Students at Shropshire’s Ellesmere College are celebrating their GCSE results today with an overall pass rate of 80% with some outstanding performances.

The 2023 results are above the UK pass rate of 67% and at Ellesmere 25% of grades are the top 9-7 range (A*/A) – above the UK top range rate of 20%.

Top performing students include Shinil Balakrishnan, from Chester, who achieved seven 9s and three 8s.

Joshua Norris, from Ellesmere, has achieved five 9a, three 8s and a 6 while Isobel Cripps, from Shrewsbury, got two 9s, six 8s and a 7.

James Gannicott chose to move from his hometown of Zug in Switzerland to study at Ellesmere, he achieved one 9, seven 8s, one 7 and a 6.

Many of the students who picked up their GCSE results today will return to Ellesmere College in September to continue their academic journey into Sixth Form and study their choice of A Levels, International Baccalaureate (IB) or BTEC courses for the next two years.

A number of younger pupils sat a GCSE mathematics exam early at Ellesmere College too.  Natt Kritchanarat completed her GCSE Mathematics last year with a grade 9 and has completed GCSE Chemistry and Further Mathematics this year at the end of her year 10, achieving a 9 in both subjects.  She is now studying A level mathematics and will sit her A level at the end of Year 11.

Brendan Wignall, Headmaster at Ellesmere College, said “It is a pleasure to see how well pupils have achieved.

“They are commended for their positive approach to the examinations this summer.

“With disruption to their education during the pandemic their achievements are even more impressive.

“Their results today have been hard earned. They are now very well prepared to embark on their Sixth Form programme with us and we look forward to seeing them in September.”

The GCSE results follow on from last week’s excellent A level results and destinations, which include places at Girton College, Cambridge, Trinity College, Dublin, University of Birmingham, Bath, Durham, Exeter, Glasgow, Swansea, and as far afield as Maimi and Ohio USA.

Pictured: Izzy Cripps from Shrewsbury and Felicity Davies Oswestry getting their results.