Pupils and staff at Hartshill Academy in Nuneaton are celebrating improvements across the academy, as GCSE results are published across the country.

This year, 51% of pupils achieved a grade four or above in both English and maths – an increase of five percentage points on the previous year. This is a strong positive signal of the school improvement underway at the academy, after it joined national group United Learning during the academic year.

Amongst those pupils celebrating particular successes today were:

• Zoe G., who achieved nine GCSEs consisting of four grade 9s, four grade 8s and a grade 6. Zoe said:

“I am so happy with my results, especially my 9s in sciences and 8 in maths, I'm glad all the work paid off! Thank you to Mr McGrath for helping me improve in maths.”

• Tanya D., who achieved one grade 9, four grade 8s and three grade 7s. Tanya said:

“I'm very happy with my results especially my maths grade which was a 9. I'd like to thank Mr McGrath and my parents for their support.”

• Samuel J., who achieved one grade 9 and five grade 8s among his nine GCSEs. Samuel said he was “super happy” with his results – especially history. Of his next steps, Samuel added:

“I’m now going to study ancient history, philosophy and music tech at KE6. I’m really looking forward to Sixth Form and having some more independence! Thanks to Mrs Roche, Mrs Roche, Mr Dawes and Miss Merrigan for helping me through this past year!”

• Louis B, who achieved eleven GCSEs all at a grade 5 and above. Louis said:

“I'm very pleased with my results – I'm heading straight to KE6 to enrol. I want to go to university to study science, more specifically physics! Thank you to all my teachers, they've gone above and beyond, friends for keeping me happy and family for keeping me sane!”

• Leah B., who achieved two grade 9s, one grade 8, five grade 7s and one Level 2 Distinction. Leah, who is now going to St Thomas More to study History, Geography and Psychology at A Level, said:

“I'm very happy with my results. Thank you to Miss Merrigan, Mrs Roche, Mrs Roche and Dr Khan for helping me through everything, especially when I thought I couldn't!”

• Owen D, who achieved one grade 9 and two grade 8s out of his ten GCSEs. Owen said:

“I'm happy with my results, I'm going to KE6 to study History, Politics and Ancient History, then to Uni to study Politics or History.”

• Courtney C., who achieved ten GCSEs including one grade 9, two grade 8s, two grade 7s and three grade 6s. Courtney said:

“I am happy with my results, and I hope they take me far. I’m pleased I passed French and excited to use these grades in the future.”

Congratulating pupils on their achievements, Lorraine Taylor, Principal at Hartshill Academy, said:

“We are very pleased that this year’s results represent a strong improvement across the cohort. This is testament to the commitment and hard work of our pupils and staff, as well as the measures that we continue to put in place to drive up standards in teaching and learning.

“We want all our pupils to achieve well and to have as many doors open to them as possible when they leave us. It has been fantastic to see pupils rising to the challenge of our high expectations and we very much hope and expect that this ethos will lead to further improvements year on year.”