GCSE results day 2022 live blog: Pupils across the Portsmouth area eagerly collecting results as grades fall from 2021 but above pre-pandemic levels
and live on Freeview channel 276
Students from across the city found out their A-level and T-level results last week, with many achieving stunning grades and Oxbridge placements.
Just like their A-level counter parts, it is the first time these young people have taken exams since the Covid-19 outbreak.
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Top grades for GCSEs are down on last year – but remain higher than pre-pandemic levels
Results are calculated in a 9-1 system, with nine being the highest mark.
A four is broadly equivalent to a C grade, and a 7 is broadly equivalent to an A.
Figures published by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) – covering GCSE entries from students predominantly in England, Wales and Northern Ireland – showed top grades of 7/A have fallen from 28.9 per cent in 2021 to 26.3 per cent this year, a drop of 2.6 percentage points.
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Hide AdThis remains higher than the equivalent figure for 2019 of 20.8 per cent.
Separate figures, published by exams regulator Ofqual, showed that 2,193 16-year-olds in England got grade 9 in all their subjects – including 13 students who did at least 12 GCSEs.
The News has reporters at several schools across the Portsmouth area.
You can stay updated by following the live blog at the bottom of this article.
GCSE results day live blog: Portsmouth across students eagerly anticipate results
Key Events
- Pupils across the Portsmouth area are collecting their results this morning.
- Just like their A-level and T-level counterparts, they were the first cohort to sit exams since 2019.
- Nationally, grades are lower than last year, but higher than 2019.
Horndean Technology College
Elated pupils and teachers are celebrating the GCSE results at Horndean Technology College.
Julie Summerfield, head teacher, said the students’ achievements have been ‘brilliant’ despite all the challenges they faced.
UTC Portsmouth
Exceptional pupils from UTC Portsmouth have left their teachers dumbfounded after achieving a stunning set of GCSE results.
Teenagers at the college , in Hilsea, managed to bag the institution’s best set of results, with 88 per cent of them achieving the bench-mark of five grade 4s or higher – including in English and maths, an increase of five per cent from last year.
This bucks the national trend, with many experts predicting grades would dip slightly.
UTC principal James Doherty said: ‘I am so proud of our students and the grades they have achieved.’
College place guaranteed
Kaiden Collins, 16, got the grades he needed at Portsmouth Academy to get into UTC college to study maths, biology and chemistry.
‘I’m very happy with the results. It’s not what I got in the mocks but is enough to do what I wanted,’ he said.
‘Over the moon'
Mathew Fleming has achieved a range of 6,7, and 8s and is ‘over the moon’ with his results.
He is going to Havant College to study politics, history and economics, and he got an 8 in his history exam.
He said: ‘I am buzzing a bit after it. It’s great.’
Against adversity
Noah Smith has done really well after securing his English grades which he did not think he would get.
The 16-year-old has had some difficulty in school but they have helped him immensely and he is going on to do agriculture at Sparsholt.
His mum, Martha Smith, said: ‘I am ecstatic. The school has been amazing for him. He has been supported and respected which is huge for him.’
Big dreams
Lyla Schillemore, 16, had a shock when she opened her results and had done enough to get into college.
She has struggled with her education but worked hard for the exams to pull it out of the bag with grades ranging from 4’s upwards.
She will be going to Chichester college to do musical theatre, which she hopes will open a door to travelling and performing.
She said: ‘The first thing I looked at was maths, that was the only thing that I was apprehensive about, but when I opened it, I was over the moon.
‘I was so overwhelmed because I know how much hard work I had put in.’
Portsmouth Academy
Sophia Reid, 16, achieved four grade 9s in biology, chemistry, geography and design and technology, with six other grades including two grade 8s.
She said: ‘I’m so happy. I woke up at 4am every day to revise before the exams.’
Her family are extremely proud of her.
Portsmouth Academy results
The full set of Portsmouth Academy results have been released.
Students overcame all the barriers put in their way, primarily due to Covid-19, to achieve a stellar set of grades.