GCSEs 2020: Stour Valley Community School in Clare celebrates pupils' achievements following period of uncertainty

Stour Valley Community School in Clare joined students and families in celebrating their GCSE results, after a period of uncertainty in how the grades would be determined.

This year, Year 11 pupils were awarded grades based on teachers' assessment, after the Government performed a U-turn this week following criticism of a moderation system that had downgraded almost 40 per cent of predicted results nationwide.

The school revealed that the top grade '9' had been awarded to pupils in a broad range of subjects, including maths, English, chemistry, biology, physics, geography, history, drama, art, food technology, RE, French, resistant materials and computing, with one student achieving nines across the board.

Rachel Kelly, Stour Valley headteacher, said: "The past few months and weeks have been challenging for our students in many ways.

"It was a sad and abrupt end to our Year 11 students' time at Stour Valley, but we did the best we could to mark the occasion with a hastily organised leavers’ assembly and shirt signing.

"Waiting for examination results is always an anxious time and the uncertainty caused by recent events has not helped the situation. We are delighted that students have now been awarded Centre Assessed Grades.

"We join the students and their families in celebrating their achievements, which represent the culmination of many years spent studying.

"We congratulate all the students on their GCSE results. We are proud of their resilience in these unprecedented times, and delighted to be able to finally give them the recognition their efforts deserve.

"Well done to the class of 2020 and all best wishes for the future."