GCSE Results Day 2019: Downham Market Academy

Students at Downham Market Academy (DMA) will be looking to their next steps after receiving their GCSE results this morning.

Rolf Purvis, headteacher of the Cambridge Educational Trust-run school, said the results were their "best ever".

A total of 63 per cent of students achieved a grade 4 or above in English and Maths, which was a six per cent increase.

Meanwhile, individual pass rates in both subjects topped 70 per cent.

Half of the DMA students achieved the top grades, with 15 per cent of students getting a grade 9.

Mr Purvis said: "The results are significantly better this year, we are really pleased with these results.

"They are a reflection of the work that parents, students and teachers have done.

"They're the best results the school has had here for years.

"There's tears of joy and it's a huge relief for our students who have experienced a difficult time in the first three years before the new trust came in."

It was a proud moment for Alfie Randall and his family, after he picked up his results.

Alfie, who is the son of Downham woman Heather Bellamy who died earlier this month, said his family was "pleased" with his results.

Just over a week before he picked up his results, Alfie had paid tribute to his mother at her funeral and said: "This incredible woman kept herself going long enough to see me through my entire time at high school."

He got a 9 in English Literature, a 9/8 in Science, an 8 in Design and Technology, 7s in Geography, Maths and French and a D*2 in Health and Social Care.

Alfie said: "I studied a lot, but I thought I did awfully. My family is pleased."

Keelan Adams said he was "really pleased" he worked hard during his time at DMA, as he achieved 9s in every subject bar one, for which he got an 8 grade.

"I'm really happy," he added.

He will be studying Maths, Further Maths, History and Geography at DMA's Sixth Form site at Ryston.

Hills Road Sixth Form in Cambridge is what is next for Abbie Richings after she received her results this morning.

She got an 8 in English Language, 7s in English Literature and Maths, a 7/6 in Science, a 6 in Geography and a 5 in German.

Abbie will study Maths, Physics and Chemistry at sixth form.

Abi Lamming said her grades were better than she had expected.

She got 7s in English Language and English Literature, a 7/6 in Science, a 6 in Drama, 5s in History and Maths and a D2 in Health and Social Care.

"I just wanted to get the grades I needed, but this went above and beyond and took me by surprise," Abi said.