St Anthony’s Girls’ Catholic Academy, part of Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust (BCCET), is celebrating after a fantastic set of GCSE examination results which exceeded expectations.
Isobel (pictured, top) achieved an amazing clean sweep of 10 GCSEs at grade 9. She said: “I am so happy, all that hard work has paid off and I can finally relax, everything is okay!” Isobel is returning to joint St Anthony’s and St Aidan’s Sixth Form to study Music, English Literature and History.
Kristina (pictured, top) has also achieved fabulous results - 11 GCSEs including 8 at grade 9, 3 at grade 8. She said: "I’m so happy and elated, I feel so much joy it’s all over and I cannot wait for the new chapter of Sixth Form.” Kristina is studying Chemistry, Maths and Further Maths.
Charlotte (pictured, top) was ecstatic, and said: “I am so thankful the hard work finally paid off.” Charlotte achieved 10 GCSEs, 5 at grade 9, and 5 at grade 8. She has chosen to study Biology, Chemistry and Spanish at Sixth Form.
Amarachi was speechless after receiving an impressive 10 GCSEs, 5 at grade 9 and 5 at grade 8, and is studying Biology, Chemistry and Maths at Sixth Form.
Isabel achieved 9 GCSEs including 6 at grade 9 and 3 at grade 8. She said she was simply ‘over the moon!'
Marie Lanaghan, Headteacher, said: “We are absolutely delighted with another set of very strong GCSE results this year. These grades are the result of the hard work and perseverance of our students, and the support and encouragement from our team of dedicated staff. There have been some outstanding individual results with many students achieving grades 7 – 9 in all subjects. The vast majority have secured the results they need to move on to their next steps. We are incredibly proud of what our young people have achieved, academically and personally. We look forward to celebrating their future successes.
"I would also like to thank our parents and carers for their unwavering support and encouragement and wish our students all the very best for this exciting next phase of their lives."
- 76% of all students achieved English and Maths at grades 9-4
- 58% of all students achieved English and Maths at grades 9-5
- 73% of students have achieved 5 GCSEs including English and Maths at grades 9-4
- Almost a third of all grades achieved were at level 9-7 or equivalent
- Overall A8 score has improved again this year and attainment is strong across all areas of the curriculum
St. Anthony’s Year 6 open evening is on 24 September 4.30-6.30pm. St. Aidan’s & St. Anthony’s Sixth Form open evening is on 15 October 4.30pm–6.30pm. For more information, please visit www.bccet.org.uk
At St Wilfrid's RC College, in South Shields, more than four in five students achieving at least a pass in English, demonstrating the strength of teaching and learning across the school.
There was also excellent progress in English, with the number of students securing top grades in both English Language and English Literature increasing compared with last year. The school, also part of BCCET, has seen an increase in the number of students achieving the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), recognising strong performance across a broad range of academic subjects. This achievement reflects St Wilfrid's commitment to providing an ambitious and well-rounded curriculum that equips students with the knowledge and skills needed for future success.
Religious Education continues to be a particular strength, with more than 40% of students achieving the highest grades of 7 to 9. This exceptional performance reflects both the commitment of students and the strength of teaching within the department, fostering high levels of understanding and critical analysis.
Several students achieved exceptional results. Chloe earned 10 GCSEs, including an outstanding seven Grade 9s, while Maeve secured five Grade 9s. Nicholas achieved four Grade 9s, three Grade 8s and two Grade 7s, and Daisy, who will continue her education at St Wilfrid's, achieved two Grade 9s and five Grade 8s. Their success is a testament to their hard work, commitment and ambition, supported by staff and families throughout their GCSE journey.
Daisy said: "I’m feeling really happy with my results. I did even better than expected. I’m going to stay on at St Wilfrid’s to study science."
Maeve said: "I’m over moon with my results. I plan on studying biology, chemistry and history at St Wilfrid’s sixth form."
Glenn Sanderson, Headteacher, said: "We are incredibly proud of our students and all they have achieved. These excellent results are a testament to their dedication, resilience and enthusiasm for learning. Today is a celebration of the hard work shown by our students over many years, as well as the unwavering support of our staff, families and wider school community.
