Richmond School students are celebrating their GCSE results and taking great pride in the independence, resilience and excellence they have demonstrated throughout the last 18 months of their education.
School leaders say tremendous results were achieved by many students.
Cora Aked and Emma Scott both attained nine top grade 9s and an 8, with other star performers including Evie Schmidt, Peter Longstaff, William Mawer, Isobel Brooks, Zoe Love, Isabel Lundberg, Amelia Brown and Freya Millar.
Liam Clement, an avid Enduro mountain biker and sportsman, will be heading to Scotland, where he has gained a place at the Borders Academy of Sporting Excellence (BASE) to study for a National Progression Award in Sport and NPA in Exercise and Fitness Leadership.
With a distinction in Engineering, Carys Meaney has her sights set high for a career in the aviation industry.
Based at Newcastle Airport, Carys will be commuting by train and the Metro, from her home in Barton, to study for a diploma in aeronautical engineering.
On completion of the course, run by Newcastle College, Carys is aiming to be an aircraft maintenance engineer and would like to work for British Airways in the future.
Liam Millar and Luca Sartini have already started their apprenticeships in joinery and brick laying with local construction company, Randall Orchard Construction.
Other students who have secured apprenticeships include: Harley Sharp and Tyler Straub at Swale Scaffolding; Nathan Barker at Tim Ellis Building, Jimmi Maidstone at Paxtons; James Pierson at Leylands Farm; Stephen Vaughan at West Layton Nurseries; Daniel Waller at Truck Technics; Amber Richardson and Oliver Breeze who will be working in agriculture.
Ellen Atkinson, who has regularly played competitive football since she was four-years old, and is currently the goalkeeper with FC Darlington Locomotives Under 18s ladies, achieved a Grade 8 in PE and is looking to specialise in sport.
Ellen will return to Richmond Sixth Form College to study the triple CTEC in sport and physical activity.
As well as picking up their GCSE results, students also collected a year book.
Brimming with memories, photographs and messages from tutors and teachers, the specially produced memoir celebrates the students’ five years at Richmond School.
Richard Crane, CEO of the Areté Learning Trust, said: “Despite all of the challenges that students and staff have faced during the last academic year, we are delighted to celebrate their success in terms of what they have attained.
“I would like to thank parents, carers and families for the unfaltering support they have provided for our students throughout their time at Richmond School.
“We wish all of Year 11 every success for the future”.
Headteacher Jenna Potter said: “Our students and their teachers have worked incredibly hard in extraordinary times and the students should take enormous pride in their achievements which are not only richly deserved, but are an excellent foundation for further studies or apprenticeships.
“The last 18 months have certainly made us appreciate more than ever the importance of education and the school community.
“I am sure we have all learnt from this experience that we cannot take anything for granted and that we should make the most of every opportunity.
“Throughout this time, it has been extremely rewarding for myself and all the staff to see how our students have really embraced our school values of creativity, excellence, independence, resilience, respect and teamwork.
“I would like to thank our students, their parents, carers and all the staff at school who have coped extremely well with a challenging situation and supported each other so well. I wish all our students the very best for the future and very much look forward to welcoming many of them back to join our sixth form, for what will be an exciting two years.”
