GCSE Results Day 2022: Downham Market Academy receives better results than 2019

Staff and students celebrated Downham Market Academy's GCSEs, with results being significantly better since exams were last sat in 2019.

The academy has received particularly "outstanding" grades in Drama, Art, Music and Maths.

Head of school Mark Eastwood described how proud he was of this years cohort of students.

"They've all worked so hard, I can't think of a single student that hasn't had time off being affected by Covid in some way, they've been in school for half of the time they should be," said Mr Eastwood.

Some 180 students are expected to stay on at the Academy's sixth form Athena College, as well as some going to Hills Road in Cambridge and the College of West Anglia.

Three of DMA's highest achieving pupils were Robert Waring, Lydia Callaby and Kai Edwards.

Robert gained high grades with four of his GCSEs being at a grade 9, He's going to study at Hills Road in Cambridge.

"It's been such a difficult process and it's been very up and down with Covid, with these results I'm very pleased.

"I'd like to thank my friends and teachers for being so great," said Robert.

Lydia Callaby got three GCSEs at grade 9, three at grade 8 and three at a grade 7. She'll be starting Year 12 at Athena Sixth Form College.

"I'm really thankful for teachers that have helped me in my high school career,

"It's been hard with Covid but the teachers really helped me catch up," said Lydia.

Kai Edwards will be joining Lydia at Athena Sixth Form. He got two 9s, five 8s and two 7s.

"I was wary about my results being lower with grade boundaries being raised,

"I'm really proud of everyone," said Kai.

Downham Market Academy received its first 'Good' rating from Ofsted in over 15 years.