"The increase in EBacc achievement, the continued strength of Religious Education and the improvement in top grades across English Language and English Literature reflect the ambition and commitment of both our students and staff. We congratulate every student on their success and wish them every happiness and success as they move on to the next stage of their educational journey."
Families of prospective students are also invited to experience the St Wilfrid's community at the Year 6 Open Evening on 1 October, from 4pm to 6pm. The event provides an excellent opportunity to tour the school, meet staff and students, and discover the wide range of academic, pastoral and enrichment opportunities available at St Wilfrid's RC College.
St Wilfrid’s Year 6 Open Evening will be held on 1 October 2026, from 4pm to 6pm.
Delighted Year 11 students collect their GCSE results at St Joseph’s Catholic Academy in Hebburn, and part of BCCET.
Around a fifth of the grades achieved across the school were at grade 7 or above and half of the grades were at grade 5 or above, allowing students to progress onto their next stages of education or employment.
Those students who sat examinations in Sport performed exceptionally well with 45% achieving Distinctions and above and nearly half of the students in Spanish achieved a grade 7 or higher. Art and Computer Science were also very successful this year with over 30% of grades being at 7 or above.
Hartegh (pictured above, second row, second from right) was delighted to receive six grade 9s in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths and English Literature and one Level 2 Distinction* in Business. In addition, English Language and Geography were secured at grade 8.
Kieran was thrilled to receive his results with six grade 9s, four grade 8s and two grade 7s.
Kate gained four grade 9s and a Distinction* at Level 2, three grade 8s and two grade 7s. All three students look forward to continuing their studies at St Joseph’s Sixth Form.
James Crowe, Headteacher, said “We are immensely proud of the students and their achievements - not only those who achieved a large number of top grades, but also those who have worked tremendously hard to overcome personal challenges and achieve their own goal. All these successes show that with hard work and commitment, every single student at St Joseph’s Catholic Academy can excel.
"The majority of students will be continuing their educational journey at St Joseph’s Sixth Form and we are looking forward to welcoming a larger proportion than ever of students from other local schools joining us. We wish all our students well as they progress onto their chosen next steps and I would also like to thank the staff and the families of our students for their support throughout the GCSE journey."
St. Joseph’s open evening for Year 6 pupils is on 24 September, and the Sixth Form open evening is on 12 November.
Students at St Bede’s Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form College, in Peterlee, are celebrating their GCSE results, with a number of student success stories highlighting the hard work, determination and resilience shown throughout their studies.
Maksym (pictured above, second row, right) joined the BCCET school from Ukraine in 2023 and had to learn English as a new language at the same time as studying for his GCSEs. The talented teenager achieved 10 GCSEs – two at Grade 9, five at Grade 8, two at Grade 7 and one at Grade 6.
"I am truly pleased with my results, especially History and English,” he said.
“I want to be an aerodynamics engineer with the Mercedes Formula 1 team and my results are hopefully the first step in getting there. In September, I'm looking forward to going to Byron Sixth Form where I'm going to study mathematics, further mathematics, physics and chemistry.
“I know the teachers and they know me and they helped me get great results, so I want to stay with them."
Anya (pictured above, second row, right) was amongst the Year 11 students who was delighted with her impressive achievement of securing 10 GCSEs – six at Grade 9, three at Grade 8 and one Grade 7.
"I'm incredibly pleased with my results,” she said.
“It’s a massive relief to see all my hard work finally pay off and after spending so many hours working towards these exams. I'm grateful to be continuing my journey here at Byron, surrounded by the teachers who have supported me all this time. I'll study biology, chemistry and mathematics because I really want to become a doctor."
Fran Craik, a BCCET representative, said: "We are delighted to celebrate the achievements of our students today.
“GCSE results represent just one stage in a young person's journey, and we are especially proud of those students who have worked hard to overcome challenges and achieve their personal goals. We look forward to seeing all our leavers take their next positive steps into sixth form, college, apprenticeships and employment.
“St Bede's students have secured a range of progression opportunities and we are committed to continuing to support young people as they move on to the next stage of their education and training. We congratulate all our students receiving their results today and wish them every success for the future.”
St Bede’s Year 6 Open Evening will be held on 17 September, from 5pm to 7pm.
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