Hundreds of Year 11 pupils at six secondary schools in Torfaen collected their GCSE results today.
Croesyceiliog School pupil Alice Miles achieved 6A*s and 4As and is heading to the Torfaen Learning Zone to start A-levels in film studies, religious studies and English literature.
Regan Yates, from St Alban’s RC High School, in Pontypool, got six A*s, six As and two Bs and is planning to study history, psychology and PE at Hereford College.
Angharad Aldridge, from Ysgol Gymraeg Gwynllyw, in Pontypool, got A*s in history, biology, art, English literature and the Welsh Baccalaureate. She also got As in chemistry, physics and Welsh literature and is planning to return to study history, Welsh and criminology A Levels in September.
Deacon Walker, from Cwmbran High, was over the moon to get an A in his photography GCSE and is looking forward to going to Coleg Gwent to study game design.
Cllr Richard Clark, executive member for children, families and education, said: “Congratulations to all GCSE and BTec students collecting results today. You have done very well to get to this stage after starting your secondary school years during the Covid pandemic.
“Congratulations also to all secondary school teaching and support staff, and parents and families, who have supported and guided our pupils throughout their secondary school journey.”
Natalie Richards, Croesyceiliog School headteacher, said: “I am incredibly proud of our students who now start the next chapter of their young lives due to the hard work they put into achieving these results. I must thank our staff and our parents who help pay the ambition in our students.”
Stephen Lord , St Alban’s RC High School headteacher, said: “We are so proud of individuals who this year in particular, through the challenges they have overcome over the past few years have demonstrated perseverance and determination to achieve incredible success, allowing them to pursue their dreams and ambitions on the next stage of their journey.”
Year 11 pupils at Abersychan School and West Monmouth School, in Pontypool, also collected GCSE results.
Across Wales, more than 315,000 students received GCSE and Level 1 and 2 Vocational and Technical qualification results today.
96.6 per cent of students achieved grades A*-G and 62.2 per cent achieved grades of A*-C.
This year’s most popular subjects were sciences, mathematics, English language and literature, and Welsh as a second language.