LIVE: GCSE results day 2021 as students across Derbyshire find out their grades

Students across Derbyshire are finding out their eagerly awaited GCSE results today (August 12).
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It is the second year in a row that results have been determined by teachers’ assessements after formal exams were scrapped due to the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

In England, GCSE pupils now graded on a numerical system from 9 to 1, rather than from A to E – a grading system which was brought in alongside a new GCSE curriculum.

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The highest grade is 9, while 1 is the lowest, not including a U (ungraded).

Students across Derbyshire are collecting their GCSE results todayStudents across Derbyshire are collecting their GCSE results today
Students across Derbyshire are collecting their GCSE results today

Grades 9, 8 and 7 correspond to the two previous top grades of A* and A, while a 4 is broadly equivalent to a C grade.

Pupils need a 4 for a standard pass and 5 for a "strong pass".

We’ll be bringing you all the latest news from across the Derbyshire region on this live blog as GCSE results day 2021 gets underway and are out at Eckington School speaking to students as they receive their grades.

To share you GCSE news with us today, email [email protected]

Live updates as students from across Derbyshire collect their GCSE results

Key Events

  • Students across Derbyshire are finding out their GCSE grades today
  • We attended Eckington School as Year 11 pupils opened their results

Chesterfield College students celebrate GCSE success

This academic year, the college helped a record number of students to achieve a GCSE Frade 4 or above.

Many people collecting GCSE results earlier studied for these qualifications alongside other courses at the college, working or family commitments.

Their aim was to improve the grades they left school with, or refresh qualifications they achieved in the past. These students will now have more opportunities for higher-level study and a wider range of career options open to them.

Aaron Evans, was delighted when he found out he had achieved a Grade 9 in English and a 9 in Maths after studying on the KickStart programme at college.

He said: “I really didn’t expect to get two 9s I left school in year 10 due to mental health issues and I wasn’t well enough to do my GCSEs. The KickStart programme was the best course for me. It was that perfect bridge to get my GCSEs and do so well. I am coming back to college to do my A Levels in maths, further maths and psychology next. I want to study physics at university and my ultimate goal is to be an astrophysicist.”

Lucy Beeson, 33, opened her results to find she had achieved a Grade 4 in GCSE English.

She has an ambition to become a paramedic and is coming back to college in September to work towards studying on the Health Professionals Access course before applying to university.

She said: “This pass means more than anything to me today. Especially managing to get it in the pandemic, and having four children at home too. I am really proud of myself because trying to do home schooling as well as my own learning has been really tough so today just feels such a relief. It hasn’t been easy for me to get this grade but I am so pleased I have finally done it.”

Kai Sheriff, left school in Year 10 without any qualifications but has had great success with his results today after spending a year on the KickStart programme. He found out he had achieved a Grade 5 in English, and a 7 in maths.

He said: “It feels really good to get these results. I am so grateful to the KickStart tutors and to Chesterfield College for providing an environment that allowed me to learn. Maths has been my favourite thing on the course. I was terrible at it in secondary school but the way it was taught here stuck with me. I will be studying a level 2 business course in September. I would tell anyone who leaves school without their GCSEs to do KickStart – go for it. You are studying with people who are in the same position as you and it makes college life a lot easier.”

Rachel Pierce and Sara Topham, returned to learning to study GCSE English in the evenings to fit around their jobs. They made friends at college and came to collect their results together today.

They were over the moon when they found out they had achieved some of the top grades. Rachel got a 9 in English Language and Sara got an 8 in English Language.

Rachel explained: “When I did exams at school I just wasn’t confident and when it came to the exams I just did my best but I wasn’t good at revising. I have always wanted to prove to myself that I could do it and now I have. I am a teaching assistant and there is always that little voice in your head saying you haven’t even got a GCSE – but I have now!”

David Malone, Deputy Principal of Chesterfield College said: “Congratulations to everyone who is celebrating their success today. Every year our students show remarkable resilience and commitment to improve their grades, knowledge and skills. This year that commitment has been even greater.

“I am very proud of the fact it has been a record year for students achieving a grade 4 or above. Especially in another year which saw changes to how courses were taught and assessed. The team across the college have helped students achieve their goals by ensuring quality teaching along with robust systems for assessment and awarding grades.”

“Hearing student’s stories of perseverance to get the GCSE qualifications they need is really inspiring and I hope it will show anyone who might not have achieved the grade they wanted the first time around what is possible.”

