Sutton’s GCSE students have scored another great set of results despite disruption caused to their studies due to the coronavirus pandemic.

This year, teachers in England submitted their decisions on pupils’ grades after drawing on a range of evidence, including mock exams, coursework, and in-class assessments using questions by exam boards.

Early results show students in Sutton have done even better in this year’s GCSEs than in 2020.

Council authorities have confirmed that schools in Sutton have achieved a provisional 86% pass rate in English and Maths at grade 4 (which is broadly equivalent to the old C grade) or above, and 67% of Sutton students also secured a ‘strong’ pass in both subjects, achieving a grade 5 or above.

Across England, 79.1% of grades achieved across all GCSE subjects were at Grade 4 or above, whilst 62.8% of grades were at Grade 5 or above.

Councillor Marian James, Chair of Sutton Council’s People Committee congratulated students and teachers on their results: “Our borough’s teachers, leaders and support staff across schools and settings always show incredible commitment to Sutton’s young people.

"But their determination to provide lessons as normally as possible in the most unusual of times shows just how much they have gone the extra mile for their students. We owe them all a huge debt of gratitude.

“I hope that Sutton students will be celebrating as they move on to the next stage of their lives - whether that is education, apprenticeships or work. Well done to all our students.”

Below we hear from students and teachers across the borough about their GCSE results:

The John Fisher School

This Is Local London: The John Fisher School The John Fisher School

Anthony, a year 11 student at The John Fisher School, said: “I am very happy and am glad to be able to come back in September.

"I am delighted with my 7 in English Language, 8 in English Literature and 8 in Maths.

"Next year, I am going to study English Literature, Applied Science and Sociology in the Sixth Form. Thank you to the staff at John Fisher who helped me so much.”

Headteacher of The John Fisher School, Philip McCullagh, commented: “Our Year 11 students have shown a great strength of character.

"They can take much pride in their amazing achievements against the odds.

"Our parents/carers, team of staff and school governors can also be incredibly proud.

"It was important to celebrate with the students this morning as they have demonstrated such remarkable resilience and determination.

"The students have navigated their way through a difficult year and we look forward to continuing to work with them over the next two year period.”

Greenshaw High School

Headteacher of Greenshaw High School, Nick House said: “I am so proud of our pupils in Year 11.

"They fully committed to their courses when schools fully re-opened in March and did really well to prepare for the assessments that were set up in school.

"We will never fully know the impact of the last two years on our young people but I am absolutely confident that we are seeing pupils able to move on to the next phase of their learning.

"This is the most important thing – that we do all we can to secure pupils’ future pathways, despite the global crisis of this coronavirus.”

Chair of Secondary Heads Board

Nathan Cole, Chair of Secondary Heads Board, said: “Collecting your GCSE results is a rite of passage and one most of us will never forget!

"The journey to this results day however has been anything but typical for the young people of Sutton.

"They have faced many challenges since March 2020, not just in practical terms, but also in deeply personal ones.

"So whilst today much of the national commentary will be about academic success, in Sutton we also wish to celebrate the resilience of our young people in the face of hardship; the hard work and indefatigable support of school staff and the frankly heroic efforts of parents and carers."