STUDENTS and staff at Highcrest Academy are celebrating after it was announced the school achieved its best GCSE results since it was opened, despite a tough year.

The school’s principal said despite Ofsted rating the school as requiring improvements at the end of last year, they had predicted this year’s success and will continue to work to regain their outstanding status.

136 A*s and A grades were achieved this year with every student achieving at least one pass, and 53.4 per cent of students achieved 5 A* to C including England and Maths.

Principal Shena Moynihan said: “These results are fantastic, they are our best ever and the value added achieved by this cohort of students will be amazing; among the very best nationally.

“The results are as we hoped and exactly as we predicted to Ofsted in November. The November Ofsted team did not seem to accept our data but we hope a new team will visit this coming year as we want to regain our ‘outstanding’ rating as soon as possible.”

One individual success story from the school was Renee Ademokun who only knew she would be sitting her GCSEs at the end of last year.

She was delighted with her results which included 3 A*, 3 A, 1 B grade and 2 BTECs.

She added: “I am delighted with my results, I got what I wanted. I was shocked a bit especially with my A* in Religious Studies which I wasn’t expecting.

“I am originally from Nigeria and then moved to Ireland. I actually only moved here last year and didn’t know I would be sitting my GCSEs this year.

“I managed to do well by getting my head down and with a lot of support from my teachers.”

Another success story from the school was Darrien George-Johnson who received 4 A*, 5A, 1B and 2 BTECs.

He said: “I am really chuffed, I just thought I would get a couple of A*s and As. I was really nervous so I couldn’t believe it when I saw what I got.

“To be honest I did take quite a laid back approach to GCSEs but when the exams were on I started to do extra and it all worked out.”