GCSE Results Day 2022: The Nicholas Hamond Academy in Swaffham celebrates exceptional students

The principal of a secondary school in Swaffham has said GCSE results were more positive than expected this year.

The Nicholas Hamond Academy has been celebrating the grades of their 133 Year 11 students.

Staff said they were proud of how well all their students have done despite spending part of their school career in and out of lockdowns.

Principal Mark Woodhouse said: "Our Year 11s have had an incredibly challenging two years and it would be easy to forget that a significant amount of time during their GCSE studies has been either lost or interrupted by the Covid pandemic.

"Irrespective of outcomes, it is perhaps their greatest achievement that they tackled the first set of national, external examinations for two years with an amazing resilience and determination which will give them the foundations to successfully do whatever they want to do in their futures."

Students Elisha McHardy, Keziah Ansell, Shi Je Wang, Callum Griffiths, Anouska Williamson, Edward Williamson, Chloe Dawson, Isabelle Burchell, Ebony Coleman, Luke Woodcock, Thor Skov-Goddard and Lucy Clarke were mentioned for their exceptional results and significant progress across the year.

Mr Woodhouse added: "Perhaps the most satisfying and pleasing aspect of this summer has been seeing our Year 11 students become the brilliantly talented young people that they are."

Most students are expected to go to the likes of Dereham Sixth Form and the College of West Anglia.

Gary Trott, director of secondary education, said: "Congratulations to the students and staff at The Nicholas Hammond Academy, who have achieved some great results and overcome the significant challenges presented by the pandemic.

"I am very proud of the resilience and commitment shown by students and staff and appreciate the significant support from parents and carers.

"These results build further on the academy's successful Ofsted inspection in December."