TEARS, screams of joy and phone calls to mum – today’s the day the long-awaited GCSE results are revealed to students who lined up to receive the fateful brown envelopes.

At Sir John Colfox School in Bridport and at Beaminster School queues formed as the weeks of waiting were finally over.

“We were very pleased with our results”, said Sir John Colfox headteacher, Kay Taylor.
“We had been told that GCSE results were lower nationally, particularly in English, maths and science.
“While our English language results did drop slightly this year, our maths improved by 16 percent and our science also showed a slight rise on last year.
“It is becoming increasingly difficult to prepare students for exams and predict what they are likely to achieve when there is constant change each year.”

Overall 84 percent of students at Colfox achieved 5 A* - C,  well above the national average of 68 percent.

The 5 A* - C including English and maths,  improved this year to 58 percent,  which is broadly in line with the national average.

Mrs Taylor said last year’s A* - A rate was the best the school had ever seen and this year it had stayed at the high level with some exceptional performances at the A* - A category.

“Twenty three percent of all grades were A* - A and one in five of our students achieved at least 5 A* - A grades,” she added.

“Many students worked really hard for these results and they should be proud of their achievement.  As a comprehensive school we are delighted with the results across the ability range.

“Obviously we are pleased for those with the top results,  but we are equally as delighted for those students who worked so hard to achieve the grades they need to go on to college courses and apprenticeships.”

At the Sir John Colfox an excited queue formed in the main hall to collect the results.

Katie Neame was almost overwhelmed with her string of A* grades and an A in drama.

Luckily friend Chelsea Smith was on hand to give a congratulatory hug.

Paige Tait said she was “too afraid” to open her own envelope and friend Tierney Thomas had to do the honours for her and read them out.

“I was scared too, but it was all right,” she said.

Ryan Smith said he was relieved to know the results at last and was off to enjoy the rest of his summer break.

“I had managed to keep it out my head until the last couple of days,” he admitted.

Beaminster School headteacher Mike Best could not have been more pleased with this year’s results – with 81 percent getting 5 A* to C, 68 per cent getting 5A* to C, including English and maths.


He said: “These figures speak for themselves. These are excellent outcomes and I am delighted to see such high levels of achievement.


“We have also bucked the national trend in relation to triple science, with 66 percent A/A*, geography 60 percent A/A*, history 60 percent A/A* and modern foreign language 60 percent gained a GCSE equivalent, together with two students who each achieved A* in Latin.


“Overall 28 per cent of grades were at A and A* compared with a national figure of 21 per cent.
“This success reflects our inclusive approach because these figures include the outcomes of students in our specialist resourced provision and our emphasis upon the whole child. 


“Students manage to produce these results at the same time as doing so much in and out of school in sport, the arts, supporting charities, activities, DofE expeditions and of course enjoying themselves as well.


“We look forward to welcoming many of our students back into the sixth form - A level outcomes this year were 100 percent pass rate with an exceptional 59 percent achieving A*-B grades.

One of the happiest students was Megan Clampett who gave birth to baby Tamara-May right in the middle of taking her exams.


She got Bs and Cs in science, extending science, English language and literature, maths and business studies.


Mum Jenny said: “The school have been fantastic, so supportive and it just goes to prove what can be achieved even if you do have a baby.”


Megan is going on to Yeovil College to study for A levels.


While the school is proud of all of its pupils these 11 top scorers all got a minimum of ten A*s and As: 


Caitlin Russell, George Wells, Ella Hegenbarth, Acacia Rudd, Joseph Arey, Imogen McConnell, Emma Schwier, Ria Dunford, David James, Joe Pitfield and Kirsten Smith.