Success all round as Bishop Bewick students celebrate GCSE results
- 2 days ago
- 14 min read
Students, families and staff across the Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust are celebrating a successful GCSE Results Day, with pupils at our five Catholic secondary schools achieving a wide range of impressive results and preparing to take the next steps in their education, training and future careers.
There was particular cause for celebration at Sacred Heart Catholic High School, St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School, St Mary’s Catholic High School, St Thomas More Catholic High School and St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy, with many students achieving outstanding individual results and others exceeding their own expectations after years of hard work, determination and resilience.
The achievements of the Class of 2026 reflect not only academic ability but the perseverance, confidence and character they have developed during their time in their schools.
For many, Results Day was also a celebration of the relationships they have built with their teachers, classmates, families and wider school communities.
Students repeatedly spoke of the encouragement and support they had received and the way their schools had helped them discover new interests, develop their confidence and prepare for their next stage of life.
At Sacred Heart Catholic High School in Newcastle, there were celebrations as students received their GCSE results, with many now preparing to remain at the school for Sixth Form.
Among the high fliers was Olive McTimms, whose results included a Grade 8 in Drama, a subject she has grown to love during her time at Sacred Heart. Olive recently performed in the school’s production of *Sister Act* and said the experience had helped her discover a passion for the performing arts.
“I just love all the Drama – anything Drama, and I’m all in,” she said. “The Drama Department has been absolutely amazing – so supportive. I got my first lead role, which was really exciting, so it’s just made me realise how much I love Drama.
“I think I’ve grown in confidence since I started here, and I feel like I’ve made so many good friends that hopefully I’ll be friends with forever.”
Olive will continue her education at Sacred Heart Sixth Form, where she will be joined by Martha Bell, who achieved Grade 9s in both French and Spanish. Martha will study both languages at A-Level alongside Dance, another subject she discovered through the opportunities available at the school.
“Being here has definitely helped me discover my love for Dance,” she said. “Not a lot of other schools offer it as a GCSE. We’ve got a beautiful dance studio, and I definitely wouldn’t have realised how much I love it, if I hadn’t come here.
“I’d tell my Year 7 self to chill out and not get so stressed about the smallest thing – also try everything. I don’t regret anything I’ve done.”
Hollie Webb, 16, also secured the grades she needed to stay on at Sacred Heart for A-Levels. She admitted to feeling anxious before opening her results but said the hard work she had put in had paid off.
“I was quite anxious but I had trust in myself because I knew I’d worked hard,” she said. “But now looking at these results, I feel so relieved.
“I feel like it’s a weight off my shoulders because I don’t really have to think about them anymore. They’re set in stone. I’m really happy about my Maths grade because I did really well, and I was only three marks off the next grade.”
Hollie said the support of her teachers had been particularly important in helping her achieve her results.
“I did try really hard at Maths. I did a lot of past papers, which I think were really helpful, and I used a lot of the resources that were offered at school. My Maths teachers were just so amazing, my form tutor helped, and everyone just supported us so I could progress.”
She also spoke warmly about the wider experience of life at Sacred Heart, including the clubs and opportunities available to students.
“I feel like I’ve really matured during my time here and grown in confidence,” she said. “I really enjoyed the social side of school life and the clubs that the school offered, because there was such a large, expansive range of clubs and so many different opportunities.”
Headteacher Suzanne Howell praised the entire Year 11 cohort for their achievements and the determination they had shown.
“We are incredibly proud of our Year 11 students and the fantastic GCSE results they have achieved this summer,” she said. “These results are a testament to their resilience, effort and commitment throughout the year, and we are delighted to see their hard work rewarded.
“There have been some particularly impressive individual achievements, with many students making significant progress and exceeding expectations. It is especially pleasing to see the progress made by students who have worked tirelessly to overcome challenges and achieve results that reflect their determination and potential.”
She also paid tribute to the staff who had supported the students throughout their secondary education.
“We would also like to recognise and thank our dedicated teaching and support staff, whose encouragement and guidance have played such an important role in supporting our students to achieve their goals.
“We look forward to celebrating these successes with our students, and are delighted to be welcoming so many of them back to our sixth form, where we wish them every success as they begin the next stage of their education.”
At St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School in Newcastle, students were celebrating particularly impressive results following a remarkable educational journey.
The achievements of the cohort are all the more notable because many of the students experienced two years of disrupted education at primary school as a result of the Covid pandemic, with their GCSE examinations representing their first experience of external assessment.
Among the school’s top achievers was Rafal, who achieved an outstanding 11 Grade 9s.
Aryas Rahim also celebrated an exceptional set of results, achieving a clean sweep of nine Grade 9s alongside a Grade 5 in Foundation French.
“I was pretty nervous and could barely get any sleep the night before, but walking in I had high hopes and those high hopes were fulfilled,” he said. “I feel happy, but also shocked at the same time. I didn’t expect the results to be this good.”
Aryas was particularly pleased with his English Language result, having worked hard to improve in a subject he had previously found challenging.
“I did a lot of revision for English Language because it was one of my weak points,” he explained. “Teachers have really helped me along the way. My maths teacher helped me increase my grade from a 7 to a 9 in Year 10. I really appreciate these memories with teachers and how passionate and encouraging they are.”
Aryas will now progress to Sixth Form, where he plans to study Maths, Physics, Further Maths and Chemistry, with ambitions to pursue a degree in engineering or physics.
Fellow high achiever David Guliyev secured Grade 9s in Mathematics, Geography and History, alongside Grade 8s across all of his Science subjects.
