Achievers get younger
Date published: 25 August 2008
GCSE 2008 III
NORTH Chadderton School recorded record GCSE results — and those taking them are getting younger.
The number getting five A* to C grades increased from 61 to 64 per cent and including English and maths it’s gone up from 47 per cent to 50 per cent.
There were also pupils sitting the exams early with 16 Year 9 pupils, aged 14, getting French GCSEs, including 14 of them scoring Grade C or above, of which five were As.
Kirsty Watkinson (14), from Chadderton, was one of the As after studying French for only two years.
She said: “I just had the option to take it early and get an extra GCSE. I was a bit nervous, especially with the speaking exam, but I’m really happy with my result.”
She wants to become a zoologist and is now looking to get the grades in science.
Mum Alison said: “We felt it was really important for her and it would be good to take it early. I think it’s fantastic to have taken it that early and get that result. I’m absolutely delighted and really proud of her.”
Charlotte Hill was the star pupil getting 10 A* and one A.
Anneka Palfreyman (16), from Chadderton, got 3.5 A* and eight As. She’ll stay on in the Sixth Form to study A-Levels in biology, chemistry, English language and psychology.
“The exams were quite hard and I did not think I had done as well as I have,” she said. “My parents are really happy for me as well.”
Stuart McClusky (16), from Chadderton, got 9 A*, two As and a B and will do A-Levels in English, geography, history and psychology.
He said: “I want to go to university and I’m thinking of a career as a lawyer or journalist. Some of the exams were difficult and it’s the pressure as well. I was nervous but I’m just really chuffed.”
Michael Campbell (16), from Chadderton, got 7.5 A* three As and one B. He’ll study A-Levels in maths, business studies, physics, media studies and further maths.
He said: ‘I’m not sure what I want to do. I’m undecided and I usually see how things go. I did not think I had got that many A*. I was a bit flabbergasted, but I’m really pleased.”
Headteacher Barbara Howse said: “We are really pleased with the improvements. There has been some fantastic individual results as well.”
Twins’ success
THEY arrived in England from Hong Kong five years ago barely able to speak English — but twin brothers Simon and Jason Tse are now pass masters.
The pair scooped 18 GCSEs between them at North Chadderton School after studying hard to learn the language and adapt to a different culture.
They came to England for a good education and between studying also help out when it’s busy at their parent’s chip shop, the appropriately named Lucky Chips, in Oldham Road, Middleton.
Jason had already got an A* in Chinese and added another 10 GCSEs, including an A in electronics and a B in maths. He’ll be going to Oldham Sixth Form College to study A-Levels in maths, ICT and graphic design.
Simon got an A in Chinese and B in art and passed five other GCSEs. He’ll stay on to study A-Levels in art, graphic design and English.
Jason said: “I expected to get good grades but the most important one I was worrying about was English. I got what I wished for, which I’m really pleased about. I’m pretty happy.”
Simon said: “I think my result are quite good. I’m really pleased with my art and quite surprised by what I did.”
The inseparable twins love life in England — apart from the weather. Jason said: “I enjoy England and the fresh air, in Hong Kong we don’t have much space.” And Simon added: “England’s better than Hong Kong. I’m glad we came here to study.”
