Yarm School is celebrating its best ever GCSE examination results

Yarm School is celebrating its best ever GCSE examination results with 54% of all grades awarded being the top 9-8 grades (A*), with a third of all grades at grade 9.

Yarm surpassed the national average number of grade 9s by more than 6 times. Yarm pupils got more than four times the national average for grades 9-8. The national average was 12.1% compared to our 54% of grades 9-8 (A*). In the North East 17.8% of all GCSE grades were a 7 or higher compared to Yarm’s 75% – again more than four times higher.

More than 21% of the cohort (27 pupils) gained a straight set of 9/8 grades with 15 pupils achieving the impressive feat of 10 or more grade 9s.

This year’s pupils have broken Yarm’s GCSE records by beating the top grades achieved in examinations in previous years but have also performed impressively outside the classroom. The 2024 GCSE cohort has also excelled in a wide range of extracurricular activities, showcasing their talents on national stages in sports, music, and drama.

Sophie Hall achieved 10 grade 9s, while also captaining the school’s U16 hockey team, leading them to become national champions at the England Hockey Tier 3 National Finals. Sophie also represented the school in netball and helped the U16 team reach the England Netball National Schools Finals where Yarm finished joint 13th in the country.

Dhruv Wadehra secured 11 grade 9s, while regularly performing on stage in music concerts, achieving his grade 8 Cello and playing in the Tees Valley Youth Orchestra. On the sports field, Dhruv represents the school in both cricket and hockey and outside of school plays for Yarm Cricket Club and Norton Hockey Club.

Mae Kempster achieved 10 grade 9s, while being heavily involved in school drama, fencing and volunteering at Phab Club, a fortnightly club held at school for disabled and non-disabled children to come together.

Ajay Selvan achieved 11 grade 9s and has been recognised as one of the top performers in the country in his OCR Computer Science exam. This remarkable achievement comes on the back of A level student, Kitty Brown, achieving full marks in her OCR English exam.

Will McPartland is leaving Yarm to undertake a two year apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence at Middlesbrough Football Club, having already signed for the club and played for England at youth level. Good luck Will!

Rebecca White achieved a clean sweep of grades 9/8s whilst combining her studies with rowing training. Rebecca competed in the final qualifiers for the Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta alongside three other Yarm pupils in the Quadruple Scull.

Dr Huw Williams, Headmaster at Yarm, said: “I am delighted for our pupils on achieving a remarkable set of GCSEs. These results provide an amazing foundation for their A level studies but their achievements outside the classroom are equally impressive. Balancing both academic studies and extracurricular activities helps pupils develop ‘soft’ skills that are not only highly sought after by universities and employers, but prepare our pupils for challenges beyond school. We firmly believe in our ethos of Educating for Life.

“We have enjoyed celebrating these amazing achievements and many personal success stories with our pupils, their parents and staff at Yarm.”