AUGUST 15 was an important date in our sixth formers’ calendar: this was when they would pick up the results of their AS and A2 exams. There were quite a few worried faces as the students made their way to the library, where the results were being handed out.

However, anxious frowns soon changed to delighted smiles as the results were scrutinised and students realised how well they had done.

Amongst year 13, every single student who had applied to university had won a place as had those who had applied for college courses.

Year 12 results were equally pleasing – in fact, overall, there was an improvement in both average points per entry and average overall point score per student. Delighted head teacher, Mr North, said: “These excellent results are a testament to all the hard work of staff and students. I am really pleased that our young people have flourished on both academic and vocational programmes alike.”

He had a few extra words for our departing year 13 pupils: “We all wish these young men and women the very best for their future in their chosen area of study or employment. I am sure the excellent grounding they have received at WCESS will be something they can build on to ensure a successful and fulfilled future.”

Just one week later was Results Day mark two. Year 11 students are told, as usual, that school would be open at 10am for them to collect their GCSE results. And this year, as usual, many students arrived at the crack of dawn (well, almost!) anxious to discover whether the dire predictions in the media about harsher marking and harder exams had prevented them getting the results they needed.

They needn’t have feared. Although there was certainly evidence of raised boundaries in many subjects, the hard work of our students – and their teachers – had paid off and the great majority of pupils had achieved or even exceeded their targets, leading to joyful scenes as happy students exchanged hugs and congratulated each other. After a quick analysis of the data, the results showed that 78 per cent of our students had achieved at least five A* to C grade GCSEs, thereby continuing the upward trend of improving results at WCESS.

Emma Connor, who achieved an outstanding nine A*s, one A and one Merit and her friend, Hannah Luu, who also achieved a fantastic five A*s, five 5As and a Distinction, were among the first students to pick up their results and their screams of delight were soon echoed by other happy pupils. Emily Ingram was equally delighted with her three A*s, two As and a Distinction and celebrated with her classmate, Tia Mountain, who herself had done brilliantly, achieving two A*s and six As.

Indeed, there were smiles and laughter all round as the excited students and their equally happy teachers celebrated the results of years of hard work.

Mr North was on hand to congratulate the students. “So many of our pupils worked really hard and these results are well deserved,” he said.

“They show the continuing improvement at our school over the last two years. In fact, this cohort of students has performed equally as well as our record-breaking pupils last year – who were a pretty hard act to follow!

“So a hearty ‘well done’ to the cohort of 2013! They’ve demonstrated, yet again, that WCESS is successfully creating an ever stronger learning community.”