Year-on-year improvement celebrated
Significant year-on-year increases have been achieved by GCSE students at Waltham Toll Bar Academy, delighting staff.
Happy students with Executive Principal Philip Dickinson and Head of Year 11 Rob Cowie at Waltham Toll Bar Academy.
Executive Principal Philip Dickinson praised students and his team.
“I am delighted by a terrific set of results,” he said. “We have significant increases on last year’s results, demonstrating the progress we’re making.
“The school is renowned for its academic success and the improvements being made are reflected in this year’s results.
“The outcomes also highlight the broad and ambitious curriculum offer at the academy.
“I would like to thank students and staff for the enormous amount of hard work that has gone in to achieving these outcomes.”
The academy has seen a 5% increase in students achieving the higher grade 5 or above in Maths and a 1% increase in the same measure in English.
“This is particularly pleasing considering the national context, where there has been a drop this year in the pass rate at 5 or above in English and Maths,” said Mr Dickinson.
Mr Dickinson celebrates with students.
The numbers achieving a grade 4 or above in English and Maths combined has increased by 3%.
Those recording top grades 7-9 in English went up by 5% while, in Maths, the increase was 3%.
Every Triple Science student received a strong pass of grade 5 or above while departments achieving a 100% pass rate of grade 4 or above were Art, Graphics, Dance and Photography.
Cheryl Adeyinka, who joined Waltham Toll Bar in Year 8 after moving to the UK with her family from Nigeria, was surprised with her six grade 9s and three grade 8s.
Cheryl Adeyinka with her outstanding results.
“I thought I was going to get a 7 in Maths but got an 8,” she said. “I am so proud.”
She has chosen to study Biology, Psychology and Chemistry at Caistor Grammar.
Mum and dad Susan and Adedamola shared their daughter’s special moment when she opened the results.
He said: “I am thrilled and super proud of her. It is thanks to this school that she has got what she wishes.”
Susan “felt on top of the world”.
“I am so happy and excited for her,” she said. “We had heard good things about this school when we came here.”
Lauren Harrison, Grandma Jo in the academy’s big production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory earlier in the summer, was happy with her two 9s, four 8s and one 7.
All smiles for Lauren Harrison as she discovers her results.
She is staying on at Toll Bar Sixth Form to study A levels in Drama, Dance and English Literature and is hoping to go to drama school.
“I am just excited to get my results and really surprised to get 8s in Maths and Physics,” she said.
Martha Rodger, with one 9, five 8s, one 7 and one grade 6, and will also study at Toll Bar Sixth Form.
Head of Year Rob Cowie with Martha Rodger (left) and Lily Wardle.
She said: “I am really happy because I have done better than I thought I was going to do.”
Proud dad is former Grimsby Town centre back Graham Rodger and Martha is following in his footsteps, playing midfield for Cleethorpes Town.
“I am absolutely delighted for her and all the young people receiving their results at the school,” he said.
“The results reflect the high standards of education at Toll Bar. They are a credit to the teachers and young people who have all worked so hard.”
Noah Furness achieved three 7s in English Language, Literature and Maths, significant upgrades on his mock exams. He also recorded two 8s and four further 7s.
“The revision after school, on holidays and over weekends paid off,” he said. He is going to study Chemistry, Computer Science and PE at Franklin Sixth Form College.
Nina Cooke picked up six 9s, two 8s and one 7.
Vice Principal Ollie Fothergill with Nina Cooke.
“I am happy,” she said. “I was a bit nervous but hoped I’d do all right.
“I’ve been revising for a year and a half, four out of every five days and over the holidays and weekends.”
Matthew Lond achieved three 9s, four 8s, one 7 and a Level 2 Distinction.
Matthew Lond, delighted with his results.
“Wow! I am shocked and very surprised because I never really had the expectation to do as well as I did,” he said. “The results are a big improvement on my mocks”.
Mum Celia said: “I am absolutely thrilled to bits. He has worked so hard and deserves this.”
Other high achievers at the academy included Matthew Hager (four 9s, one 8, one 7, one grade 6, one 5 and a L2D*) Emily Harrison (five 9s, two 8s, and two 7s), Lyla Manders (three 9s, four 8s and two 7s) and Lily Wardle (three 9s, one 8, two 7s, one 6 and one 5).
Executive Principal Philip Dickinson with some of the successful students at Waltham Toll Bar Academy.
The emotions as the envelope is opened.
