There were some happy faces at Greig City Academy today as 17 students, approximately 10per cent of the year group, achieved a new top Grade 9 GCSE in one or more of their subjects.
Erik Palushi took 10 GCSEs and gained six grade 9s and a further two Grade 8s to add to the Grade 7 that he achieved in Year 10. Erik and his mother were both delighted and very emotional collecting the results. He achieved Grade 9s in English literature, maths, biology, chemistry, physics and history.
After studying maths and sciences in the sixth form, Erik hopes to read maths at the University of Cambridge, following in the footsteps of Greig’s successful Oxbridge students this year.
Another student who performed well was Ervans Caushi. Ervans achieved top Grade 9s in maths, biology and chemistry and five Grade 8s in his other GCSE subjects. There were literally tears of joy from his mother who was “overjoyed” with Ervans’ results.
Ervans is coming back to do his A-levels in the sixth form and will be studying maths, further maths, physics and computer science.
Anna Kapanadze was the top performing female student. Anna and her mother were screaming with delight to each other on the phone when Anna rang home with her excellent news. Before Anna had come to school to collect her results she had gone through every subject and predicted to her mother what her grades were going to be. To her delight she was far too conservative and achieved at least one grade higher in every subject.
Anna achieved a Grade 9 in English literature and a Grade 9 in history. She also achieved an A* in media studies and two Distinction* awards in her BTEC Drama and Performing Arts Courses. It was an excellent all round performance from Anna who is keeping her options open for the future and wants to study journalism, law or drama at university.
Head of Year 11, Mr Andrew Wilson, said: “There are some really pleasing results. In addition to the more academic students who gained their grades 8 and 9s a number of other students have achieved results that they can be proud of.
“Some of the year group have completed their GCSEs despite challenging personal circumstances and these deserve as much credit as others with higher grades.
“One student missed almost the whole of Year 10 after her mother died. She became school phobic because she lost all confidence. We were able to get her back into school bit by bit and now she has achieved the grades she needs to go to college. She deserves full credit for turning her life around through her determination to succeed.”
The school was pleased with the strong results in a range of subjects. 10 students achieved a Grade 9 in Spanish. The highest average results came in Information Technology and Latin and the school’s depth of talent in creative and performing Arts also showed through.
Principal Paul Sutton said, “Our results this year reflect the ability range of the students in Year 11. The media will be putting a great deal of emphasis on the new top Grade 9 but it is important that people remember that this is really challenging and designed so that only a few people achieve the very high standard required.
“It is important to remember the students with 5s, 6s and 7s and celebrate the very high standards they have achieved when compared to the old A*-C system. For example 90pc of our Information Technology students achieved at least a high grade C or above.
“I would like to congratulate the students, staff and parents on how they have dealt with a very challenging year because of the demands of the new examinations. It is never easy when a new exam system is introduced and our students have coped exceptionally well and with good humour in preparing themselves for the exams.
“Most of these students will be returning to our sixth form but a number of them will now be moving on to do vocational courses and apprenticeships. We wish them every success with their chosen careers. These students, as a year group, have made their own positive contributions to the school and I thank them for this.”
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