As the General Certificate of Secondary Education celebrated its silver anniversary, there was jubilation in the halls of St John’s School, as eager students ripped open manilla envelopes to get at those all-important results.
And while there was a slight reduction in the proportion of top grades awarded, almost 30 percent of the grades awarded at St John’s were at A* and A.
And the sixteen year olds Marlborough News Online met were were clearly delighted at their own results.
Becky Kinghorn was celebrating a host of top marks, including an A*, nine A grades and a pair of Bs. “I’m very, very pleased,” said Becky, who is staying at the school to study biology, chemistry, maths and psychology, and has ambitions to be an A&E medic.
Her friend Georgia Ghent fancies a career in something less bloody: perhaps design. Her A in textiles – her favourite subject – should help her along that path, along with her four Bs and a smattering of Cs and Ds. She’ll be staying on to study art, textiles, photography and English literature.
Not everyone will continue their education at St John’s. Drummer Jonathan Snape is off to The Academy of Music and Sound in Swindon, while his friend Nathan Hawkins – who has ambitions to be a chef – is off to North Star in Swindon to study catering.
And their pal Aiden Horwood – who plays rugby for the town – is off to board at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire, which has an excellent reputation for bringing on sports stars of the future.
And while results day quite rightly sees the spotlight shone on the achievements of students, many pupils were quick to sing the praises of the teaching staff, with English students Emily Daubney, Andrew Macdonald and Owen Davies dragging their teacher Georgie Hibberd in for a photo.
Owen is off to New College, Swindon to study graphic design, computing, photography and English language. But he’s already been putting his education to good use: the young entrepreneur has his own company – Region Clothing – designing tops, caps and beanie hats which he then sells via online fashion retailer ASOS.
The overall pass rate at A* to C was 79 percent – well above the national average of 68 percent.
The school’s top performers included Florence Lenehan (11 A* grades and an A), Lucy Smith (10 A* 1 A), Jonny Budd (8 A* 3 A), Josh Baldock (7 A* 5 A), Lizzie Cope (7 A* 5A), Beckie Doyle (8 A* 4A), Sophie Goodrich (8 A* 4A) and Harry Morgan (8 A* 4A).