Resilience and Dedication of GCSE Students Leads to Strong Results

Students across Sigma Trust secondary schools are celebrating following the publication of their GCSEs and other qualifications. Here is a round-up from our schools.

Clacton County High School

Students at Clacton County High School are once again celebrating some wonderful GCSE results.

Chris Taylor, Head of School, said: “The results for this year have been a just reward for all the hard work and effort put in by the students and staff. I am delighted for our students and their families and my congratulations go out to them all. I cannot praise all the staff here at Clacton County High School more highly for their commitment and dedication to our students.

“There were some fantastic individual outcomes and amazing stories of success that have enabled all our students to progress onto Sigma Sixth, apprenticeships or other further education providers.”

Colne Community School

Pupils at Colne Community School in Brightlingsea were congratulated following a “fantastic” set of GCSE and other qualification results this summer.

Steven Crane, Head of School, said: “Each year, I am delighted to see our students’ achievements and how well they have done.

“This year is no different and I am thoroughly pleased that they are now able to celebrate their successes. I’d like to wish all our Year 11 students the very best for their next steps, knowing they have very bright futures ahead.”

Neil Gallagher, Executive Headteacher at the school, added: “We have seen some truly excellent achievements from our students this year and I would like to congratulate each and every student on their success.”

Harwich and Dovercourt High School

Students at Harwich and Dovercourt High School have been praised following the release of their GCSE results.

Headteacher Kate Finch said: “Once again we are extremely proud of the achievements of our young people here at HDHS. 

“They have attained some fantastic results, all allowing them to progress into their next stages which for many is A-levels on the route to university while others will start apprenticeships and other Level 3 vocational courses. 

“This year group has been so wonderful to teach and to know. They had a rocky start, having missed their year 6 SATs due to Covid, and therefore this was their first experience of a formal exam season.

“But we think they were one of the most impressive year groups we've ever had in terms of their attitude and how they approached the challenge of exams. All our staff and I wish them the very best and all that they deserve as they go forward to their new courses.”

Paxman Academy

The headteacher of Paxman Academy expressed pride in the students' achievements after they picked up their GCSE results.

Debbie Kershaw said: “I am delighted for our students. Their results are a testament to their resilience, dedication and the incredible support from our staff and their families.

“These results open up a world of opportunities for our students and we are excited to see what they will achieve next.

“Whether they are moving on to further education or apprenticeships, we wish them all the very best for their future endeavours. They have been a fantastic group of young people and we are confident they will go on to do great things.”

The school reported strong results across a range of subjects, with particularly high performance in the sciences, child development, sport and religious education.

Philip Morant School & College

GCSE students at Philip Morant School and College are celebrating after finding out their results today.

Praising the students, headteacher Stephanie Neill said: “We are delighted to be celebrating with our students as they receive their GCSE results.

“This year group had to leave primary school without completing Year 6 due to the arrival of Covid, and then spent Year 7 in a ‘bubble’, having a real impact on their transition to secondary school. 

“But they embraced all of that and we are very proud of the young people they have become. Every result has a story behind it and throughout we have young people who have worked exceptionally hard and overcome barriers to their learning.”

St Helena School

St Helena School welcomed back the class of 2025 to celebrate strong results across the board and to wish them well in the next stage of their learning journey.

Headteacher Serena Kay said: “It’s been wonderful this morning to welcome our students back and to celebrate their achievements. The Class of 2025 have been a fantastic year group.

“It is also a day to thank all staff at St Helena for everything they do to teach and support our young people and to thank our parents and carers for their incredible support over the past five years. I am filled with hope as our students make their next steps.”

The Stanway School

The Stanway School has praised pupils after “significant progress” was made across key GCSE subjects.

Executive headteacher Jonathan Bland hailed the outstanding achievements among students with a notable increase across a diverse range of subjects.

Mr Bland said: “Beyond the core subjects of English and maths, there were also strong performances in science, the humanities and a host of other written subjects.

“In addition, our range of vocational subjects also saw brilliant results, with subjects such as art, graphics, drama, construction and travel & tourism achieving some of their best ever results. This showcases the breadth of student talent across the school’s curriculum.”

Thomas Lord Audley School

Thomas Lord Audley school is once again celebrating year-on-year improvements in their GCSE results with pupils hailed for some “amazing achievements”.

Simon Essex, headteacher at Thomas Lord Audley School, said: “I am incredibly grateful for all of the hard work that has been put in by staff, families and especially our wonderful students, which has clearly paid off for the vast majority of them.

“I am very proud of the overall outcomes for our young people again this year and wish them the very best of luck as they embark on the next stages of their lives.”