Hackney students celebrate GCSE results

Congratulations and celebrations: Mossbourne Community Academy GCSE students 2024. Photograph: Mossbourne Community Academy

As this year’s GCSE results arrived, students across Hackney were celebrating their success.

Mossbourne Community Academy

Mossbourne Community Academy’s 11 cohort have set a school record with the progress they have made since joining the academy.

Nearly three quarters of all students achieved 5+ in both English and mathematics, with 85 per cent of students receiving 4+ in these subjects.

In addition, 71 per cent of Mossbourne students were awarded grades 5 or above in English Baccalaureate (Ebacc) subjects (English, maths, science, modern foreign languages and humanities (history and geography)) and 47 per cent of all students achieved at least one grade 9.

Bianca Salviato Foresti got a whopping 13 GCSEs, 11 of which were at grade 9 and two of which were at grade 8. Obinna Okoro achieved 12 GCSEs, 11 of which were at grade 9 and one at grade 8.

Rebecca Warren, Mossbourne’s principal, said: “Due to their unwavering efforts, our students have exceeded all expectations and have secured impressive pathways both to the next part of their educational journey and towards their career goals.

Their GCSE results are a testament to both their diligence and the exceptional teaching and learning and support cultivated by staff, students and parents of Mossbourne Community Academy.”

Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy

Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy added to the borough’s stellar results, championing the “extraordinary” performance of this year’s cohort, which saw 81% of student achieve grade 5+.

In English, 98 per cent of students achieved at least a grade 4+, while 94 per cent of students achieved grade 5. In English and maths, 78 per cent of students received grade 5+.

Pupils Ava Persson, Otis Rostron, Lenny Rick Pabon and Leo Westerburg-Burr all achieved a total of 11 GCSEs at grade 9.

Principal Matthew Toothe, delighted, said: “This success story isn’t just about our students—it’s also a testament to the passion, dedication, and hard work of the entire staff at Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy  and the support provided by parents and carers.”

Cardinal Pole students celebrate outstanding GCSE results. Photograph: Cardinal
Pole Catholic School

Cardinal Pole Catholic School

Cardinal Pole Catholic School is also celebrating its students’ impressive results. Grades were strong across the board, with the English department securing 84 per cent 4+ grades and 63 per cent of students attaining grades 5-9 in the subject.

The art and design department excelled as well, achieving 94 per cent 4+ in fine art and 80 per cent in 3D design. Other standout performances include chemistry and sociology with 75 per cent 4+, maths with 73 per cent 4+, RE with 71 per cent 4+, and music with 70 per cent 4+.

Cardinal Pole headteacher, Adam Hall, said: “We are so proud of our students. They are a credit to our school and we couldn’t be happier to see the smiles as they opened up their results today.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our incredible community for making this possible: our dedicated and skilled staff; our supportive and engaged parents; our resourceful and guiding governors; and of course, our hard working and inspiring students.”

Our Lady’s Catholic High School

Our Lady’s Catholic High School also has much to be happy about, boasting notable successes across various subjects. Kiera secured five grade 9 and four grade 8 passes, Fatima achieved five grade 9 and four grade 8 passes; Joanne with eight passes at grades 9 to 7, Joselina with 8 passes at grades 9 to 7 and Aliyah with eight passes at grades 9 to 7.

Headteacher Andy English said: “It is wonderful to see so many happy faces today following such impressive results. Our students have demonstrated a strong desire to succeed, achieving these outcomes with the invaluable support of their parents and our talented staff.

“We are confident they will continue their journey of learning through A levels, and I wish them all the very best for the future. Enjoy this moment and the days to come.”

Proud: Zak Mudhir Photograph: The Urswick School / Hackney Council

The Urswick School

Meanwhile, one of the students at The Urswick School celebrated the best GCSE results in the history of the school.

Zak Mudhir, who received eight grade 9s, said: “I’m most proud of my Mandarin Chinese grade, which I entirely flipped around from what I was predicted in Year 10.”

The Bridge Academy

Students at The Bridge Academy are also thrilled: Sam Alner, vice-principal, said: “We had our best-ever results last year, and it’s fantastic to see that students have beaten them on every metric.”

Students with additional special educational needs

Hackney’s students with additional special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are continuing to achieve outstanding results, after overcoming additional challenges.

In 2023, 32.9 per cent of pupils receiving SEND support in Hackney achieved the benchmark compared to 20.7 per cent nationally, while 10.5 per cent of pupils with EHC [Education, Health and Care] plans in Hackney achieved the benchmark compared to 6.9 per cent nationally.

Praise from politicians

Hackney’s mayor Caroline Woodley, deputy mayor Anntoinette Bramble and group director for children and education, Jacquie Burke, visited schools today to congratulate students.

The borough’s political leaders praised those who worked so hard to achieve success in this round of GCSEs.

Mayor Woodley said: “I want to say a huge congratulations to everybody who collected their results in Hackney this morning. I know the hopes and anxieties in the build up to results day can be overwhelming, and the excitement today is mixed with relief that the waiting is finally over. It’s a privilege to join students on such a significant occasion, and hugely inspiring to hear about their plans for the future whatever their results.”

Cllr Bramble, deputy mayor of Hackney and cabinet member for education, young people and children’s social care, added: “I’ve been delighted to join students to collect their results this morning, and I extend my congratulations to everyone across Hackney who has received their results today.

“A huge thank you also to the teachers, school staff, parents and carers who have supported our young people through the last year and played a huge role in everything they have achieved. However you did and whatever you want to do next, we’re here to help you, whether through our post-16 education options or the skills and training support we offer through Young Hackney and Hackney Works.”

Note: this article was updated at 17:20 on Thursday 22 August 2024 with additional information regarding GCSE exam results at The Urswick School and The Bridge Academy, students receiving SEND support; and political leaders’ visits to schools; and at at 13:55 on Saturday 24 August 2024 with additional information regarding Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy’s GCSE exam results.