HARTFORD High School students have exceeded expectations with an excellent set of GCSE results.

The Year 11 leavers picked up their results at the school this morning, with many putting to rest weeks of nerves ahead of a new start in college or the world of work.

Headteacher Mike Holland said: “We are very pleased with these results.

“Our core subjects continue to perform exceptionally well with over 70 per cent of students achieving at least five good passes including English and maths.

Northwich Guardian:

“We are very proud of these achievements and our students must be congratulated for their efforts.’’

More than 40 per cent of children achieved the English Baccalaureate, while ‘high standards’ in the options subjects ensure another strong performance.

Sam Glover was among those picking up results this morning, bagging the grades he needed to study at Sir John Deane’s College come September.

He said: “I did a lot better than I was expecting so I’m really happy. I want to go into medicine in some form in the future.

Northwich Guardian:

“I was a little bit nervous this morning when it all kicked in, but apart from that I have not been worrying too much.”

Another ambitious student is Leah Holland, whose results sheet was covered in 7s, 8s and 9s.

She said: “I am really happy with my results.

“I am interested in being a vet so I want to do subject that would help me with that, and I’ve done some work experience as well.

“I managed to forget about the stress until a few days ago and suddenly it was coming up really soon.”

Despite a busy final year, which culminated in students being graded numerically in the first full set of linear subjects, Madeleine Burstow was one Year 11 who went the extra mile.

Northwich Guardian:

She said: “I’m really pleased with my science grades – I was getting virtually a U in March so to get 6s took a lot of hard work and late nights.

“I really liked science but was never very good at it. I started to get on better with the teachers and it went from there.

“I was stood in work yesterday worrying about my results, so I can go in today and tell everyone I did alright.”

High achievers with top grades included Iona Guy, Emma Kelsall, Naomi Crowder, Tom Hughes, Ella Foulkes, Kian Lang, Josie Schofield, Daniel Yevseyev, Lina Spradzenko and Philippa Hall.