Wirral students celebrate record-breaking GCSE

Aug 27 2008 by Carrie Catterall, Birkenhead News

gcse

RECORD-breaking GCSE scores brought delight to Wirral students and teachers last week.

Another year of improved examination results saw 66 per cent of GCSE students across the borough awarded five A to C grades and just over half (50.4pc) of students receiving five A to C grades including English and Maths.

St. Anselm’s College students are celebrating their best GCSE results in the year of the 75th anniversary of the college’s foundation with 96pc gaining five or more A* to C grades.

The average points score of 486 per student was also a college record.

Jamie Carragher, of Prenton, achieved 11 A* grades, equalling the best ever performance by any St. Anselm’s student, and Michael Strother, of Oxton, earned 10A*s whilst Calum Cairns, Andrew Gawne, Tim Mercer and James Stevens achieved 100pc A*/A grades.

A record-breaking 76pc of pupils from Pensby High School for Girls 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.

Birkenhead School is also celebrating its best-ever GCSE results with 61pc of all grades at A* or A and 29pc at A*.

Among the high flyers were Nicholas Downward, of Caldy and Philip Gwyn, of Little Neston, who both gained nine A* grades.

Language enthusiast Thomas Barria-Norton’s grades included A*s in Latin, Spanish and Ancient Greek.

At Weatherhead High School in Wallasey 69pc students achieved five or more A* to C grades.

Outstanding individual achievements included Naomi Anderton with 10 A*s and one A and Helen Blundell, who achieved eight A* grades and three As.

Councillor Phil Davies, cabinet member for children’s services and lifelong learning, said: “Many congratulations to all the students who have done so well this year.

“Their hard work has paid off and I wish them all the best in their future study and careers.

“I would also like to thank teachers for all their hard work.”