GCSE results 2017 reports and pictures from around the schools in Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester

Top performers included Alex Younger from All Saints School who achieved the almost impossible, securing 9s in maths, English language and English literature and all A*s and As in every other subject.

He said: “I can’t quite believe it. It’s amazing. I’m very happy.”

Joshua Frampton of Budmouth College achieved nine of his 10 GCSE grades at A* and eights and nines, and his tenth GCSE was an A.

Acting principal Amanda Fortescue described is as an “awe-inspiring achievement”.

Joshua said: “I’m really, really happy. I’m going to be staying on at sixth form to study maths, English language, chemistry and physics.

“I don’t know what I want to do after that so I’m just broadening my options.”

IPACA student Naomi Smith received a level 9 grade in maths plus 4 A* grades in biology, chemistry, food technology and Latin, as well as 4 As, making her one of the school’s standout performers.

She said: “I am really pleased with my results. I am hopefully going to be starting at Budmouth College in September to study maths.”

Jemima Hunter from Wey Valley School achieved four As, three Bs, two 9s, one 8 and one C.

She said: “I am really, really happy. I’m really pleased all my hard work paid off.

“I think I got everything I need for sixth form next year which is great.

At Thomas Hardye, exceptional performers Joseph Thompson and Eleanor Scott impressed with their top results which represent the equivalent of nine A*s, including coveted 9 grades in English and maths.

At the Sir Colfox Academy the highest overall achiever was Dahlia Twigger who, with 8A* and 2 grade 9’s, achieved the highest combination of grades possible.

At Beaminster School Finn Russell received 10A* A grades including two 9’s, and Darcy Shaw received 9A*A and 1B.

Meanwhile, Leweston School, Sherborne celebrating its best GCSE results in four years with two students from Dorchester and a student from Weymouth achieving top grades.

IPACA student Naomi Smith with acting principal Gary Spracklen

THIS year has seen the biggest shake-up of exams for a generation with traditional A* to G grades being gradually replaced in England with a 9 to 1 system.

Key GCSE subjects of English and maths are the first to move across, with other subjects following over the next two years.

The grading switch is part of wider reforms designed to make GCSEs more rigorous and challenging.

Nationally, the overall pass rates fell, with around a fifth of entries in England, Wales and Northern Ireland achieving at least an A or 7 under the new system, while two-thirds gained at least a C or 4.

Thomas Hardye headteacher Mike Foley admitted it had been ‘turbulent’ and warned that it was difficult to compare with results in previous years due to changes.

Despite noting a huge improvement at IPACA, Acting Principal Gary Spracklen admitted results could have been better.

The Portland academy is set to join the Aspirations Academies Trust in September and Mr Spracklen is confident this will give school the boost the school needs.

He said: “Unfortunately for us these results are not good enough. It is tough to say that, but we want to do better, we want to provide better education for children on Portland.

“It is clear that KS1 and KS2 did better than KS3 and KS4. In order to secure success in the future we need to create an engaging curriculum for all of our children.”

Of the Aspirations Academies Trust takeover, Mr Spracklen said: “They have a track record of achieving a rapid and sustained school improvements and I have every confidence that they will help to improve the school.”

Hollie Hymas at All Saints   Picture: Graham Hunt Photography

ALL Saints School was celebrating after 70 per cent of students secured good passes under the new system for maths or English.

Headteacher Kevin Broadway said: “In a year that has seen significant changes to the GCSE system we are pleased to have maintained a high level of attainment.

“Although comparisons with previous years should be avoided, we are delighted to be able to say 61 per cent of students will have secured the equivalent of the old 5A* to C grades.”

He added he was particularly pleased to have four students achieve the ‘elusive’ 9 grade, in maths and English.

Phoebe Gale, received a 9 in English language and her mum said: “I knew she was brilliant. I’m just so unbelievably proud.”

Hollie Hymas said breakfast was the first step towards her future after finding out she achieved a 9 in maths and As and A*s across the board.

Khai Locke-White, who took his GCSEs a year early, received a 9 in English literature and an 8 in English language.

He said he hoped to become an MP and his grades were a complete surprise.

Mr Broadway said student Harry Yard was a testament to what working hard can achieve.

Having started Year 9 in the bottom set he is now off to study A levels in Geography and Business after achieving good grades and a 5 in English.

Mr Broadway said: “He’s overcome so much and it means so much that he’s done well.”

He added: “We recognise and celebrate the achievements of all of our students who have worked so hard and we wish them every success for the future.”

Wey Valley's Daniel Bibby looking pleased with his results next to principal Sara Adams

WEY Valley School declared a great set of GCSE results, despite the introduction of tougher exams this year.

Principal Sara Adams was extremely proud of the hard work her Year 11s put into their grades.

She said: “I am delighted that our students have been rewarded with strong grades which enable them to move forward to the next stage of their education.”

