NEWSLETTER: 2020 Exam Special
Tears of joy for Owen
Read how budding carpenter Owen turned his life around on page 2.
of the Students cap a Nine best for Jess tough year with top exam results AFTER an incredibly difficult year, students across the Gosport and Fareham MAT (GFM) showed remarkable resilience as they collected their exam results. Both GCSE learners and A-Level students faced an anxious summer to discover how grades would be affected after exams were cancelled due to coronavirus. And they were able to give a sigh of relief when it was finally announced they would be calculated using centre-assessed grades. Year 11 GCSE learners at Bay House and Brune Park had every reason to celebrate after securing the top grades needed for them to take the next step on their chosen pathway. Meanwhile, it was another successful year in the Sixth Form with students leaving for the very best universities in the world, including Oxford and Cambridge. GFM Headteacher Dr Matthias said: “We
understand this has been a very difficult year for students but despite these unprecedented circumstances, our students should still be rightly proud of their achievements.” Head of Sixth Form, Richard Dadd, said: “It has been extremely frustrating that our students have not been able to sit their examinations this year. “We know that they were working hard before the lockdown period commenced and were eager to showcase their skills and knowledge. “We are delighted that many students have secured places at some of the very best universities in the country including those at Oxford, Cambridge and on highly competitive medicine courses. “We wish them all the very best for the future and thank them for the contribution they have made to the Sixth Form at Bay House.”
TALENTED Bay House learner Jess narrowly missed out on a clean sweep of the top 9 grade in her results – and said she could not be happier. She scored nine 9s and a 6 and plans to study Chemistry, Physics, Maths and History at the school’s Sixth Form. Jess (above) said: “I really couldn’t be happier. I didn’t know what to expect because I hadn’t sat any exams so I am really happy with what I’ve achieved. ‘Seeing what happened with the A-Levels made me nervous but after the U-turn I felt confident I would get results that accurately reflected my abilities.”
YEAR 11 LEARNERS among the few BAY HOUSE Year 11 learners were among just a handful across the country to receive grades for exams they actually took. The learners took their English Language, Citizenship and Statistics exams in Year 10 last year.
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Just reward for Owen’s effort
Jo-Ashley’s relief BRUNE Park learner Jo-Ashley plans to study Business Studies, Sociology, Psychology and English at Bay House Sixth Form. She said: “It’s better than I expected. It was quite nerve wracking and I was quite nervous for a long time. I feel a bit of relief right now.’
Matt credits staff
BUDDING carpenter Owen credits teachers at Bay House with putting his life back on track. He was on the brink of exclusion after moving from his previous school two years ago. But now he is leaving the school with two 5s and four 4s. He broke down in tears when he received his results, as did his emotional parents. He will now go on to study Carpentry at Fareham College. He said: ‘I just can’t believe it. Words can’t explain it. I thought that I had failed everything and I was a lost cause. “This school has just changed my entire behaviour and it’s made me better. “It has really made me think how important my teachers have been in my life. The teachers at Bay House did not give up on me.” His mum Tracey added: “I am overwhelmed. I am just so proud of him. It has been a long journey of him but he has proved that he can do anything.”
STUDENT Matt credits support from his teachers for helping to score the grades to earn a place at Loughborough University to study Electronic Engineering. He said: “The school has been as helpful as it could be. I always got on well with my teachers. I did very much enjoy Sixth Form.”
results bring twins birthday joy Grace stepping up LEARNER Grace got one 5 and two 4s. She hopes to go on to study English, Politics, Sociology and Business Studies at Bay House Sixth Form. She said: “The school has been very good. They rung us once a week before the summer holidays to check we were okay.”
BRUNE Park twins Andrew and Oliver picked up their GCSE results on their birthday – and were presented with top grades. Andrew plans to study further Maths, Physics and Psychology at Bay House Sixth Form and he hopes to then join the Royal Navy as an engineer. He said: “I feel great. I’m really proud of myself. “There was all the uncertainty with what was going on but I am really happy with how it’s turned out.
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‘It’s been stressful not knowing what was going on. Having the time to myself has been useful because I can think about what to do in the next stage of my life.” Oliver got three 7s, two 6s and a 5. He said: “I am more than happy. I thought I was going to do worse. “It’s been a bit strange but it’s a bit of a relief that I still got grades that I am happy with. “I am going to keep my options open for the moment and I am going to see where the road takes me.”
hard-working Mia thanks teachers HEAD girl Mia says hard work and support from teachers were the factors in scoring good grades. She has decided stay on at the Sixth Form at Bay House to study Psychology, English, Politics and Religious Studies.
