STUDENTS from across the borough have endured the ever-tense moment of GCSE results day.

This year has seen strong performance from a number of schools in Slough. This year has seen the grading system change from the usual A*- F system to a number system that runs from 9 to 1, with a '9' being considered higher than the previous A* grade.

Baylis Court School:

Baylis Court School had a number of truly exceptional pupils, particularly Jaspreet Sangha, who received ten '9' grades, and Simran Sehra, who received eight '9' grades.

Simran said: "I'm over the moon – it still hasn't really sunk in. It's just really really incredible. I'm going to do Biology, Chemistry, and Maths at A-Level, and then go on to a career in medicine."

Other top students included Lana Amigo, who received six '9' grades, and three '8' grades.

Lana said: "I'm really happy, I didn't expect these marks at all. I'm going to go into medicine, and I would like to become a paediatrician."

Overall, 75 per cent of students at Baylis achieved five results between 9 and 4, including English and Maths. Ray Hinds, Principle of Baylis Court School, said: "We are particularly pleased that even though GCSE examinations have become more difficult, we have maintained excellent results. Staff strive to do their very best for every young person at Baylis Court School. It is extremely pleasing to see so many realise their potential and have the opportunity to further their studies at our high performing sixth form.

"Seven students achieved 5 or more grade 9’s which is remarkable because grade 9 is the equivalent of a high A*. This is further proof that an education at Baylis Court School creates confident, articulate and academically able ‘leaders of tomorrow."

St Joseph's Catholic High School: 

St Joseph's Catholic High School also had good results. Around 61 per cent of students achieved the equivalent of five A* - C passes, including Maths and English, in the new system.

Some of the top students included Chelsea Baladad, who received four '9' grades and seven '8' grades, despite being the victim of a serious car accident just a week before her exams. Chelsea said: "I'm just shocked, really really shocked. I think I will be going on to study either engineering or architecture."

Airon Leavy achieved six '9' grades and three '8' grades. Airon said: "I'm just ecstatic, I can't believe I got these results. I'm going to study medicine, maybe in the field of psychology."

Head of School, Louise Baker, said: "Great to see that hard work does produce excellent results. With new specification, delivering these tough qualifications has been challenging, so its is even better to see that the immense hard work that the staff and student have put in has worked."

Beechwood School:

Beechwood School was pleased to announce their strongest year yet for GCSE results. 53 per cent of students achieved high level passes in five or more subjects.

One student, Millie Mae Heale, achieved an impressive eight '9' grades. Millie said: "I'm really happy with these grades. I don't know what I want to do just yet - but I will certainly do A-Levels and go on to uni."

Kathleen Higgins, Executive Headteacher, said: "We are so proud of our young people and what they have achieved. Our Beechwood young people are now exceptionally well positioned to progress post GCSE and go on to higher and further study. This was also true of our Sixth Formers last week who secured strong results and therefore we are delighted to report a great summer of success here at Beechwood."

Burnham Park Academy:

Burnham Park Academy also produced a number of star pupils.

One student, Mohammed Ali Khan, achieved two '8' grades and five '6' grades. Mohammed said: "I'm so happy to get these results – I thought I had done really badly. I don't know what I want to do in the future – I'm still shocked in at these results."

Other top students included Mohammad Kapadia, who achieved four '9' grades and four '8' grades, and Isra Ifran, who achieved three '8' grades, four '7' grades, and a A*.

Kalieb Appleton, who is young champion boxer, achieved two '6' grades. Kalieb said: "I hope to box for Great Britain, and go on to the 2024 Olympics."

Headteacher James Hughes said: "We're really, really pleased with the results this year. The students have performed very well, particularly in maths and English. We're all proud of what they have achieved."

Windsor Boys School:

Music loving Michael Smith’s love of the trumpet did not stop him achieving an amazing eight grade 9s and a grade B in his GCSE results.

Michael is a pupil at The Windsor Boys School, where 76 per cent of pupils passed in English and maths - 85 per cent of them in English and 80 per cent in maths.

Headteacher Gavin Henderson said: “He impressed us all in the way he got on with his book work despite being a talented musician and a leading member of the school band.”

Michael is modest about the result, admitting: “I had imagined not doing very well and going into a corner to mope about it.”

Students performed highly in a number of subjects subjects - with 75 per cent passing history and 71 per cent passing geography.

Nicholas Waddington earned six grade 9s, two grade Bs and one grade 7.
He said: “I was really happy with everything except my German. I would like to go to Oxford to study engineering.”

Mr Henderson said: “These excellent results are a reflection of the dedication of our students, the support of their parents and the outstanding teaching and learning at Windsor Boys School.”

Windsor Girls School:

Weeks of anxiety ended in a moment of delighted disbelief for Eve Lombardo when she collected her GCSE results at Windsor Girls School yesterday (Thursday).

She had earned three grade 9s, five grade 8s and two grade 7s.

Eve said: “I worked really hard and found it really stressful.

"The trouble is you wake up in the night weeks later remembering a mistake you made and it seems like the end of the world.”

She need not have worried.

Eve is a keen rower who recently won for Great Britain at a competition in France.

She hopes to go to university, possibly in America where competitive rowing skills is much prized and could earn her a place.

