Academy students quick off the mark
Reporter: KAREN DOHERTY
Date published: 14 January 2011
WATERHEAD Academy pupils have ripped open their GCSE English language and maths results — seven months early.
The 281 teenagers were among those across the country who received their grades yesterday after sitting early entry GCSEs in November.
Most of those from Waterhead were Year 11 pupils who would normally take the exams this summer.
Instead, they sat them in November, only eight weeks after the academy opened, replacing Breeze Hill and Counthill schools.
But they also included Year 9 and 10 pupils, such as 14-year-old Jack Glynn who chalked up an A* in maths to add to the A* in French and a B in sociology that he already has.
Neelam Khan (14) gained an A in maths while Joe Munro (15) got As in both English and maths. The results mean that 49 per cent of the academy’s Year 11 pupils have already achieved an A* to C grade in English and 40 per cent in maths.
At its Roxbury campus, formerly Breeze Hill which did not set early entry exams, the English figure is 51 per cent. This is already up on the school’s results from last year.
Principal David Yates said: “I am overjoyed with the results.
“When we opened, I knew we had to make sure academic achievement was right from the start. Our main focus is to improve these students’ attainment and give them the best possible start in life.
“These results are a great testament to all the hard work and dedication that students and staff have shown.”
