GCSE results day: 'Outstanding' - Waterhead Academy students shine amid challenging times

Date published: 25 August 2022

Staff at Waterhead Academy have welcomed numerous outstanding achievements by its students in their GCSE and equivalent qualifications this summer.

Despite suffering significant disruptions to their education over the past three years, a number of Waterhead students performed exceptionally well indeed.

Thirty-two students gained at least one grade 9 and five students gained at least three grade 9s.

One of the big achievers was School Prefect Patrick Thampi (pictured below with Hammad Ramzan), who secured a Grade 9 in English language, with the rest of his results all being 8s.

He said: "To be honest, I feel relieved more than anything.

"I thought my results were going to be a bit worse than this, so I'm definitely pleasantly surprised.

"I'm really proud of myself today."

Patrick is now heading off to Oldham Sixth Form College to study biology, chemistry, English language and psychology, with the ultime aim to head into the field of medicine.

Amy Brown (pictured below with Principal Darren Lyon) secured a brilliant three grade 9s, and she is now heading off to college before hopefully heading into the exciting world of law and criminology.

A number of Waterhead students are aiming towards a career in medicine after this morning's excellent GCSE results.

Misbah Ramzan is one of those, and she will head off next to Oldham Sixth Form College to continue her studies.

Mohammed Salim is another, after he secured Grade 9s in chemistry, physics and religious studies.

Waterhead Academy Head Boy Mason Jones was another who secured excellent grades.

He is now heading off to Oldham Sixth Form College to study maths, chemistry, physics and psychology, and he is definitely aiming high.

Mason said: "I'm really pleased with my results today.

"I'm going to sixth form in September, but ultimately I want to join the RAF.

"I want to become a pilot."

Other students deserving of special mentions include Maira Zaheed, who gained seven grade 9s, three grade 8s and a C in additional maths.

Laiba Javaid gained six grade 9s and two grade 8s, and Hammad Ramzan gained five grade 9s, two grade 8s, a distinction star and an A in additional maths.

Mehak Shezadi gained two grade 9s and six grade 8s.

Between them, Head boy Mason and Head girl Heaven Lomax both gained at least eight grades 7-9.

This is the first year that grades have been awarded through examinations since 2019.

Waterhead Academy Principal Darren Lyon, speaking at the end of his second year in the job, saluted the students and staff who have had to overcome a number of challenges brought by the covid pandemic.

He said: “This group of students have experienced three years of education punctuated by disruption through extensive staff and student absence, and so I am proud of the resilience that they have shown throughout.

"Students are always far more than the sum of their academic outcomes, but I am confident that the results they receive today will equip them all for the next phase of their education, employment or training and we wish them every success in the next phase of this journey.

"Obviously we have seen a drop from previous years, as we knew we would when we returned to examinations.

"Our children were hit hard by covid - across the north west we have been one of the hardest hit with those staff and absences.

"But we are celebrating today.

"It's been a challenge, but all the students who have applied themselves have done really well and that's a big positive today."

Meanwhile, from next month, Waterhead Academy are starting vocational courses in hair and beauty, construction, and hospitatility and catering.

"I think some of our students will benefit from a less academic curriculum that they have now," added Mr Lyon.

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