PHOTOS: Driffield School students receive their GCSE results

GCSE results at Driffield School & Sixth Form continue on an upwards trajectory as students are ‘over the moon’.

Staff at Driffield School said they were ‘incredibly proud’ of the tremendous work ethic and achievements of the 2022 year 11 cohort.

Despite the unprecedented disruptions and challenges faced by the students over the last two years, the GCSE results at the school continue on to move in the right direction.

Scott Ratheram, executive principal, said: “It was a delight to see so many happy faces this morning. I am so pleased for our Year 11 students.

“They deserve their success and I wish them all the best for the future.

“We are looking forward to many of them joining us on the next step of their journey in our sixth form.

“I am also grateful to our parents and staff, who have supported our students so effectively to enable them to achieve their very best and to overcome everything the last 24 months has thrown at them.”

This year’s wonderful set of results reflect all the hard work put in by both students and staff as they prepared for the first set of external examinations in three years.

There were many exceptional performances across the cohort as the students’ hard work and resilience paid off.

Jonny Uttley, CEO of The Education Alliance – the multi-academy trust which Driffield School is part of – said that this year’s students had shown extraordinary resilience and determination throughout all the disruptions to their education as a result of the pandemic.

“We are absolutely delighted with the excellent performance of our students in the first set of external exams since 2019,” he said.

“These young people have shown extraordinary resilience and determination throughout the terrible disruption to their education.

“We could not be prouder of their achievements, and we congratulate them and thank their teachers for the brilliant way they have helped our students during the last two years.”

He went on to say that the school would not be issuing information about how the grades awarded this year compared to previous performances.

“We will not be providing any information to the media about overall grade performance this year,” said Mr Uttley.

“The reason for this is that COVID has caused enormous disruption to the education of young people and the impact of that has varied for individual students and groups of students due to circumstances beyond their control or the control of their schools.

“Using data without context to compare the ‘performance’ of schools is wholly inappropriate this year and we, along with very many other schools and trusts across the country, will not participate in such a futile and potentially damaging exercise.

“What the last two years have taught us is that young people do better when schools collaborate, not when they compete.”

One of this years high achievers, Hayden Messham, said: “I am absolutely thrilled I did not expect to do this well.”

Hayden is planning on continuing his studies at Driffield School’s Sixth Form to study computer science, physics, maths and geography.

Isabel Dee, another high achiever in this year’s results, said: “I’ve always loved learning, the booster sessions were really helpful and I went to every one that I could.

“The remote learning we received over the pandemic really helped me to stay on track.

“It’s really important to choose the options you enjoy and to put the consistent work in to be successful.”

Jacob Parkinson was ‘really happy’ with his results and is excited to study computer science at college in Beverley in September.

Markos Fȧkiolas was ‘very proud’ of himself after achieving four nines, despite having time off from school earlier in the year.

While Sophie Lovell said: “I’d been successful in the booster sessions I went to all year and they’ve been really helpful for me.

“I always reflect on my notes and looking back over everything after lessons helped me to get the grades I got.

“I’m really appreciative of all the hard work put in by the teachers, it really makes a difference.”

Sophie is staying on study at Driffield sixth form to study PE, biology and possibly maths.