It’s GCSE day for Derbyshire students! – SCHOOL UPDATES

Shirebrook Academy, on Common Lane, is celebrating after 61% of their pupils achieved five A* to C grades, including English and maths.

Julie Bloor, principal of the Academy, said: “61% is great and we’re really proud of everyone who took exams this year.

“It is a slight dip on last year’s results but this seems to be the case with many schools, and it isn’t taking anything away from the students - and staff - who all worked incredibly hard for their grades.

“The exams were made harder, and the way they were marked has changed from previous years. But 61% is a great figure and we are incredibly proud.

“We are consistently around 60% and we’re very happy that, even with a slight dip, we’ve kept results high.”

There has been a fall in results right across the county, after the introduction of harder exams, and changes to the way they are marked.

This is on top of changes from last year which dictate what results – from vocational courses such as BTECs – can be included in the headline figures.

Mrs Bloor said: “In the English qualification, speaking and listening was not an element for the first time, affecting the overall results.

“It’s hard to have a comparison with last years’ results because so many of the criteria have changed.

“But all students and staff have been working hard all year and we are very proud of the results we have achieved.”

* We’ll have more GCSE news for you so keep checking back on this site. We also want to hear from anyone who has achieved outstanding GCSE results or overcome adversity to do well in their exams. Email: [email protected]