Chester Catholic High School gained the highest proportion of top A* and A grades ever recorded in today’s GCSE results.

Leading the celebrations at the Handbridge-based school were Francesca Noro and Dan Vickers with straight A* grades, closely followed by nine other students with A* and A grades.

Top achievers this year included: Francis Adair (2A*, 8A), Louise Beltrami (5A*, 5A), Eleanor Edwards (9A*, 2A), Bente Hollestelle (4A*, 6A, 1B), Poppy Jeffery (5A*, 4A, 1B), Sam Johnson (8A*, 3A), Jessica Jones (2A*, 6A, 2B), Sean Maddocks (1A*, 7A, 2B), Rosanna Maletta (6A*, 5A), Charlotte Massie (6A*, 5A), Preeyen Mistry (5A*, 4A, 1B), Francesca Noro (12A*), Marcus O’Neill (8A*, 2A), Ciaran O’Sullivan (4A*, 5A, 1B), Matthew Pagan (3A*, 5A, 3B), Michal Paradysz (2A*, 5A, 1B), George Rathbone (3A*, 6A), Katherine Scanlan (2A*, 7A, 1B), Claire Tierney (10A*, 1A), Daniel Vickers (11A*) and Jennifer Worden (3A*, 3A, 4B).

Many students were also key players in this year’s school production Our House and as a result were able to claim starred distinctions in performing arts, a qualification equivalent to grade A at AS level. They are: Aaron Bladen, Tom Greaves, Curtis Hall, Maisie McMahon and George Rathbone.

Neil Cross, head of Year 11, made his debut this year as head of the crucial GCSE examination group and is “very satisfied” with the performance of his students.

He said: “This year group had so much thrown at them during their GCSEs. The rules changed in just about every way, what with dropping the speaking and listening element from English, the rules on early entry and, of course, the first year to go through with terminal examinations for many years. Even so, they have done themselves proud.”

Headteacher John Murray added: “Once again, we are very proud of our students and what they have achieved. Along with their hard work goes that of their teachers, and the tremendous support we get from parents. Congratulations to all of them.”

Headline figures from the school show 76% of students securing at least five A*-C grades, and 60% of the year group able to include both maths and English in this score. The proportion achieving A*/A was up to 27%,

Chairman of governors Peter Devine commented: “The staff and the students have again achieved an outstanding outcome. This is particularly pleasing taking into account the fact that the goalposts for this cohort were no simply moved but entirely demolished by the then Secretary of State, Michael Gove, who introduced changes that are widely acknowledged as having a greater detrimental impact on students attending state schools.”

Read the results from other schools in Cheshire West and Chester.

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