Shirebrook Academy students celebrate 'step forward' with improved GCSE results

Angel Robinson and Ben Madeley were among a number of stand-out performers at the school, on Common Lane, which opened its doors to students this morning.

Angel, 16, picked up three 9 grades – in English Language, PE and maths – and six 8 grades.

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The coronavirus pandemic meant students did not sit any exams this year but instead were given grades based on their course work and mock exams.

Angel will now go to the Brunts Academy in Mansfield, where she will study maths, biology and psychology at A-level.

She said: “I’m really pleased, especially after what happened with the A-level students last week, and I’m really glad that, looking back, I worked so hard on my mock exams and treated them like the real thing.

“A couple of the results are unexpected but I have what I need to go to Sixth Form and I’m looking forward to it.”

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Ben, 16, was the school’s top performer, with eight 9 grades and one 8, and will now study biology, chemistry and maths at A-level.

He said: “It’s been a real rollercoaster this last week because of what happened with the A-level students and it was a horrible feeling thinking I might be downgraded because of where I live and the school I go to and not because of how academic I am.”

Ben now hopes to get good enough A-levels to study at Oxford or Cambridge.

Academy principal Mark Cottingham described the school’s overall set of results as ‘another step forward’, with 46 per cent of students achieving at least Grade 5 or above in English and maths and 72 per cent achieving at least a Grade 4 or above in the same subjects.

This compares to 40 per cent and 64 per cent respectively last year.

Mr Cottingham added: “We were expecting good results from this year group and these results are an accurate reflection of their hard work and positive approach to learning.

“They deserve these grades and they should be seen as just as valid as if they had taken their exams.”

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