THE number of GCSE students who achieved the benchmark measure of five A*-Cs, including maths and English, at Thomas Clarkson Community College has narrowly failed to climb above 40 per cent for the second successive year.
Today’s results show 38 per cent of students at the Wisbech school reached the standard, compared to 39 per cent last year.
But the school celebrated a record for the number of students who achieved five GCSE passes at A*-C. Sixty per cent of students achieved five passes, slightly up on the previous record of 59 per cent.
Principal Clare Claxton said: “We had some great individual successes and the students really deserve it.
“The students are beginning to understand and aspire to greater achievements. There is keenness amongst existing staff for the forthcoming term.
“We will also be welcoming a number of new staff, many with a wealth of experience, to begin to build on the achievements of this year.”
She added: “The reality is that 16 students were two marks off a C and had they have been there the pass rate would have been 47 per cent.
“It is a slight dip but we have a good day at Thomas Clarkson and both I and the school are absolutely fine.” She hopes once some papers are re-marked the success rate will rise.
Individual student successes included Ricki Tura, who achieved 12 A*-B GCSEs, including eight A* grades.
Ricki, who was head boy of the King learning community last year, said: “I’m really pleased.”
Another Thomas Clarkson head boy, Mackenzie Cobbin, achieved 12 A*-B grades, including two A*s.
Ashay Kishor achieved 11 A*-C grades and is returning to Thomas Clarkson to study biology, chemistry, maths and physics in sixth form after achieving A*s in the four subjects at GCSE.
He said: “I’m looking forward to sixth form, it will be a new experience. It’s been a good two years doing GCSEs. It was really hard work but I’m glad now.”
Stacey Pitcher, who was Madiba learning community head girl last year, is also returning to the academy for sixth form after securing 11 GCSEs, including A*s in chemistry and maths.
She said: “I’m not sure what to expect from sixth form. It will be a lot of hard work but it will be an experience. I was nervous about getting my GCSE results but I worked hard.”
Rebecca Luzaityte is also returning for sixth form. Among her GCSE passes was an A grade in English Language. She joined Thomas Clarkson when she came to England from Lithuania in October last year.
Rebecca said: “I was hoping for a B in English but getting an A feels so much better. It was hard work but I’m really glad.
“After sixth form I want to study journalism.”
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