Caerphilly County Borough’s GCSE results for 2016 are slightly down from last year’s, although pass levels have remained steady across Wales.
Provisional WJEC examination results for Caerphilly county borough show that the GCSE pass rate (grades A* to G) is 98.3%. The pass rate for A* to C is 61.1% and grades A* to A is 15.8%.
In 2015, the overall pass rate across the county borough was 98.6%, with 62.4% with grades at A* to C, and 16.3% with grades A* and A.
The overall pass rate, grades A* to G, for Wales remained at 98.7% – the same as last year. Pupils getting A* to C also stayed the same at 66.6%
Cllr Derek Havard, Caerphilly’s Cabinet Member for Education, said: “I would like to congratulate all our young learners on their achievements and praise the commitment, hard work and dedication of students and teaching staff in schools across the area.
“As a local authority we are committed to improving school standards and outcomes for our pupils. I wish everyone receiving their results today all the best in their future endeavours, and well done to you all.”
St Martin’s School in Caerphilly town celebrated its best ever GCSE results day with 92% of its 139 students achieving five GCSEs at A* to C grades.
Headteacher Lee Jarvis said he was “ecstatic” when calculating the results, which were a testament to students’ and teachers’ “dedication and commitment”.
He said: “This exceptional performance is particularly pleasing for the students and their families who have worked in partnership with St Martin’s staff throughout the year to help secure these impressive results.”
Ieaun Reed, 16, was one of ten students to get straight top grades with 12A*s.
The teenager, who has aspirations to become a civil engineer, said: “I can’t believe it. My results were better than expected. I’ll be celebrating with friends later.”
Also joining Ieaun with top grades was 16-year-old Eiry Allender from Rudry who achieved six A*s and five As.
Eiry has secured a scholarship to Cardiff’s Cathedral School, Llandaff, to study music.
The cornett player said: “I’m so happy and relieved with my results. I didn’t really know how I did after my exams.”
Fellow student Harris Brown, 16, from Castle View, had extra reason to celebrate his results after ill health forced the teen to miss large chunks of school.
Suffering from Crohn’s disease, Harris endured two operations within two years and had to leave hospital to attend exams at the school.
His hard work paid off and Harris achieved two A*s, three As, three Bs and two Cs.
He simply said: “I’m astounded.”