Top results for Whitworth Community High School

Date published: 23 August 2018

Students of Whitworth Community High School achieved above and beyond today (23 August) as they collected their hard-earned GCSE results.

Niamh Rowan is looking forward to studying A levels at Rochdale Sixth Form College after achieving one of the country’s top 3% GCSE results in Art.

Niamh achieved a Grade 9 in Art, three Grade 8s in Religious Studies, English Literature and English Language, Grade 7 in Geography and five Grade 6s.

 

 

She said: “When I opened the envelope I cried my eyes out. When my mum saw them, she was dead chuffed, and I cried. Then I cried again when I told my grandmother. I don’t think I could have done better.

“I’m going to be studying Religion and Philosophy and Psychology at sixth form but I’m still deciding between Law or English Language as my third subject. I want to go on to study Continental Philosophy at university.

“Both of my Religious Studies teachers have been amazing.”

Niamh’s parents, Chris Rowan and Andrea Barlow, commented: “It’s just excellent to see she’s achieved the results she has. She told us not to expect any A* grades or for her to live up to her A grade sisters, but the results were all hers.

“Her school reports showing her attendance and behaviour told us she had already done well before she even opened her results.

“Well done to the school for extracting students potential.”

While most students studied 11 GCSEs, Katie Bray decided to take one more - and passed it at Grade 6.

Katie achieved amazing results with two Grade 9s in History and Art, a Grade 8 in English Literature, three Grade 7s in Religious Studies, Chemistry and English Language, five Grade 6s and a Grade 5.

 

 

She said: “I wanted to do both History and Geography because I thought it would be fun so I attended every week on a Friday for after-school lessons to study for my Geography GCSE. I also got a book and completed study at home.

“I am now going on to do A levels at Rochdale Sixth Form in History, English Literature and possibly Art, but I have no idea what I want to do after that. I want to do what I find interesting and so I am keeping my options open.

“I have enjoyed my time at Whitworth and I have enjoyed all the different opportunities I have had and appreciate all the opportunities I have had for revision.”

Jemma Hall, who moved to Whitworth in Year 9, achieved Grade 9 in English Literature, two Grade 8s, one Grade 7, one Grade 6 and two Grade 4s, as well as a C in Business Studies and Distinction in Performing Arts.

She is also going to sixth form to study A Level History, Business and Economics, with the hopes of a career in Finance and Marketing.

 

 

She said: “Overall, I’m really happy. I’m a tiny bit gutted about my Business Studies grade because I received a Grade 4 and in my mock exams I had been achieving straight Grade 9s. I need at least a Grade 5 to study Economics at college, so I’m sending it off for a re-mark, but if I don’t get the grade I need then I will study Psychology instead.

“I’ve chosen subjects that I both enjoy and tie in to the career I want.

“I’m hoping to get a degree apprenticeship after college. I think work experience is essential as I’ll know what career I’ll be getting myself into.”

Budding actor, Tom Crabtree achieved all 11 GCSEs at Grade 7 and above including Drama at Grade 9. He also gained a Grade 9 in English Literature, two Grade 8s in Religious Studies, English Language and ICT, as well as six Grade 7s.

He said: “I was shocked when I got my results - to do so well was a complete surprise.

“I thought I had done all right, but the subjects I thought I had done best in and those I was not so confident with were flipped.

“I have got a place at Rochdale Sixth Form College to do A level Drama, Film Studies and Media Studies and then I want to go to a drama college in London and become an actor.”

 

 

While he completes his A levels, Tom also hopes to get more acting experience and is considering joining an amateur dramatic group.

He said: “In primary school I was always cast as a sheep in the Nativity. I was scared and used to hide behind the mask. Then one year I was picked as a King and I loved it, I got a lot of praise and have enjoyed acting ever since.

“It has been great at Whitworth. I’ve really enjoyed it.”

Future journalist Hannah Smallwood gained one of the top scores for both English Language and Literature – Grade 9 along with Art and Religious Studies.

 

 

All her GCSEs were at Grade 7 and above and she also achieved four Grade 8s in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Spanish.

She said: “It hasn’t really sunk in yet, I was in shock and couldn’t really believe it.

“I am now going on to study English Language and Literature and Media Studies at A level at Rochdale Sixth Form.

“I might go into journalism that is my dream. I like being able to change what people think because words are so powerful.

“I like writing and in this age of social media and fake news, I think it is even more important to have a strong media.”

Hannah said she enjoyed her time at Whitworth and was delighted to get a lead role in the school musical.

Elliott Baldwin is the only student from Whitworth to be attending Bacup and Rawtenstall’s Grammar School (BRGS) Sixth Form. He achieved four Grade 7s and seven Grade 6s and will now move on to study Biology, Sociology, Psychology and Chemistry.

 

 

Elliott said: “I’m sending a few of my exams off for re-mark as I was only a few marks away from a higher grade. I’m happy with my results, not as happy as my mum is, but still happy.

“The boost in mock exams helped me as I felt I was more prepared for the real thing, thinking it was just another mock exam and I would do alright.

“I want to thank Mrs Barnes, my English teacher, as she gave me the motivation to put the hard work in.”

Victoria Baldwin, Elliott’s mother, said: “I can’t stop smiling. At the beginning of Year 11, Elliott was failing all of his subjects and now he has passed all of his GCSEs.

“He developed good relationships with his teachers so wanted to do them proud and not let them down. They have been really supportive over the past year and pushed him to do his best.”

Headteacher of Whitworth Community High School, Gill Middlemass, said: “We are delighted that many of our young people have achieved excellent grades and made fantastic progress.

“These grades reflect the outstanding commitment of staff and students, the solid support from parents and families and the high-quality teaching that has led to students being so well-prepared for the new demands of GCSE.

“There are some fantastic individual results, including a number of students with at least five subjects at grades 8 or 9, and a number who have surpassed their targets in particular subjects by at least two grades.

“English results have improved still further with over 85% of our young people achieving at least a grade 4 (standard pass), 64% achieving a 5 (strong pass) and almost a quarter gaining at least a grade 7. Our Art results are outstanding and 26% of the entries achieved the top grade 9.

“I am so proud of everyone involved and want to thank staff, parents and governors for their support and high aspirations, and congratulate all our students on a great set of results.”