Another record year for delighted pupils

TOP CLASS: Emma Simpson, Elizabeth Leason, Jordan Shaw, Charlie Stringer, Bethany Wignall, Katie Butler of Blue Coat School

CELEBRATIONS were in order for Oldham’s newest schools whose students scored record-breaking GCSE results.

Pupils at Waterhead Academy, sponsored by Oldham College, Oasis Academy, sponsored by Oasis, and Oldham Academy North, sponsored by E-ACT, were Oldham’s first academy students to receive their GCSE results today.

And success was on the cards with increased numbers of students making the grade with at least five A* to C results.

Waterhead Academy, former Breeze Hill School and Counthill School, saw their best ever results with 46 per cent of Year 11 students gaining the key indicator of at least five A* to C grades (including English and Maths).

This was an increase of 3 per cent from last year on the combined results for both campuses.

Vice-principal David Lancaster said: “We all are delighted for our students on their outstanding exam results and they should all be very proud of their achievements.

“Every Year 11 student is leaving Waterhead Academy with a qualification and all the teachers and staff wish them the very best as they take their next steps into work or further education.”

Oldham Academy North, formerly Grange School, was also celebrating a seven per cent increase in GCSE results with 44 per cent of students gaining five or more A*-C grades including English and maths.

Principal Colette Burgess congratulated students and their families at the academy and praised the hard work of the academy’s staff.

She said: “The 7 per cent improvement in our GCSE results is very pleasing and reflects the tremendous commitment and hard work of our students and staff.

“We are particularly pleased to have exceeded targets and expectations in maths and science, with good GCSE grades up to 65 per cent and 71 per cent respectively.”

Across the borough, North Chadderton School students scooped their best ever GCSE results with 66 per cent achieving five A*-C grades including mathematics and English, an increase of 15 per cent from last year’s best-ever results.

Acting head teacher Fiona Jack said: “We are absolutely thrilled and extremely proud of our achievements.

“This is a monumental increase but one that we fully expected. It is wonderful to see how the hard work and efforts of the students and staff at the school have been rewarded by our best-ever results.”

Hulme Grammar’s Year 11 students also saw a 10 per cent increase on last year’s results, with almost a quarter of students getting nine or more A*/A grades and 15 students getting at least 10A*/A grades.

This was an overall A*-C pass rate of 94.3 per cent.

Principal Dr Paul Neeson said: “These results reflect a great deal of hard work and dedication by the pupils and their teachers.”

Crompton House deemed their results fantastic after students scored an overall pass rate of 96 per cent for students achieving five A*-C grades and 79 per cent of students getting five A*-C results, including English and maths.

Mr Jim Upton, senior deputy head, said he was delighted.

“Last year’s were high at 91.5 per cent but these are over 4.5 per cent better.

“We had set what we considered to be a challenging target of 92 per cent, so this is fantastic.”

Good progress was made at Royton and Crompton School with a pass rate of 58 per cent of students achieving five A*-C grades, including English and maths.

Head teacher Desmond Herlihy said: “We are very pleased with the performance of our pupils this year.”




SUPER students Katie Butler and Elizabeth Leason were jumping for joy today after scooping 11A*s each in their GCSEs.



The 16-year-old Blue Coat School pair are already planning for the future. Both will stay on at the school’s sixth form to study A-levels.

Katie said: “I’m slightly shocked with my results but really happy.

Elizabeth said: “I’m really surprised but happy!”

Head teacher Julie Hollis said 76 per cent gained five A*-Cs including English and maths. Over 98 per cent achieved at least five grades at C or above.