GCSE results day: did Croydon schools make the grade?

Pupils at the borough's secondary schools will collect their grades this morning, with Ofqual warning we could see "volatile" results.

Last year 68.8 per cent of papers were awarded the top grades of A*-C, up 0.7 percentage points on 2013.

We will update this story with the latest from Croydon schools throughout the day and will include contributions from schools, pupils and readers.

Here's a run down of what we know so far:

Coloma Convent Girls' School is celebrating an 85 per cent pass rate at A*-C including English and Maths - the benchmark used by the Government.

Some 42 per cent of all GCSEs at the school were awarded A* or A grades, while 69 per cent of pupils gained the challenging English Baccalaureate.

Fifteen pupils were awarded five A* grades or more, including Fiadhnaid Lydon and Laura Shutler, who each chalked up 11.

Here they are with some of the school's other top performers:

Maureen Martin, headteacher, said: "We congratulate all our girls on their brilliant results. They have a strong support network of wonderful staff, parents, governors and friends, enabling them to realise their full personal, social and academic potential.

"We are extremely delighted that the vast majority will be staying at Coloma for A Level. Our Year 11 girls have worked incredibly hard and we are very proud of all of them”. 

At Norbury Manor Business and Enterprise College, 68 per cent of pupils achieved five A*-C grades including English and Maths - the benchmark used by the Government.

That's an increase of six percentage points on last year for the Thornton Heath college.

Among the star students were Maimoona Yiadom Boakye, who was awarded an amazing 13 A* to A grades, and Mustabshira Ali and Dania Zouain, who both got 12.

Headteacher Amanda Compton said: "This has been a fantastic year for our students and staff who have achieved results that reflect their hard work and determination to progress onto the next stage of their education or into employment.  We are immensely proud of them all."

Some 66 per cent of Oasis Academy Coulsdon students notched five A*-C grades including English and Maths - the school's best results yet.

Top achievers were Matthew Lavelle and Abigail Smart, both 16 and of Coulsdon, who scored 22 A* or A grades between them.

Matthew said: "I am overjoyed with the results I have received today and I would like to thank the teachers who have worked tirelessly with us over the last five years."

There was also double cause for celebration for Niamh Carey, of Old Coulsdon, who picked up her results on her 16th birthday.

Ruth McKenzie, meanwhile, was accompanied by a very special guest as she picked up her results - her horse.

Quest Academy does not yet have an overall rate of five A*-C grades due to a "technical issue", but has been in touch with news of some of its top performers.

Tara Nelson achieved eight A*s, 2As at GCSE, a B in AS maths and a distinction at Level 2 BTEC. We're told she is a talented pianist to boot.

Natalia Rojas achieved three A*s, five As and three Bs, Mohamed Mohamud got three A*s, four As and three Bs, and Ayesha Shah achieved three A*s, four As, four Bs and a distinction.

Ayesha, pictured below with Mohamed and principal Andy Crofts, said: "I never thought I’d do as well as I did. I feel really confident now about my future."

Mr Crofts said: "I am pleased with our results in many subjects, particularly in Science. Students have worked incredibly hard and should be proud of their achievements."

The first results to land on our desk this morning (top marks for punctuality) were from Riddlesdown Collegiate, where 72 per cent of pupils acheived five or more A*-C grades.

The Purley school also celebrated almost a fifth of students achieving five or more A* or A grades, with 19 being awarded more than ten.

Hannah Redzimski, 16, was among the top achievers with 10 A* grades, one A and one B. She said: "I'm so pleased - I just didn't think they went that well."

Kate Henley, 16, below left, was almost incredulous with her success in physics. She said: ""An A* in Physics? That's a joke. I cried after that exam because it was so horrible."

The school's results were a slight dip on last year, when it achieved it best ever GCSE performance.

But principal Gordon Smith said: "It's been a great group of students to work with over the last five years. They're a really talented and committed group."

"Coming a week after the excellent AS and A-Level results, this once again shows how quality teaching, committed students and first rate support from families pays off.

"This year group has worked tremendously to achieve these fantastic results – well done to everyone."

Royal Russell School is celebrating 97.8 per cent of pupils getting five A*-C grades, with 37 per cent of them getting at least five at A* or A.

One of those pupils achieved a whopping 12 A* grades - more on that tremendous achievement later.

Headmaster Chris Hutchinson said: "I am extremely proud of the achievements of all our girls and boys, who have incredibly worked hard and achieved the success they deserved.

"I look forward to welcoming these young people into our sixth form in September."

At St Mary's Catholic High School, 55 per cent of pupils achieved five A*-C grades.

73 per cent of students achieved a C grade or above in Maths and 58 per cent C grade or above in English.

55 per cent of students achieved 5 A*-C grades. 57 per cent of all exam entries were C grade and above.

Among the top performers were Ashly Scaria, who got 13 A*-B grades and Natan Tesfayie, who achieved 14 A*-Cs.

The school said it expects to be in the top 10 per cent in the country for pupil progress.

At Trinity School, every pupil achieved five A*-C grades - with 99 per cent of all papers receiving one of the top grades.

Some 78 per cent of all papers were awarded A* or A. 

The school's star performer was James Slater, 15, from Croydon - who got an oustanding 12 A*s.

He said: "I am very relieved and very happy. I am now really looking forward to next year."

Mark Bishop, headmaster, praised pupils and staff. He said: "I am delighted with the results and very pleased that the hard work by boys and teachers has paid off.” 

Give those results a wave, lads.

Virgo Fidelis Convent Senior School said it was "very happy" with its 67 per cent pass rate at A*-C including English and Maths.

The school's top achiever, Sarah Davidson, clocked up two A* grades and nine As.

At Warlingham School, 70 per cent of pupils achieved five A*-C grades including English and Maths. 

The top performers included Shauna Burke, who bagged 10 A* grades and one A, and Lauren Pinkney with with nine A* grades and three As. Both were awarded 100 per cent marks in some of their exams.

Headteacher Nick Bradwell said: "“It has been great to see so many excited students and proud parents this morning. I am particularly pleased that we have again seen a large number of students gaining the top grades of A*/A but also that the vast majority of students have achieved or exceeded their targets.

"I am extremely proud of this particular group of students as they started at the school five years ago with relatively low Key Stage 2 results and have gone on to produce such fantastic results, making great progress over their time at the School. Congratulations to all of them”.

Whitgift School is toasting its best ever GCSE results, with 40 boys having been awarded 10 or more A*  grades and 20 getting straight A*s in every subject.

Eighty-seven per cent of its exam papers were awarded an A* or A.

Woodcote High School is celebrating 72 per cent of all pupils getting five A*-C grades, including English and Maths. 

Among the stand-out performers were Freya and Josh Jackson, who between them bagged 24 A* and A grades. 

And here they are: 

A further seven students got 10 or more A* and As.

Headteacher Mark Southworth said: "‘Yet again, the students at Woodcote High School have smashed the national average and achieved outstanding results at GCSE and I am proud of each and every one of them.

"I had high hopes for this year group when I saw how many of them were attending voluntary revision sessions run by our dedicated teachers, after school and in the holidays. All this extra work has really paid off with these excellent results."

How did your school do? Have you got a story to tell? Let us know by emailing chris.baynes@london.newsquest.co.uk, calling the newsdesk on 0208 722 6351 or posting a comment below.