She said: “I’m feeling really happy. Now the hard work has really paid off. I feel really grateful that I took school as seriously as I did. “I am really thankful for my teachers and how much work they put in to help me.”
Comic Russell sends message to year group LEARNER Molly ran into comedian Russell Brand while on holiday with her parents – and convinced him to send her classmates a good luck message. Molly, 16, and her family were approached by Russell while they were on holiday in Henley-on-Thames, where he lives. She said: “I was on holiday with my family. Russell approached us just for a chat and he invited us to his place for a barbecue. “As there were so many of us, we didn’t think that was right so in the end he came over to where we were staying and we had a barbecue, then we went wakeboarding with him. “He did the video for my year group and congratulated us and said well done. “Russell’s really nice. He’s really chilled and soulful.” In the video, Russell said: “We’re wishing well to all of you at Bay House that didn’t have the privilege or as it was in my case, the misfortune, to take GCSEs. Good luck and I’m sure that even though it’s been an unusual
College for Grace HARD-WORKING learner Grace is going to study Health and Social Care at Fareham College after scoring good grades in her GCSEs. She added: “I really wish that I had done the exams because I think I would have done better in some of them but considering the situation, I think I have come out of it pretty well.”
Molly pictured with comedian Russell Brand
year, ultimately this will be something that’s beneficial. You’re over-qualified if anything – good luck!” Molly, pictured above with Russell, got four 4s, two 5s and a 6. She said: “It’s more than I expected so I am really happy. I was really nervous hearing about the A-Levels but when it got changed it made me feel better.” Molly will be studying Criminology, Psychology and Law at St Vincent College.
Next step for Finn LEARNER Finn will stay on at the Sixth Form at Bay House to study Politics, Business Studies, Geography and Product Design.
Natalie off to Cardiff STUDENT Natalie earned As in English Literature and Politics and B in Psychology, and has earned a place at Cardiff University studying English Literature and Journalism. Natalie (right) said: “I am just happy that I have got in, with everything that’s gone on over the last five months. Everything has been so up in the air.”
Sami’s satisfied LEARNER Sami is staying on at Bay House to study Maths, Chemistry, Biology and Ancient history.
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Physics ahead for relieved Lewis STUDENT Lewis got an A* in Maths, an A in Further Maths and an A* in Physics to earn a place at the University of Bristol studying Maths with Physics. He said: “It was difficult in the sense that I had no clue how I had done. But I wasn’t particularly nervous because everyone is in the same boat. I am relieved to have got in. I can’t wait for uni now.”
Lottie to study Ancient History STUDENT Lottie scored B grades in Psychology, History and Ancient History and is going to Cardiff University to study Ancient History. She said: “It’s difficult because if you do exams you sort of know how you have done but we didn’t have a clue what was happening. “I was a bit unsure about it all. But now I am just excited about university.”
Cambridge call: Natural Sciences for Josh
Oxford-bound: Chloe will study Medicine
Bay House students are setting the bar high after earning places at the country’s top universities. Josh scored a remarkable four A* grades to earn a place at the world-famous University of Cambridge to study Natural Sciences. He will join the intellectual elite after earning the top grade in Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Further Maths. He said: “I’m a bit overwhelmed. The results are better than I expected. It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster of emotions. Not knowing was difficult. “‘We had a complete lack of control and there was nothing to put our minds at ease, it was all up in the air. “But I am excited about university. It’s a new experience from the style of learning we got here. It’s something that I want to embrace
because it’s going to be a challenge. That’s what life is about – there are challenges and we want to overcome them and be successful. I am looking forward to it.” Meanwhile Chloe got an A* in Biology, an A* in Maths and an A in Chemistry and has a place at Oxford University studying Medicine. She said: “I’m happy. It’s a weird kind of feeling because we didn’t take the exams. It’s really completely different to GCSEs. But then we worked really hard and it paid off. “There’s a lot of relief knowing that what I did up to the point when the school closed was enough and also in knowing that I am going to spend the next six years of my life being where I want to be. “The school sent a lot of emails about our mental health, which is probably the most important thing at the moment.”
Oxbridge calling for academic Bay House duo
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