The long wait was finally over.
Students across Dorset breathed a sigh of relief - and many gave a shriek of joy - as they opening their GCSE results.
The results day for year 11 students across Weymouth, Dorchester and Portland spelled the end of challenging circumstances for studying in the build-up to year 11, with these youngsters affected by Covid lockdowns while in year 9.
Students now receive numerical grades with many across the area achieving grades between 7 and 9. This is equivalent to the old A-A* grades in almost every subject.
See Tuesday's Echo for our 8 page GCSEs picture special
- Grins were wide at Thomas Hardye's School in Dorchester as students picked up some outstanding results and the large majority of the year group delighted they has what they needed for future studies or training.
Declan McDermott, achieved an astonishing nine 9 grades.
He's extremely happy and wants to eventually go into biochemistry. Declan said he would be celebrating with a well deserved meal out with his family.
Hardye's student Annie Lee of Dorchester took her mum Lisa Bartlett along to results day for some moral support.
She was thrilled to share the good news of her outstanding seven 9s with her mother and was on the phone to her dad letting him know her brilliant results.
Headteacher Nick Rutherford said it was positive to see so many students excited about going on to future studies or apprenticeships.
"We're seeing broadly what people are seeing elsewhere with grades not as high as last year with grade boundaries being adjusted back to 2019 levels.
"This is the last cohort to have been affected by the pandemic with them facing a lockdown in year 9. They have all overcome some huge challenges."
- All Saints CE Academy in Wyke Regis, Weymouth, reported a good set of results for its Year 11 pupils.
John Cornish, principal, said: "Particular pupil successes include William Wadley (4 grade 9s in English Language, English Literature, History and Religious Education, 2 grade 8s in Geography and Maths, 1 grade 8-7 in Combined Science and 1 further grade 6) and Amelia Parnell (3 grade 9s in English Literature, Geography and Religious Education, 1 grade 8 in Food & Nutrition, 2 grade 7s in Biology and English Language with 2 further grade 6s and 2 grade 5s)."
- Although national pass rates have fallen, the results at Budmouth Academy in Chickerell have actually improved since last year.
Mike Hoffmann, principal, said: "It is difficult to appreciate how difficult it has been for our students in year 11. As teachers though, we see the hard work and determination to succeed against the odds.
"The exam period went really well for our young people here at Budmouth and they deserve the success that we see today. They are a lovely group who have supported each other throughout.”
There were many students with stand-out results, both in terms of the high grades achieved and also in terms of the progress they have made.
Sylvie Borez achieved the almost impossible - she was awarded ten grade 9s.
Charlotte Chambers, Pola Liro, Louis Ozaki-Barker, Isla Brown and Isabella May achieved many grades between 7 and 9.
Students making outstanding progress were Harrison Dennis, Heidi Olson and Florie Bardell, who exceeded their targets by up to three or four grades in some subjects.
And characteristics such as engagement, resilience and purposefulness were epitomised by many students including Marco Almond-Colmer, Henry Ridyard, Frankie Guyett, Abidah Akhtar, Naira Mutagirova and Elise Lloyd.
- At Wey Valley Academy in Weymouth, there were shrieks of delight as students ripped open those all-important envelopes.
The year 11 students gathered with teachers to share their results and enjoy the moment after years of hard work.
- Students at Atlantic Academy on Portland were up bright and early, eagerly awaiting their GCSE results.
Nile Box and Summer Blackman were celebrating their brilliant results and are now off to study music together at Weymouth college.
When asked where they saw themselves in the future they both said: “Touring.”
Principal of Atlantic Academy, Lesley Bishop said: "We are incredibly proud of all our Year 11 students. They have achieved some fantastic results and that is down to sheer hard work and dedication.
"We are as ever impressed by the effort they have consistently applied, their resilience and above all their commitment to their education.
"We are really pleased today to be able to acknowledge and celebrate their achievements and share in their successful progression onto the next step in their education.
Jake Bacon from Atlantic Academy is very happy with his GCSE results and is celebrating a 7 in English Literature and is now off to do an electrical apprenticeship.
He said: “I worked myself up for no reason - I was up all night.”
There were more smiles from Faith Taylor who was delighted with her results which will see studying sociology, psychology and English Language at Weymouth College.
She said: “I’m relieved - I was so stressed out to find out how I did. All my hard work paid off!”
See Tuesday's Echo for our 8 page GCSEs picture special
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