Students celebrate 2021 GCSE results across the Seckford Education Trust

Year 11 students across the Seckford Education Trust have been celebrating their GCSE results today (12 August 2021).

Mark Barrow, Chief Executive Officer; Executive Headteacher at Seckford Education Trust, said: “We are incredibly proud of the achievements of each and every student across the Trust. In this year of uncertainty, they have all worked exceptionally hard and have demonstrated the Trust values of co-operation, commitment, confidence, community, challenge and celebration. This has to have been the hardest time to be a Year 11 student with unanticipated challenges and two years of learning affected by the pandemic, but, through our small school environments and unwavering consistency in teaching and care, we are proud to have helped individual students to overcome barriers to achieve their very best.

“Our robust process has ensured every grade is an accurate and fair reflection of the students’ achievements, so they are confident and ready to embark on the next step in their education. I wish them every success as they leave Year 11, and I would like to thank all our Trust staff for their hard work and dedication over the past year.”

SET Beccles School

Students at SET Beccles on GCSE results day with (centre) Head of School Heidi Philpott. [Credit: Ben Thomas, Copyright: Seckford Education Trust]

Heidi Philpott, SET Beccles Head of School, said: “Every Year 11 student at SET Beccles should be proud of their hard work and achievements this year. We have delivered a strong learning experience across all subjects despite the pandemic, including challenging and interactive online lessons, personalised support and equipping students with resources for practical subjects at home. The students’ commitment to learning in this uncertain time has been reflected in every grade, and they should all feel proud of what they have achieved as they reach their post-16 destination.”

Student successes at SET Beccles include Jamie Hutton from Kessingland who was thrilled with his string of top grades, including Grade 9 in Biology, Geography and Physics, and Grade 8 in History, Maths and Statistics. Jamie said: “I’m feeling really happy, I’ve done much better than expected, I thought I’d get one 8 if I was lucky! Studying in lockdown hasn’t been easy for anyone but it was the best it could be at SET Beccles, the teachers communicated well and it was good to have that support. I’ve also enjoyed a lot of enrichment activities during my time here, including Marine Cadets, gardening and rock climbing. I’m now thinking what to study next but I’d like to work in engineering one day.”

Anne Popova from Pakefield is also proud of her seven Grade 8s, one Grade 9 and one Grade 6 at SET Beccles school despite only joining a year ago. Anne said: “I joined SET Beccles two weeks before the Covid lockdown, it was quite hard but I’ve had a great time here and I’ve made loads of new friends. I’m really happy with my results, I feel like it’s a huge personal achievement. Outside of school I’ve also been busy raising money for the Dragonfly Unit in Carlton Coville for teenagers with mental health, we’ve raised around £7,500.”

Marley Thrower-Palmer from Southwold said his GCSE results are a “big relief” after the past year. Marley said: “I’m completely over the moon, I was really nervous about my grades but I’m so happy to get a Grade 5 in PE and Grade 4s in English, Maths, Music and Science. I’m now really excited to be leaving home to study Sports Performance and Excellence at Easton College. The dream is to become a professional golfer one day, I learnt from my grandad and have been playing since I was 5 years old.”

SET Ixworth School

Students at SET Ixworth leap for joy with their GCSE results [Credit: Gregg Brown, Copyright: Seckford Education Trust]

Pia Parker, SET Ixworth Head of School, said: “Congratulations to every student for their superb achievements on GCSE results day. Despite the challenges, students have worked with outstanding commitment and have received bespoke support to achieve individual highs and reach exceptional grades in a wide range of subjects, from Maths, English and Sciences to creative arts such as Drama and Photography. 10% of this cohort achieved at least one top Grade 9 (A**), which is a fantastic achievement in any year. I am delighted that all our students leave SET Ixworth confident in their journeys to the next stage of their education.”

Daniel Buckley, age 16 from Stanton, was really surprised to achieve five top Grade 9s (equivalent to A**) in English Literature, Geography, History, Physics and German (the school’s first Grade 9 in a language subject) as well as a Grade 8 in Drama, and Grade 7 in Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Statistics.

Daniel said: “I never really liked Physics, I thought I’d be lucky to pass but I put in lots of hard work and I’m amazed I got a Grade 9. It’s been such an achievement to make it through lockdown and get these grades, in January we didn’t know what would happen so it’s just been a massive achievement. As SET Ixworth is a small school, I’ve had lots of great opportunities and I’ve really made the most of my time here, they’ve been really supportive.”

Holly Bamber from Thetford achieved 11 GCSEs in Grades 6 to 9. She said: “It’s just such a relief, I’m so happy with my grades. I’m dyslexic so I was really worried about English but the teachers have been so supportive and I’ve worked really hard to get such high grades. I’ve absolutely loved my time at SET Ixworth, I’ve made loads of new friends and felt like I really belonged here. I’m now going to Abbeygate Sixth Form College to study Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry at A Level and I’m aiming for a career as a Nuclear Physicist.”

SET Saxmundham School

Students jumping for joy on GCSE results day at SET Saxmundham. [Credit: Simon Lee, Copyright: Seckford Education Trust]

Lizzie Girling, SET Saxmundham Head of School, said: “I am absolutely delighted for all Year 11 students and staff, they have all worked really hard under the circumstances and have achieved extraordinarily well across the full breadth of the curriculum. This year has been academically and emotionally challenging for everyone, but students’ wellbeing has been prioritised and I am proud that they have overcome these challenges and really pushed themselves to reach their full potential. They should all be incredibly proud of their individual achievements.”

Jasmie Benham, age 16 from Walberswick, is “over the moon” with her top GCSE grades. Jasmine said: “I’m a lot happier than I expected, I’m really proud to achieve two Grade 9s and five Grade 8s. I really loved Music and Sciences at SET Saxmundham, obviously lockdown learning was quite an experience but the school did absolutely everything they could to make it better for everyone. I’m now heading to Thomas Mills Sixth Form to study Biology, Chemistry, Maths and English Literature with the aim of studying either medicine or teaching at university.”

Olivia Hammett from Halesworth achieved four Grade 7s and three Grade 6s at GCSE, and was particularly proud of her achievements in the sciences. She said: “I’m so pleased with my results after working so hard this year. I absolutely love Biology and, through the experience of Covid, I’ve been inspired to work towards a career in Pharmacology and drugs development, that sounds really fascinating.”

Another success at SET Saxmundham is Daniel Lobega who achieved three grade 7s and two Grade 6s at GCSE. Daniel loved studying practical subjects like Design and Technology and is now heading to Lowestoft Sixth Form to study Business and Economics.