Photo gallery of GCSE students

We’ve been receiving pictures of joyous scenes at schools across Derbyshire today as pupils pick up their GCSE results.

Take a look at our gallery of just some of the photos here and see if you can spot anyone you know!

Scenes of pride at Eckington School as delighted pupils collect their GCSE results

We visited Eckington School this morning to watch as pupils collected their GCSE results and to get their reaction afterwards.

Shirebrook staff praised as GCSE students collect their results in a year like no other

Joel Webster, 16, a student at Shirebrook Academy, said he admired how staff at the school had worked hard and put in long hours to ensure that this year’s cohort overcame the struggles with lockdowns, working remotely alone at home and sitting tests in the classroom rather than the usual end-of-year exams.

Today Joel achieved four 9s, three 8s and a 7, which is more than enough for him to take up a place at West Nottinghamshire College in Mansfield to study history, geography and sociology at A-Level.

He said: “I feel amazing to have got the results that I have. I didn’t think I’d be getting 9s and 8s so it’s fantastic.

“The whole environment that we have been studying in, from not knowing when we would be back in school or not knowing whether we would be sitting exams made things very uncertain, along with having to socially isolate and everyone saying how hard it was going to be for our year.

“It was a unique time and I’m grateful to all the staff for the hard work and the long hours they’ve put in to get us through the exams. I’m thinking at the moment that I’d like to be a teacher in the future and what they’ve done this year has certainly inspired me.”

Fellow student Amelie Clarke, 16, is also ready to take her next step, armed with a host of GCSE grades including five 9s, including all three sciences, which will enable her to take a place in the Sixth Form at Brunts Academy in Mansfield to study A-Levels in philosophy, history and sociology.

Joel Webster (16) paid tribute to staff at Shirebrook Academy after picking up his GCSE results todayJoel Webster (16) paid tribute to staff at Shirebrook Academy after picking up his GCSE results today
Joel Webster (16) paid tribute to staff at Shirebrook Academy after picking up his GCSE results today

She said: “I was really worried about my results, but I’m really happy with what I’ve got.

“It has been more worrying this year not knowing what’s going to happen and not being in school for so long and having to work online, so I think we all dealt with it really well.”

Lauren Millband, 16, is also heading to Brunts, where she will study finance, maths and sociology at A-Level, after picking up seven GCSEs, including three 8s, and a distinction * in dance.

She said: “I want to go onto become an accountant because I like working with money, so I’m really pleased with my results because it’s what I need to get into Sixth Form.

“I found it hard to keep focussed during the time when we were learning at home so I really picked things up and revised really hard when we got back into school and did the exams.”

Overall, Shirebrook Academy’s results reflected the national average in 2019 – the last comparable year – with 67 per cent of students getting at least a Grade 4 or above in English and maths and 43 per cent getting a Grade 5 or above.

Shirebrook Academy principal Mark Cottingham said: “There are so many stories and issues behind these results and this year has seen a huge demand on our pastoral team as well as form tutors, who have had to balance teaching during the lockdown with ringing up students regularly to check that they are OK.

“When you take that level of stress and anxiety and disruption into account you realise quite how well everybody has done to get the grades that they need.

“Our results are in line with the progress that we would have expected had external exams taken place, so all in all I am very satisfied with this year’s results and proud that everyone’s hard work has been rewarded.”

Headteacher ‘delighted’ at Tupton Hall School GCSE results

Overall, 61.3 per cent of the Year 11 cohort achieved five or more GCSE Grade 9 to 4s, including English and Maths, and 37.4 per cent achieved five or more GCSE Grade 9 to 5s.

Headteacher Andrew Knowles said: “I am delighted for our students who have worked so hard to achieve their grades against the backdrop of months of uncertainty and anxiety. This is a day for great celebration and joy. Our students have earned these grades, and we congratulate all of them on their achievements.”

Frances Archibald was the highest ranked student in the year group, achieving an astonishing 10 Grade 9s.

Ava Bateman was amazed with her results, having achieved two Grade 9s, six Grade 8s and one Grade 7.

Tabitha Bruty was extremely happy with her results, having achieved five Grade 9s and four Grade 8s.

Joshua Cooper achieved a brilliant four Grade 8s and five Grade 7s, with views of heading to Chesterfield College to study Applied Science.

