Making the grade

19 Sep 2023 09:37

Published by: Scott Callan

KING’S School students were ecstatic after bucking the national trend on GCSE results day.
As the threshold for top grades was raised by examiners there was a nationwide downturn in results, but not at the Macclesfield school.
Results were up on last year and the best since 2014. Overall, 43 per cent of all grades were at 9/8 (A*); 64 per cent of grades were at 9-7 (A*-A); over 81 per cent of grades were 9-6 (A*-B).
A third of pupils got at least nine 9-7s (A*/A); and three quarters of pupils got a 9/8 (A*) in at least one subject.
Jason Slack, King’s head of foundation, said: “We all feel incredibly proud of this year’s GCSE students.
“Their results represent the best externally awarded grades for nine years and are fully deserved by a committed cohort, particularly against a national picture of a significant decline in the number of top grades.”
High-achieving King’s School students also celebrated a set of outstanding A-level results.
Almost 50 per cent of grades were either A* or A with a superb seven students achieving three A*s.
In addition, 80 per cent of grades were A* to B with around a third of students scoring three As or above.
King’s head Jason Slack said: “This cohort has worked exceptionally hard and thoroughly deserve these wonderful results. To consistently perform at the highest level requires sustained commitment and these students have demonstrated that they have what it takes.
“In addition, they have developed the character and broader skills necessary to meet the challenges of the modern world through a wide range of extra-curricular interests and I look forward to hearing of their success in the future. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Top-class international swimmer Reece Grady, 18, from Marton, is heading to Loughborough to read aerospace engineering after gaining A-levels in maths, physics and chemistry.
Reece has competed for Great Britain and England in the pool, winning three international medals at the Youth Commonwealth Games.
Annabelle O’Neill, 18, from Macclesfield, gained As in chemistry and maths plus an A* in biology. She’s now heading to Birmingham to study mechanical engineering and aims to work in the automotive industry.
Duke of Edinburgh Award winner Amelia Phillpotts gained four As in English Literature, history, psychology and EPQ. She’s now heading to Warwick to read English Literature.
School vice-captain and hockey player Rory McCabe, 18, from Over Alderley, gained three A*s in French, politics and history and achieved an A* in EPQ. He aims to go on to become a journalist.
Grace Slack, 18, from Macclesfield, struck gold with a Duke of Edinburgh award at King’s. She gained three A*s in maths, biology and chemistry. She wants to become a doctor and is heading to Leeds to read medicine.
And two King’s School pupils received offers from Oxbridge after they both achieved an outstanding four A*s.
Eighteen-year-old Ben O’Donnell, from Buxton, is heading to St Anne’s College at Oxford to study biology. He scored A*s in maths, biology, chemistry and EPQ and wants to become a biochemical engineer.
Owen Branthwaite, 18, from Wilmslow, is heading to Jesus College, Cambridge to read maths after gaining four A*s in maths, further maths, chemistry and physics. Owen played rugby for the first team.