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After another year of disruption to their studies, GCSE pupils across Gravesham and Dartford are today picking up their long-awaited GCSE results.
For the second year in a row exams were cancelled and pupils have instead been given grades by their teachers based on mock exams, coursework, and in-class assessments.
It's expected the number of young people achieving top grades will rise this year due to the way grades have been decided.
Charlie Guthrie, head teacher at Wilmington Grammar School for Boys, said: “Throughout the pandemic, students have shown commitment and resilience.
"Collectively and individually they have remained focussed throughout the disruption, adapting to in-class and online teaching as well as operating in bubbles without the usual access to practical activities that would normally have happened.”
He added that teachers had "acted with diligence and integrity under extraordinary circumstances to provide our students with grades that are as accurate as possible".
Most will be returning to WG6, a sixth form shared with Wilmington Grammar School for Girls.
Special mention went to James Pilling and Owen Hunter, who both achieved 10 grade 9s. David Ruston and Sameen Haque achieved nine grade 9s and one grade 8 each, while Jake Anthony and Finn Lewis achieved eight grade 9s and two grade 8s.
Northfleet School for Girls announced another year of excellent results, saying "student attainment continued to be very strong despite all of the difficulties of the last 18 months" and reflected everyone’s hard work and determination to succeed.
Particular praise went to: Emilia Joseph, with 5 grade 9s, 2 grade 8s and a grade 7; Meg Hanley with 2 grade 9s and 5 grade 8s; Jasleen Sandhu with 5 grade 9s, 1 Distinction* and 2 grade 6s; and Lily O’Brien with 1 grade 9, 5 grade 8s and 2 grade 7s.
Head teacher Chris Norwood said: “Despite all of the difficulties and setbacks of the last 18 months this cohort of students have engaged very well with their teachers and provided the evidence for this excellent set of results.
"We are proud of every student’s achievements and look forward to further successes in their post 16 studies.
"I would also like to thank their teachers for all the hard work in ensuring a rigorous assessment process which has generated results that all students richly deserve.”
The Leigh Academy welcomed students today to receive "an impressive array" of GCSE and Level 2 BTEC results.
Principal Julia Collin said: “These results are testament to the resilience and perseverance of our young people who have overcome the significant demands over the course of their studies and shown true Leigh spirit.
"I am so proud of all of our students and wish them well as they move confidently into their future.”
Many pupils will return to Leigh for sixth-form studies, while others are already undertaking apprenticeships or will be moving on to college places in September.
Michelle Lawson, head teacher of Wilmington Grammar School for Girls, was both proud and delighted with the achievements of the students.
She said: “The students at the school have managed the challenges of remote learning, adapted assessments and changed curriculum with the usual calm tenacity that we have come to expect from them.”
A total of 57% of grades were at grade 7 and above and 95% of students achieved the Ebacc, which included some "excellent performances" in the school's first GCSE Mandarin results.
Stand-out performances included Ruslana Mudra and Jessica Nicholls with nine grades at grade 9 while Holly Brookes, Katie Nash and Megan Washington all achieved all of their grades at grade 9 and 8.
Ms Lawson said: “Above all else the students have demonstrated a real sense of community and shared purpose which ensured they all had the support not only of their teachers but of their fellow students.
"We are looking forward to welcoming the students back to WG6 for the start of their sixth form, following some outstanding work during the final term in preparation for their A-levels.
"Today is a day to celebrate with our students and we wish them every success for their next steps.”
Read more: All the latest news from Gravesend
