While national GCSE results remained virtually the same as last year, Oldham academies bucked the trend with improved scores.
Nine of our 13 academies improved their results for students achieving strong passes in English and maths, raising our overall score by three percentage points to 40.9%.
The Radclyffe School saw its best-ever percentage of students achieving Grade 7 or above in both English and Maths this year, at 12.8%. In total, 56.2% of their students achieved Grade 4 or above in both English and Maths, with 36% achieving Grade 5 or above in the two subjects. Across all grades awarded to students, 15.2 per cent were Grade 7 or above, 41 per cent were Grade 5 or above and 58 per cent were Grade 4 or above.
Headteacher John Cregg said: “Results day is about much more than grades. Behind every result is a young person who has worked hard, faced challenges and taken another important step towards their future.”
Oasis Academy Leesbrook saw an increase in the number of students achieving the highest grades, with more students securing Grades 7 and above, compared to last year.
Principal Andrea Mitchell said: "We are particularly pleased to see an increase in the number of students achieving Grades 7 and above, and I want to congratulate every student on their achievements."
E-ACT The Oldham Academy North is also celebrating record results this year, with more Grade 9s in the history of the academy.
Sulaiman Akram, an ambassador for the E-ACT multi-academy trust, achieved an impressive nine grade 9s at GCSE, two Grade 8s and a Grade 7. Earlier this year he spoke at the House of Commons of behalf of the trust for a presentation on sustainability.
Deputy head prefect Sulaiman will now go on to study biochemistry and maths and he is aspiring towards a career in medicine. “It’s about working hard and believing in yourself,” he said.
After achieving a Distinction in Sport at E-Act The Oldham Academy North, Donatella Adair is one step closer to turning her dream of becoming a professional footballer into reality.
Donatella (pictured with Director of Education and Early Years Paul Tinsley, Headteacher Natalie Kennerley and E-Act Senior Regional Director Andrea Atkinson) has shown outstanding determination and talent throughout her studies.
Hamza Hussain and Tasnem Sneha are both pursuing careers in medicine after achieving fabulous results with eight Grade 9s and three Grade 8s, and Zaim Khan is heading for a career in Finance and Accountancy after achieving a set of fabulous results including a Grade 9 in Further Maths.
At North Chadderton School, there were particularly impressive results in English, with over 80 per cent of students securing a Grade 4 or above and 30 per cent achieving a Grade 7 or above and in maths, even more students achieved both a standard and a strong pass.
The school also celebrated excellent results in Drama, Design Technology, Film Studies, Child Development, Health and Social, IT, and Food Preparation and Nutrition, underlining the broad curriculum on offer.
Oldham Sixth Form College saw best results ever for the college in GCSE English and Maths, with 76.7 per cent achieving a pass in English Language, up from 64.2 per cent, and 55.8 per cent achieving a pass in maths, up from 48.1 per cent.
At Crompton House, Jake Lawless achieved an incredible nine Grade 9s and six Grade 8s. He will be staying on at Crompton House Sixth Form to study A Level maths, further maths, physics and music.
Freddie Dickson will also be staying on at Crompton House to study religion, philosophy and ethics, politics and economics, Eve Sanderson will be studying physics, maths and economics after a fantastic set of results, and Abider Osayande is now looking forward to pursuing his dream of becoming a doctor.
Aspiring filmmaker Dilani Garara, 18, is heading to Salford University to study film production after achieving A Levels in film studies, media studies and photography at Oldham Sixth Form.
Her younger brother Dylan has now achieved GCSEs in maths, physics and business at Crompton House and is staying on to study A Levels in maths, physics and business at the sixth form.
Their mum Sheila said: “We’re really proud. They’ve worked hard and it’s paid off. They’re now ready for the next steps in their journey.”
Head of School Susanna Hegarty said: “We always say we’re a family and this is our strongest set of results in a number of years.”
Oldham Council's Director of Education and Early Years Paul Tinsley said: “It’s great to see families, pupils and teachers come together and celebrate success, and there’s a lovely sense of community and belonging.
"It’s important that schools are places of belonging as well as places of learning.”