She added: “Schools had been warned that this year’s results were likely to be volatile and should not be compared with previous examinations, so we were really pleased to see 62 per cent in English and 57 per cent in maths getting good passes in the new, tougher exams.”

One of the top performers was Daniel Bibby, who was the highest achieving boy at the school, with one A*, three As, three Bs, one D an 8 and two 7s.

He said: “I am still shaking. I am happy because this is better than I was expecting to be honest.”

He added: “I was not expecting an A in maths – it feels good.”

Daniel will be going off to Budmouth College to study maths, further maths, computer science and physics.

Another student thrilled with their grades was Sapphire Sawyer, who achieved six As, four Bs and a 7.

She said: “I am very pleased – surprised, but still pleased, because I did better than I thought I would.”

Sapphire intends to go and study chemistry, biology and geography at Thomas Hardye School.

Thomas Hardye’s Oliver Malkin, Adam Bird, Declan Sykes and Jacob Dodge   Picture: Finnbarr Webster 

THERE were more celebrations at Thomas Hardye School as 25 per cent of students achieved A grade or above, 72 per cent achieved five GCSEs including English and maths, and 99 per cent of students achieved five GCSEs overall.

Headteacher Mike Foley said: “We’ve had a really good year again. It’s been very turbulent, it’s difficult to compare this year with last year.

“I really hope it has been worth the upheaval of the system.

“The good thing for us is that eight out of ten youngsters here are passing English and maths, and that’s where the strength at Thomas Hardye lies.

“We are really pleased bearing in mind it is a year of change and turbulence.”

Harry Thornley celebrated getting six A*s, a 9, two As, one 8 and one 7.

He said: “I’m really happy. It pays off for all the hard work I’ve done, I’ll be going up to sixth form now.”

Landolfi Pasquale achieved the second highest amount of progress in his grades since starting GCSEs at the school.

He said: “I feel really good about it, I put a lot of hard work into improving my grades.

“The thing I found most hard was the new grade boundaries. I’m most proud of my maths grade which I got an A (7) in.

“I’m going to Hereford Sixth Form College to train at their basketball academy.”

Head of English Rachel Glennie said: “We had a lot of 9s this year, the students have done really well.

“You could feel the pressure was intense, it means so much to them.”

Budmouth College students   Picture: Graham Hunt Photography

YEAR 11 students at Budmouth College were congratulated on their GCSE results by acting principal Amanda Fortescue.

She said: “This year that has seen a new assessment format for English and maths with the introduction of numerical grades, and increased rigour in all exams with a shift to linear assessment.

“10 per cent of students achieved seven or more passes at grades A* and A, and seven to nine, a phenomenal result.

“And almost a fifth of the grades awarded to all students were A and A* or seven to nine.”

It was a teary morning for 16-year-old Amelia Manton and mum Helen Charles – but they were happy tears.

Amelia got an A* in dance, further additional science and textile technology.

She said: “I’ll be staying at Budmouth for my A levels and studying dance, maths and biology.

“I think after that I would like to go to university.”

Helen added: “I’m just speechless, and very, very proud.”

Chanelle Phillips, 16, achieved numerous A* grades including in science, French and geography.

She said: “I’m going to do biology, chemistry and French here at Budmouth.

“I can’t believe my results.”

Ethan Purnell, 16, said he did much better than expected, achieving two nines in English and an A in maths.

He said: “I’m going to Thomas Hardye to do maths, physics, English literature and history.”

Richard Fortescue, progress leader for Year 11 offered his congratulations to the students.

He added: “I would like to thank the dedicated and professional members of staff at Budmouth who have worked so hard to help the Class of 2017 to achieve these great results.”

STUDENTS from IPACA celebrated receiving their GCSE results – with a record number of student continuing to further education, training or employment.

As well as this, the school has seen an increase in the number of students passing basic measures – maths and English.

Acting Principal Gary Spracklen said: “The data represents a huge improvement. We are confident more students than ever before will have secured routes into further education, training and employment.

“We have seen a 5 per cent improvement in the basic measure, this progress is testament to the hard work, dedication and commitment of the students, staff and families involved.”

This year English and maths GCSEs were marked from 1 to 9, while subjects including art and drama continued to be marked using the pass rate of A* to C.

The number of students passing their English GCSE at the school has increased by 14 per cent.

A standout student was Philippa Carter, who achieved a level 9 grade in English which is the equivalent to an A*. Only 1 per cent of students in the country achieve a level 9 grade according to Genevieve Lovegrove, the school’s head of English.

Philippa said: “I cried when I saw. I have now secured an apprenticeship at Kingston Maurward.”

Year 10 students who took part in the school’s ‘stage not age’ scheme joined year 11 students to collect their GCSE results. The school’s year 10 GCSE drama group, below, passed with the top grades B and above.

Year 10 students at IPACA celebrating passing their drama GCSE a year early with teacher Charlotte O'Beirne