GCSE results: Students at Bay House and Brune Park schools in Gosport celebrate getting their results

Pupils from both Brune Park Community School and Bay House School received their results after a turbulent year which saw them unable to sit their exams.

But despite that, many students were celebrating a top set of results. At Bay House School, students sat three GCSEs while in Year 10.

The pupils took their English Language, citizenship and statistics exams last year, meaning they were one of the few schools in the country who had the opportunity to take exams.

Jess Webb, 16, got nine 9s and a 6 and plans to study chemistry, physics, maths and history at the school’s sixth form.

She said: ‘I really couldn’t be happier. I didn’t know what to expect because I hadn’t sat any exams so I am really happy with what I’ve achieved.

‘Seeing what happened with the A-levels made me nervous but after the u-turn I felt confident I would get results that accurately reflected my abilities.’

Meanwhile, one success story is 16-year-old Owen Crossley who moved from Bridgemary School two years ago. He was at risk of exclusion and said he was in a bad place when he arrived at Bay House.

But now, he is leaving the school with two 5s and four 4s. He broke down in tears when he received his results, as did his emotional parents.

He said: ‘I just can’t believe it. Words can’t explain it. I thought that I had failed everything and I was a lost cause. This school has just changed my entire behaviour and it’s made me better.’

His mum Tracey Rimmer added: ‘I am overwhelmed. I am just so proud of him.’

Owen is going to study carpentry at Fareham College.

Grace Pridmore, 16, got two 4s, three 5s, a 6 and three 7s. She added: ‘I’m really happy. It’s not what I expected at all. I really wish that I had done the exams because I think I would have done better in some of them but for what the situation is I think I have come out of it pretty well.’

Grace is going to study health and social care at Fareham College.

Sami Al-Muqahwi, 16, got two 3s, one 4, two 5s, a 6, two 7s, an 8 and a 9. He said: ‘I’m feeling pretty good. I wasn’t really expecting much at all. I didn’t know what I was going to get.’ He’s staying on at Bay House to study maths, chemistry, biology and ancient history.

Mia Collins, 16, got four 7s, three 8s, 2 6s and a distinction. She moved from Brune Park to Bay House and went on to become head girl.

She said: ‘I’m feeling really happy. I worked so hard in maths, I got a tutor. Now the hard work has really paid off. It doesn’t really feel real because we didn’t take exams, but at the same time I have still earned it. I feel really grateful that I took school as seriously as I did. I am really thankful for my teachers and how much work they put in.’

Mia will stay on at the sixth form to study psychology, English, politics and religious studies.

At Brune Park, Andrew Gamble, who was celebrating his 16th birthday, got four 6s, three 7s, an 8 and a merit. He plans to study further maths, physics and psychology at Bay House Sixth Form and he hopes to then join the Royal Navy as an engineer.

He said: ‘I feel great. I’m really proud of myself. There was all the uncertainty with what was going on but I am really happy with how it’s turned out.

‘It’s been stressful not knowing what was going on. Having the time to myself has been useful because I can think about what to do in the next stage of my life.’

Meanwhile, his twin brother Oliver got three 7s, two 6s and a five. He said: ‘I am more than happy. I thought I was going to do worse.

‘It’s been a bit strange but it’s a bit of a relief that I still got grades that I am happy with.

‘I am going to keep my options open for the moment and I am going to see where the road takes me.’

Jo-Ashley Francis, 16, got three 4s, two 6s, three 7s and an 8. She said: ‘It’s better than I expected. It was quite nerve wracking and I was quite nervous for a long time. I feel a bit of relief right now.’

Jo plans to study business studies, sociology, psychology and English at Bay House Sixth Form.