Excellent GCSE results for Sir John Colfox Academy and Beaminster School pupils

Headteacher Keith Hales said there was an impressive set of achievements across all ability ranges.

Nearly a quarter of all results are at A* or A, including Jemima Platt who gained 7A*s and 3As and Tom Hyde and Jana Rychnovsky 6A*s and 3As.

He said: "Alongside this our specialist resource students, such as Aaron Bennett, overcame huge obstacles to gain well-deserved C-grades in both English and Maths.

“I am delighted that so many of our students gained the grades they worked so hard for.

“It is a great credit to them, and all the staff, that they have a set of results to be proud of. "Nearly 70 per cent of grades were at A*- C and our mainstream students gained 59 per cent 5A*-C, including English and Maths. On top of this, a further 21 students secured a Level 1 or 2 Vocational qualification from attending Kingston Maurward or Yeovil Colleges for one day per week.”

TOP TEAM: Beaminster School's Rosie Palmer 2A*, 5As 3Bs, Jemima Platt 7A*s 3As and Louisa Fleming A* and 7As

David Withers, deputy headteacher, was equally pleased.

He said: “It has been a real privilege to see the students grow over the past five years and earn themselves such great opportunities for the future.

"We look forward to welcoming back a strong cohort of students to do A-Levels with us next year, and, with our exciting link to Yeovil College continuing in September, students will have the best possible options available to them here at Beaminster School.” Alongside the many outstanding individual performances, the school said the following students deserve particular congratulations for gaining more than eight A-grade GCSEs: Jemima Platt 7A* and 3A, Tom Hyde and Jana Rychnovsky 6A* and 3A, Artie Martin 6A* and 2A, Maisy James 5A* and 5A, Bertie Purkiss 5A* and 4A, Joe Kay 4A* and 5A, Finn McEvoy 3A* and 6A, Louise Fleming 2A* and 6A and Sarah Allen 1A* and 8A.

PLEASED: Colfox student Harriett Cleden 5 A*s and 7As off to Thomas Hardy for 6th form Picture: NEIL BARNES

THE Sir John Colfox Academy is also celebrating another very successful year of exam results. The A*-C pass rate in English was 77 per cent and 63 per cent in Maths. Sixty per cent of all students achieved a high grade pass in both of the core subjects. Headteacher David Herbert said: "We are really pleased with the performance of our students who have attained high results in a wide range of academic courses.

"With a real spotlight on the number of students following academic science pathways, the A*-C pass rates in Physics 93 per cent, Biology 91 per cent, Chemistry 88 per cent are very pleasing indeed.

"This year sees the introduction of new performance measures for secondary schools and the early indications are that we have performed very well within the new system."

There were brilliant individual performances from Ella Gibson who achieved 8A* and 4 A grades, Hattie Cleden 5A* and 7A’s, Bryonie Matthews 2A* and 8A’s, Amber Thomas 5A*1 A and 4 B’s, Emilia Price 3A* 5A and 4B’s, Ellie Taylor 4A*, 4A and 4 B grades and Elena Wood 1A*, 8A’s and 3B grades.

Mr Herbert added: "It is very much like our recent Olympians who, when commenting on their success, described a journey of four or more year’s hard work and commitment. "This is the case with our students for whom these brilliant results mark the end of a long period of personal endeavour. "I would like to congratulate each and every one of them and the hard working staff and parents who have supported them along the way."

Kay Taylor, executive principal of the Minerva Learning Trust said: "I would like to congratulate all our students. We all know exam results aren't the only way to judge schools but we should be very proud of these and the excellent performances in the SATs in our primary schools which in many cases were well above the national average. "We are lucky to have so many talented and dedicated staff in our schools who work so hard to support all the children in their care."