This year's GCSE results reflect the ‘resilience and perseverance’ of students, says Fairfield High School for Girls head teacher Stephanie Bateman.

Exam-based grading was cancelled this year due to coronavirus and replaced by teacher assessed grades. However, teachers are still held accountable by the national standard and grades continue to be approved and awarded by exam boards.  

The government also declared it is not publishing performance data for any schools or colleges this year.  

Head teacher of the Droylsden school, Stephanie Bateman, added: “The students here, and across all of Tameside, have done amazingly well. Today is a special day for these girls and the families who have supported them through the last 5 years, but particularly the last 18 months of uncertainty.  

“It’s been a turbulent time; many students and their families have had covid or lost people to covid. I’m extremely proud of them, but also of our staff for supporting the girls in both their education and mental health and wellbeing.  

“Remote education is not the same and has been a real challenge, but I feel very proud to be headteacher. The grades today are all incredibly well earned and a testament to the student's resilience and perseverance.” 

One 16-year-old student, Tamania, achieved Grade 9’s on all her GCSEs, receiving the news with her ‘very proud’ father.  

She added: “I’m very shocked, I didn’t think I could do this well. It’s been a lot of hard work, dedication and revision. Working remotely during covid was hard, but once I figured out how to manage my time, it got easier. 

“My family also made sure I had a safe and quiet environment to work in and if I ever needed support, they were there for me.” 

Tamania plans to go to Ashton Sixth Form, studying Maths, Physics and Chemistry, and then on to university.  

16-year-old Holly struggled with the lockdown, but achieved almost a complete set of Grade 9’s.  

She added: “It was really hard during covid because you don’t have the friends and teachers around you, so you lose your support network. Of course, the teachers did as much as they could and have been a really big help.  

“My grades have been the result of hard work, lots of stress but also lots of determination. I’m going on to study Maths, Physic and Chemistry because I love those subjects.” 

Dr James Beckett, the Senior Assistance Headteacher at Fairfield, described results day as his ‘favourite day of the year’.  

He said: “I’m proud of all our pupils. We’ve got some pupils that have achieved the highest grades but it’s not all about that, it’s about the progress the students make.  

“They’ve also been challenged by the lockdowns and the new way of working, as well as needing to self-isolate so it’s hugely disruptive.” 

Tabbaya, 16, is another student that achieved a complete set of Grade 9’s. She’ll be moving on to Ashton Sixth Form at the end of the year.  

She added: “I’ve done amazing. I’m so happy all my hard work and nights studying have paid off.  

“To celebrate I’m going to go out to eat with my family and hopefully they’ll surprise me.” 

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