leach, Katherine Lumley, Emma Nelson, Rachel Patel, Bryony Potter, Katherine Rosseinsky, Ruth Schwab, Helen Steiger, Aimee Triggs and Rachel Williams - all had 10 A*s.

Headteacher Elaine Cogan said: "These results reflect the hard work and dedication of both pupils and staff and the fantastic support of parents and governors.

"They are well deserved and again reflect the high academic standards at Wirral Grammar School for Girls."