Giulia Moretti earned seven grade 9s, three grade 8s and one A*.
She said: “I was quite incredulous when I saw the result. I was not expecting to do that well.”

Zahra Shah got four grade 9s, three grade 5s, one grade 4 and an A.
She said: “I was not expecting it. I thought I had done really badly in English - I ran out of time really badly on the literature paper.”

The school’s headteacher Gill Labrum said: “I’m delighted and very proud of the achievement of all of our students.”

The girls managed a 78 per cent pass rate in English and maths with 92 per cent passing English and 79 per cent maths.

Westgate School:

The new style GCSE exams did not phase pupils at Westgate School, Slough - with 73 per cent of students achieving 4+ grades in English and maths.

Acting headteacher Michelle Cooper said: “It comes down to resilience and grit which our students really showed.”

She is particularly pleased at the improvement made since last year with  87 per cent of students achieving a 4 or above in English and 69 per cent a 5 or above.

Maths results saw 76 per cent of students achieve a 4 or above.

Mrs Cooper said: “We know just how important these subjects are in opening doors for their next steps and are delighted their hard work has paid off.”

Student Megan Jones reflected the views of lots of students who had been worried about the publicity given to recent changes.

She said: “I thought it would be much worse than it was.”

Langley Academy:

The Langley Academy is today celebrating very pleasing GCSE results with many students achieving top grades.

Alison Lusuardi, Headteacher, commented: “We are all delighted that the exceptional hard work of students and staff is reflected in a very pleasing set of results.

“The new tougher standard of GCSEs have been more rigorous and challenging this year. Despite this we are pleased that there have been successes across the curriculum and a 7% improvement in students gaining a strong pass (grade 5) in both English and Maths."

It was a big day for students and many came to celebrate with their families; including top achiever Hafsa Hamza with an incredible 7 subjects at grade 9, an 8 and 2 grade 7s. Hafsa is thrilled and looking forward to studying A levels in Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Maths at the Academy.

Alex Cowan earned two 9s, three 8s, two 7s, as well as a 6, a 5 and a 4.

He said: “I was really nervous. I can’t believe this.”

St Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School:

Students from St Bernard’s achieved 99.1 per cent success in achieving grades 9 to 4  in English and mathematics.

There was a 91.4 per cent success rate of achieving grades 9 to 5 in English and Mathematics, while 52.6 per cent achieved grades 9 to 7.

In science, 75% of students gained grades 9-7 (equivalent to A*-A) with 48% of gaining grades 9 and 8 and 28% gaining grade 9.

There were some outstanding individual successes including Emilia Pallister who gained 8 grade 9s and 2 grade 8s.

Roberto Lucci: who gained 5 grade 9s and 4 grade 8s said: “I’m just happy I got good results, I did a lot better than expected.”

Alice Hodge who got three grade 9s and three grade 8s said: “I’m so happy, I wasn’t expecting what I got. I’m really relieved and really happy.”

Burnham Grammar School:

High achievements have been celebrated at Burnham Grammar School as the year 11’s collected their GCSE results.

Tears of shock and happiness could be seen amongst the smiles as the students found out if they had achieved the grades needed to stay on for sixth form or go onto alternative further study.

Porcha Taylor had a nice surprise after being worried about her grades over the summer. She said: “I was really shocked because the whole holiday I convinced myself I did badly. I worked really hard for this so I’m really happy.”

Porcha is staying at BGS for the sixth form after achieving seven 8’s; three 9’s and an A*. She hopes to study biology, chemistry maths and a fourth option she is yet to decide on.

With a 98% pass rate and over 55% of all GCSEs resulting in an 7, 8 or 9, equivalent to A*/A, students and staff were delighted.

Also, staying on at BGS for sixth form after achieving eight 9’s, an 8, a 7 and an A* in Further Maths is Pranav Talluri. He will be doing maths, further maths, physics and computer science at A Level.

Pranav said: “I’m really happy, it wasn’t expected at all but I worked really hard so I’m glad it paid off.”

Churchmead School:

Churchmead School in Datchet saw pupils excel in English with 72 per cent of students achieving grades 9 to 4 and 51% achieving grades 9 to 5. 

Headteacher Chris Tomes said “I would like to congratulate our students on achieving fantastic results. I wish them well as they move onto their sixth form studies. I would also like to thank their teachers and parents for the commitment they have shown in achieving these impressive results.”

Aytal Ijaz achieved 4 grade 9s, 2 grade 8s 2 A* and 3 grade 7s, Jessie Padda got 2 grade 9s, 2 grade 8s, 1 A* grades and 4 grade 7s while Sam Chee pulled off  one grade 9, three grade 8’s, 1 A* and 2 grade 7’s.

Headboy, Max Lewandowski said: “I am delighted with my results and I would like to thank Churchmead School for being such a fantastic school in supporting me in my studies.”

Aytal added “Thank you to all my teachers who have played a huge part in my results.”

This is the first year of the new GCSE grades 9 to 1 in subjects other than English and Maths. 

Mr Tomes said: “We look forward to celebrating again an outstanding set of results next year as the new GCSE framework becomes even more embedded in the school.”