Another of the top achievers, Aimee Cashmore, achieved an amazing five Grade 9s and four Grade 8s.

Sadie Boyle did fantastically, achieving nine Grade 7s and above, particularly succeeding at Maths and History.

Other high performing individuals:

Evie Tallboys-Cotton: six Grades 8 and above.

Alfie Cordon: nine Grade 6s and above.

Jake Hartshorn: eight Grade 7s and above.

Evie Pullinger: nine Grade 8s and above.

Rhianna Wing: eight Grade 8s and above and a Level 2 Distinction*.

Alexandra Orwin: nine Grade 8s and above.

Hannah Shaw: nine Grade 8s and above.

Ella Parkin: nine Grade 6s and above.

Graph shows GCSE performance by gender

Derbyshire police gives ‘huge congratulations’ to GCSE students

‘Outstanding year’ of GCSE results at Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School

Headteacher Martyn Cooper said: “In addition to great success with the outcomes for Sixth Form, the Year 11 students have also had an outstanding year with their results.

“These students deserve credit after a very disrupted study period that required diligence, flexibility and real commitment to continue working hard and succeed. They did this in spectacular style and we are impressed with just how amazing they have been.

“English and maths achievement at grade 4+ stands at 82 per cent whilst 58 per cent achieved 5+ in these subjects.

“Our indicative progress scores look excellent and reflect yet again their determination to produce their best at all times, in spite of the challenges they faced.

“As a consequence of their performance, the students have secured strong destinations with a significant number returning to our Sixth Form. We are extremely proud of all the students and staff that have worked together so well to achieve this.”

‘Exceptional’ GCSE success at Bakewell’s S. Anselm’s College

S. Anselm’s College said it is delighted for its Year 11 pupils who have achieved an ‘excellent’ set of GCSE results today.

This year’s results have continued to build on the successes of previous years with a 100 per cent pass rate including 56 per cent of grades being awarded at Level 8 and above; a huge achievement against the national average of 28.9 per cent.

In addition, 73 per cent of all grades awarded at Level 7 and above and 46 per cent of this talented group achieved at least four Level 9s across all subjects; the highest grade awarded at GCSE.

The college said these results “truly reflect pupils’ continued focus and commitment to their studies during very challenging times.”

Pupils will be going on to a broad range of onward destinations, including Birkdale School, Rugby School, St Mary’s College and d’Overbroeck’s in Oxford.

Headteacher, Mr Frank Thompson said: “I have huge respect for our College leavers this year. We cannot underestimate the disruption and uncertainty the last two years have caused for Year 11, yet this cohort knuckled down and continued to apply themselves right through two lockdowns and beyond.

“As a small school that prides itself on nurturing the individual through small class sizes and dedicated, bespoke teaching, we were able to ensure that every pupil has left S. Anselm’s College well prepared for the next stage of their journey.

“The majority of our pupils achieved at least one grade higher per subject on average than predicted by national standardisation and these achievements are all the more remarkable given that we are a non-selective school.

“I applaud the superb efforts of each and every one of our pupils, who have ensured that they got the very best out of their S. Anselm’s experience. We are all immensely proud of them.”

Head of College, Mr James Mortimer said: “This year we celebrate fantastic results, as the College clearly goes from strength to strength.

“Throughout the pandemic, we continued to deliver a strong focus on making pupils A-Level ready by maximising the GCSE syllabus coverage across the curriculum.

“Learning did not stop over the lockdown periods and we continued to assess and monitor progress regularly throughout the period, via small group teaching, live lessons and extended one-to-one support.

“As a result, our pupils remained highly engaged with both the school and their studies, and the results clearly speak for themselves. I look forward to seeing Class of 2021 continue to succeed and flourish as they take their next steps beyond S. Anselm’s College.”

Outwood Academy Hasland Hall celebrates successful GCSE results after challenging 18 months

Overall there were highlights for the academy, where 46 per cent of the students achieved a Grade 5 or higher in English and maths.

Principal Ian Cooper said: “We are so proud of how our students have coped and adapted to the many challenges they have had to face over the last 18 months. The way the students demonstrated determination, resilience and humour has been inspirational.”

“Results day is always an important opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our young people and to wish them well as they move onto the next stage of their learning journeys. It is always a privilege to share the excitement as they open their envelopes. We wish them all the very best and we look forward to seeing what they achieve in the future.”