Pupils at Chetwynde School were all smiles as they secured an array of amazing grades for their GCSE exams.

The Year 11s returned to school to collect their results, celebrate with staff and their friends and mark a successful end to their time at the all-through Rating Lane school.

Many will now go on to study A-levels and T Levels at college while others have secured sought-after apprenticeships and employment.

The highest achievers were Riya Kale, Jorja Turner and Kian Ng who secured high grades across the board.

Aspiring international relations lawyer Riya, who has been at the school since she was four, will now go to study A levels in history, chemistry and biology.

Kian Ng will take four A levels in maths, further maths, physics and chemistry.

“My exams went very well and I’ve got everything I hoped for including two 9s and four 8s. The teachers here are very good at what they do,” he said.

“We started in a pandemic but I’d say that’s better than being in Year 11 during the pandemic so I’ll take that.”

Jorja Turner’s plans to go to university have taken a step closer with top grades in her subjects. She will study A levels in English literature, art and history at Ulverston Sixth Form.

Her friend Imogen Jones was also celebrating after securing a top mark in performing arts – equivalent to a grade 9.

“I’m very happy and looking forward to going to Kendal College to study performing arts as I want to go into musical theatre,” she said.

Twins Elliot and Ellis Turner-Lowther both secured excellent grades in all subjects with exactly the same result in seven out of ten exams.

Ellis is going to study A levels in biology, chemistry, law and psychology while Elliot will go to study a T Level in engineering at Furness College. Elliot will be joined on the T Level course by Deputy Head boy Jacob Moyse who was very happy to pass his exams with grades including 7s in English language and chemistry.

“I would like to thank the teachers for giving up time for extra revision sessions that really helped,” he said.

His friend Tobias Williamson is looking forward to starting an engineering fitter apprenticeship at Oxleys after securing his grades and Ryley Griffiths has a mechanical fitting apprenticeship at BAE Systems.

Youth Parliament Member Thomas Colquhoun secured 9 GCSEs and will go to Barrow Sixth Form to study politics, law and drama.

“I’m so chuffed with my results and I’ve loved school, being here is being part of a big family,” he said.

Head Girl Sophie Ackred was delighted to find out that her grade 9 in maths scored the highest the school had seen.

“Dropping only 10 marks over three papers is pretty good,” she said.

All-round sportswoman Sophie, who is now vice captain of Morecambe Ladies’ Football Team where she plays in goal, will go on to study A levels with the ambition of going to the United States to play football and studying a degree in sports or maths.

“I’m celebrating today and playing golf tomorrow,” she said. “The teachers here are amazing and I am going to miss them.”

Headteacher Steve Jefferson congratulated all the students on their excellent academic achievements.

“Everyone has worked hard to achieve a fantastic set of results. This group never had the opportunity to sit their SATs so it is a credit to them that they have prepared well for exams and succeeded.

“Starting secondary education in a pandemic, they have definitely shown the school’s value of resilience alongside respect and responsibility.

“I am particularly pleased about the number of pupils securing their English and maths GCSEs, which they need, and we know they leave us with the confidence to go on to great things.

“I would also like to thank all our teachers, support staff and the wider South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust community, for their hard work and commitment to our pupils’ futures.”