Chief reporter Jack Tolson rounds up the news from schools across the borough on GCSE results day ...
THE percentage of youngsters who passed their English and maths GCSEs has increased from last year.
In total, 62.7 per cent of Barnsley’s 2,445 students who sat their GCSEs at mainstream schools achieved a grade four or above in both English and maths an increase of 0.6 per cent from 2023’s figures.
Coun Trevor Cave, cabinet spokesperson for children’s services, said: “Congratulations to all the students who picked up their GCSE results today it’s a big day for them and I’m sure there is lots of cause for celebration as we’ve seen some excellent performances from our schools.”
A 'phenomenal year’ for Kirk Balk
YESTERDAY was a positive day for many pupils at Kirk Balk Academy who once again outperformed their peers nationally on GCSE Results Day.
The Hoyland school reported some ‘outstanding’ achievements on their results day yesterday.
Among the results at Kirk Balk, there were some outstanding individual performances including Archie Wootton-Allott, Elliott Taylor, Kwesi Andoh-Kesson, James Armitage Tilly Seymour who achieved a number of grade nines across a range of subjects.
After receiving their results, the students said: “We are really proud of our results after working so hard to achieve them.
“Our advice to any student is to work hard and the results will reflect this in the end.”
Principal Hayley Craddock told the Chronicle: “It has once again been a phenomenal year for our students here at Northern Education Trust Kirk Balk Academy.
“We are immensely proud of all the work and achievements of our students.
“Despite all the challenges that students face each year, our teachers have worked tirelessly to ensure that students are all able to progress onto further education and study, and we look forward to seeing what they will achieve in the future.”
Executive principal Dean Buckley added: “We’re really happy with these results, which are testimony to the vision of the trust to enhance the life chances of the young people in our care.
“My thanks and congratulations go to all students and staff for their incredible efforts.
“I remain incredibly proud of everyone who is associated with our great academy.
“My thanks also go to the parents, carers, governors and the Trust Board for their continued support our students and staff couldn’t succeed without your help.”
Penistone Grammar School pupils praised for ‘resilience and effort’
THE atmosphere at Penistone Grammar School was one of ‘complete euphoria’ as pupils performed exceptionally well with their GCSE results.
More than 81 per cent of pupils secured a GCSE ‘pass grade’ in both English and maths, allowing them to progress to their next stage of their studies, apprenticeships, or the world of work.
Whilst more than 30 per cent of all grades are grade seven or above.
Rosie Barnes was the top performer after achieving ten grade nines.
Other successful include Elliot Robert Cutts and Lewis Neilson.
The following list of students gained grade eight or nine in every subject Alice Jones, Elsa Mott, Isabella Ellis, Tom Ferguson and William Hughes.
Principal Paul Crook told the Chronicle: “Penistone Grammar School is an amazing school to lead, with simply amazing students who value their education and a team of staff who work relentlessly to ensure students can achieve their full potential.
“As principal, it has been a pleasure today to see that so many of our students are now able to enter the next of phase of their education, including yet again for the second year, record numbers studying at our Post-16 Centre, secure apprenticeships or move on to their chosen employment that is what really matters in all of this; securing the best life-chances for each one of our young people.”
Katie Crook, assistant vice principal, added: “It goes without saying that the results they have gleaned are not only due to the resilience and effort they have plied into their studies but also the love, care and pure dedication of the staff we are proud to have working with them here at our PGS.
“This year also sees the first entry to exams of our very first HeartSpace cohort, students who have paved the way for students at PGS with neurodiversity.
“I am overwhelmed with pride and emotion to report that these students have surpassed predictions and all have been successful in receiving GCSEs and superb results.
“Our students with SEND here at PGS on average receive a quarter of a grade higher than their non-send counterpart across the country.
“We are proud to be leading the way in this area proving that barriers absolutely can, and will, be removed here at PGS.”
Pupils celebrate results day at Darton Academy
DARTON Academy is part of Delta Academies Trust, one of the largest multi academy trusts in the north of England.
We are a close-knit community, and we pride ourselves on knowing our students well and doing our utmost to ensure everyone fulfils their true potential.
As a result of our journey of continuous improvement, our students have achieved another set of fantastic GCSE results this summer, and we continue to go from strength to strength.
Students have attained above the national average in both maths and English, with 25 students achieving a grade nine in English.
Darton students have achieved above average progress in comparison to students with similar starting points.
We are proud that nearly a quarter of our cohort of students achieved grades seven to nine in maths.
In all Ebacc. subjects the percentage of students who have achieved grade seven to nine has increased.
Some highlights include a ten per cent increase in biology, ten per cent in chemistry and 18 per cent in physics.
Additionally, the number of students who achieved grades seven to nine in French and Spanish has increased by ten per cent in each subject.
As a trust, Delta Academies Trust have also achieved their best results ever and we will continue to work together to ‘change lives’ of students at Darton and in the north.
Shafton celebrate improved results
PUPILS at Outwood Academy Shafton celebrated some ‘brilliant’ GCSE results yesterday.
School bosses told the Chronicle that improvements have been made in ‘all areas’ showing the trust’s determination to improve young people’s lives across the borough.
The school saw eight grade nines in English and twelve grade nines in art and graphics.
In English Language, five per cent more students gained a grade five and above than last year.
As a whole, there were 33 grade nines achieved across the academy.
Alison McQueen, principal at Outwood Academy Shafton, said: “It is an honour and privilege to have been part of the students’ journey.
“We are all exceptionally proud of their commitment and determination.
“We are excited to see what the future holds for them.”
One of the standout student success stories was Beth Curphey, who achieved four grade nines, five grade eights and a seven in further maths.
Kayla Green was awarded four grade nines and four grade eights whilst Abigail Howell has achieved four grade nines and five grade eights.
Beth said: “I am over the moon and so happy to be going on to study chemistry, psychology and maths at Barnsley College.”
Kayla who is going on to study maths at Barnsley College, added: “All I really wanted was to achieve a grade nine in maths and I did it.”
Julie Slater, chief executive principal at Outwood Grange Academies Trust, said: “We are incredibly proud of our year eleven students and all that they have achieved throughout their secondary education.
“Our students have worked incredibly hard, have shown great resilience and have developed into exceptional young adults.
“We are very proud of all that they have achieved and what they will go on to achieve in their future studies and careers.
” I wish them every success for their futures it has been a privilege to have been able to work with them.”
