With more than a thousand grade 9s – the top grade – between them, this year’s cohort of GCSE pupils have set a new College record. Impressively, 77 pupils received 9s and 8s (equivalent to A*) in every single subject.
Given the difficulties faced by these pupils during two lockdowns, it is remarkable to see so many pupils achieving even more than they might have anticipated. We really are delighted for them.
Miles ahead
Among those celebrating is Miles, the current U17 800m British champion.
Miles has had a triumphant year. In January this year, while revising for his GCSEs, he broke the 800m record in the South East of England Athletics Association’s indoor meeting whilst securing gold. The previous record had stood for 10 years – and he beat it by 2.1 seconds. In February, he won a national title with gold at the England Athletics Indoor Championships. Then, over the summer, he stormed to victory at the English Schools Athletics Championships, again winning a national title and qualifying to represent England at the SIAB Championships (Schools International Athletic Board) in Belfast. Here, he won his age category to become the British 800m champion.
Miles gained top grades in his GCSEs, with a remarkable nine 9s – in further maths, biology, chemistry, design and technology (DT), English language, history, maths, music, physics – and two 8s, in English literature and French.
Miles said: “I was quite surprised with my results but very happy. I’m now going to go into Brighton College Sixth Form to study four A levels and continue with my athletics.”
Success in the face of adversity
Sri triumphed over thyroid cancer, having had the life-threatening condition diagnosed last summer. She had surgery in August last year and has spent the past school year receiving treatment while continuing her GCSE studies.
Today, she has secured exceptional results, with two 9s (English literature and theatre studies), four 8s (biology, chemistry, maths, physics) and one 7 (English language).
Sri has been absolutely incredible this year. She’s the heart and soul of her year group, and has inspired friends and teachers with her determination and strength. We’re so proud of her – she absolutely deserves these results.
Sri said: “I am so happy! I really can’t believe it. It is better than anything I could have imagined. I’m excited to be joining all my friends next week in Sixth Form at Brighton College.”
Stars all round for Mandarin pupils
Pursuit of modern foreign languages may be falling around the country, but that’s not the case at Brighton. This year, 40 pupils sat the Mandarin GCSE – and 37 of the candidates achieved a 9, the whole cohort achieving the equivalent of an A or higher!
Mandarin has remained a popular choice since we became the first school in the UK to make it a compulsory subject in Year 7 five years ago. One in five pupils have continued it as a subject into GCSEs and we are delighted that our first cohort from this initiative have achieved such fabulous and well-deserved results.
