'Rollercoaster' of GCSE uncertainty leads to top results for students at Portsmouth High School

Girls at Portsmouth High School were celebrating with friends and family after achieving GCSE success despite not sitting any formal examinations.

One student arrived at school earlier than her peers to open her outstanding results at 8am.

Scoring eight 9s and two A*s, Annalee Macfarlane said: ‘It has been a rollercoaster definitely, especially last week hearing about the A-level results but actually finding out today has been really good. After all the stress and turmoil it was exciting to get that.’

The aspiring author and engineer will stay at the school to study for A-levels in maths, physics and chemistry in September.

Headmistress Jane Prescott was immensely proud of all the students’ achievements.

She said: ‘It’s been a very challenging year for our GCSE students but they are a resilient and fearless cohort and we are sure they will go on to achieve great things in their sixth form years.’

An elated Anisa Rahman-Choudhury collected results of eight 9s and two A*s, and will stay at the school to study chemistry, Latin and religion and philosophy.

She was pleased that the grades were based on Centre Assessed Grades, despite getting good mock exams results, and said: ‘I thought it would be a better representation of people’s abilities. I feel much more confident than last week and I’m glad it’s over with.’

Emily Webb was similarly pleased after receiving two 9s, one 8, two As and four 7s.

She said: ‘I didn’t know what to expect but seeing what I got, I’m actually so pleased they have done well for me.

‘I think this school has been really good for me because if I went anywhere else there’s no way I’d have come out with these results.’

Proud mum Sarah added: ‘I’m delighted, I'm so proud of her. She tried really hard for her mocks so we were hoping we were still home and dry but you never know.’

Katie Wood, head of year 11, said it was an ‘emotional day’ but was proud of each of her students’ results.

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