Wirral students make grade in GCSE results

Aug 28 2009 By Ben Turner

WIRRAL students have once again performed better than ever in this year’s GCSE results.

The percentage hitting five A*-C grades including English and maths looks to have improved by 4% and now stands at 54%.

While those achieving five good grades in any subject rose by 6% to 72%.

Cllr Phil Davies, Wirral’s cabinet member for children’s services and lifelong learning, said: "The results are fantastic once again and I want to congratulate the staff and students for yet another year of record-breaking achievement.

"This demonstrates that the council’s investment in education over the past few years is paying dividends."

Students who took their GCSEs early were among the success stories at record-breaking Calday Grange Grammar School, West Kirby.

A group of 39 students, aged 15, were fast-tracked and took their maths GCSE 12 months early and every student managed an A* or A.

Overall the school enjoyed its best-ever GCSE results with 55% of entries graded A* or A.

At Ridgeway High School, Noctorum, 82% of students gained a minimum of five A*-C GCSEs – a 27% increase on last year’s results.

Schools chalking up record results included Park High School in Birkenhead.

It smashed all previous records after hitting the 60% barrier for the first time.

A total 61% of students managed at least five A*-C grades at GCSE.

Andy McNally, a pupil at Park High School, Birkenhead managed to net nine A* and A grades.

But not content with that, he also achieved a grade A in AS-level German.

Hilbre High School, West Kirby and Bebington High School both had record years and Wallasey’s Weatherhead High School achieved a 74% five A*-C pass rate.

One Wirral girl, who has been educated at home for the bulk of her life, achieved 11 A* GCSEs and an A grade A- level two years early.

Apart from one year at primary school, Wallasey teenager Sarah Culkin, 16, had not set foot in a classroom until she joined top performing Upton Hall School for Girls three years ago.

Up until then she was taught at home by mother Christine and teacher father Joseph.

And Sarah, who is eyeing up a career in science or medicine, said she had benefited from the best of both worlds.

"At home there was a lot less pressure than at school and I could go at my own pace. But I have really enjoyed it at Upton Hall and I have received lots of support from the teachers."

She stressed at no point did her mother or father have to put her in detention, but under their leadership was able to get in "lots of revision" which stood her in good stead when she returned to the more traditional route of education.

There was a 100% pass rate at Upton Hall, with every single student managing five or more A* to Cs.

The haul of top grades included 29 pupils securing 10 or more A* or A grades.

A dozen candidates achieved eight or more A* grades.