GCSE Results

Archway Learning Trust educates over 25% of the secondary school students in Nottingham and so with over 600 students receiving results it is an exciting time.

Sian Hampton, CEO says:

“At Archway Learning Trust we are celebrating with our Y11 students their achievements in this year’s GCSEs. We should never forget how hard students have worked during their entire time at school and how challenging the end of this year has been for them.  We believe in the judgments of our teachers in arriving at the Centre Assessed Grades (CAG) and are delighted that the hard work of our staff and students has been recognised in this excellent set of results.

The CAG is an evidence-based and an objective reflection of likely student performance had exams gone ahead. In Archway this is so because students have sat a series of carefully scheduled mock examination papers, following a common assessment calendar. The advantages of working this way across the Trust are the opportunities to pool expertise, learn from Trust staff who are also trained exam board moderators and markers, as well as supporting newly qualified or recently qualified teachers who value support from colleagues with a range of experience.”

We recognise that whilst the decision which was made by Ofqual to award the best of the CAG and the moderated result removes some of the complications and concerns for students there are still likely to be a number of questions. Therefore it is possible for students to request face to face or telephone appointments with specialist staff who know them as individuals and how best to help them with their decisions about further study in our sixth form, enrolling onto college courses and/or apprenticeships.

We want to celebrate the results of all of our students today, but also remember that this moment is a springboard into their even brighter futures, whether at The Nottingham Emmanuel Sixth Form, or beyond. There are many success stories to choose from, but just some include:

Vina Mohamed couldn’t speak English when she started her GCSEs, but her amazingly rapid progress studying complicated poems, plays and novels from Shakespeare to Conan Doyle culminated in an excellent set of GCSE results today. Vina, who moved to England with her family from France only 2 years ago, was recognised at the Nottingham Post Education Awards 2019.

Vina, 15, who also speaks Arabic and French, as well as Italian and “a little bit of Spanish,” is now embarking on A Levels at Emmanuel Sixth Form and plans to become an architect. Of the past couple of years Vina said, “I tried to not give up and forced myself to take my work home and keep trying. I think it’s quite hard, but I take the time because I want to improve my speech and writing. It’s good to learn.”

Friends Georgia Hallam, Holly Cooke and Sophie Parkin achieved an impressive total of 23 Grade 9s between them. The trio, who have been friends since starting at Emmanuel together in Year 7, are all looking forward to embarking on their Sixth Form courses in September.

Holly, who achieved 11 Grade 9s, plans to study Maths, Chemistry and Physics A Levels at Emmanuel’s highly successful Sixth Form and to pursue a career in the scientific field. Holly said, “Being together as 3 friends throughout our time at Emmanuel has been wonderful. There was always someone to reach out to support us when we needed it and we leaned on each other through difficult times, such as mock exams. We’re so pleased with what we’ve achieved together”.

Nathan To is following in the footsteps of his older sister, Rachel who was Head Girl and went on to study Law at Cambridge University. He is well on the way to pursuing his own ambitions, having achieved eight Grade 9s and two Grade 8s. In September, Nathan is planning to study Maths, Chemistry and Geography at Emmanuel Sixth Form. He commented, “There have been some real highs in my time at Emmanuel. I’ve joined clubs, been given leadership opportunities and have received individual support in my work. But I’ve also prepared well and worked hard and am really pleased with the grades I’ve achieved”.

Harrison Mellors moved from another City school for a fresh start – a final shot at mainstream education – in Year 9. He became an outstanding student and went on to achieve 11 GCSEs at Grades 5-8. He now plans to embark on a football scholarship and to pursue sport professionally, whilst also considering higher education. Harrison said, “What really made the difference for me was my relationships with the teachers. I worked so well with them and am especially proud of my two grade 8s in Biology and PE”.