David said his result in History was particularly unexpected after he had dedicated significant time to his revision.
“I really wanted a 9 in Maths, so that was the first thing I looked at and I was so happy,” he said. “History was unexpected – I’ve never gotten a 9 before. I spent a lot of time on it, like eight hours behind a desk without moving because I was scared about it, so the hard work paid off.”
He also highlighted the sense of community at St Cuthbert’s and the support provided by both his teachers and fellow students.
“A lot of my friends and I realised we needed to study, so we made a group where we’d track our revision hours and challenge each other with quizzes,” he said. “The school helped us in every aspect. Anytime you needed help, you’d ask the teachers, and anytime you were nervous, they’d calm you. You know the school is behind you.”
David will return to St Cuthbert’s Sixth Form to study Mathematics, Economics and Geography, with ambitions for a future career in economics, accounting or finance.
Headteacher Dan Murray said the results represented much more than academic success.
“We are immensely proud of our pupils and all that they have achieved,” he said. “These results are a well-deserved reward for years of hard work, perseverance, and determination. Today we celebrate not only their academic success, but also the ambitious, compassionate, and resilient young men they have become.”
He added that the results would provide a strong foundation for the next stage of the students’ lives, whether they remained at St Cuthbert’s or pursued other educational and vocational pathways.
“At St Cuthbert’s, education is about far more than examination results alone. Our mission is to form great men – young men of competence, conscience, compassion, and commitment, who recognise their God-given talents, strive for excellence, and are prepared to make a positive contribution to the world around them.”
There was also a strong sense of achievement at St Mary’s Catholic High School, where students, families and staff celebrated a fantastic set of GCSE results and a series of impressive individual performances.
Michael Abrahay achieved seven Grade 8s, one Grade 7 and a Grade 6. He admitted that some of his results had exceeded his expectations.
“I was surprised with my results because subjects like RE and History, I didn’t think I’d done so well in,” Michael said. “But then I thought I might have got nines in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Overall I’m really happy.”
He was particularly proud of the effort he had put into Further Maths.
Lauren Rooks achieved four Grade 9s, four Grade 8s and one Grade 7 and will now study Biology, Chemistry and Psychology at A-Level, with the ambition of pursuing a career in Medicine.
“I was a bit shaky when I saw my results because I was really nervous,” Lauren said. “The first result I looked at was Biology because I thought it was going to be a six but it wasn’t, and after that I saw my Maths result was a Grade 8 and that was amazing for me.”
Lauren shared her results with her parents, who she said were delighted with her achievement.
“They were so impressed. They’ve been taking photos and posting them on the family chat.”
Hannah Wheatfield-Sykes achieved one Grade 8, one Grade 7, three Grade 6s and two Grade 5s and is now preparing to study English Language, Psychology and Business at A-Level.
“I was expecting some of these results but I was still very nervous coming in to collect them today,” she said. “I can’t wait to tell my parents because I think they’ll be really proud of these results.”
Harry Crawford was delighted to secure the grades required to study Computer Science, Maths and Physics at A-Level, achieving one Grade 9, two Grade 8s, two Grade 7s, two Grade 6s and a Grade 5.
“The first grade I looked at was Computer Science because I needed a minimum of a 6 to be able to take it for A-Level so I was very happy that I managed to get a 6 in it,” he said.
Harry also paid tribute to his family for their support throughout his GCSE studies.
“I’ve got to thank my family for how well I’ve done, especially my mum and dad, because they’ve supported me every step of the way. I think my parents will be very happy - maybe even happier than I am.”
Darian Gholami was celebrating the reward for his hard work and dedication and will now study Mathematics, Chemistry and Biology at A-Level.
“I’m very excited and happy with what I’ve got because I worked hard for this,” Darian said. “These results just show how much I worked and how dedicated I was, from all the evenings and mornings I stayed up to revise.”
He added that his mother and friends had been his biggest supporters.
Hailey Benjamin achieved a Grade 8 in Design Technology, a Grade 8 in English Language, a Grade 7-7 in Combined Science and a Grade 7 in Religious Studies. She will now study Design Technology, English Language and Film Studies at Sixth Form.
“I’m very happy. Honestly, I think I got better than I expected,” Hailey said. “I doubted myself a lot in Maths, so to get a Grade 6 was something I was really happy about since it wasn’t always my strong suit.”
She was particularly proud of her Grade 8 in Design Technology, having achieved 96 out of 100 for her NEA project.
“I’m heavily involved in theatre at the Theatre Royal and love the creative arts, so I’m excited to stay here for Sixth Form and focus on subjects that fit that background.”
At St Thomas More Catholic High School in North Shields, another strong set of GCSE and VTQ results was celebrated, with more than half of the cohort achieving higher than a Grade 5 in English and more than 70 per cent attaining a Grade 4 or above in Maths.
There were also strong performances in the English Baccalaureate, with 27 per cent of students achieving greater than a Grade 5 and 39 per cent achieving more than a Grade 4. A quarter of students were awarded Grades 8 and 9.
Among the school’s top performers was Ava McAnulty, who achieved an outstanding nine Grade 9s.
Her reaction was characteristically competitive, as she admitted she had been determined to outperform her brothers.
“I just wanted to beat my brothers,” she said after opening her results. “Because I’ve got nine 9s, I’m just the best out of them, basically.”
Ava was particularly pleased with her English results.
“I was well chuffed when I got 9s in English, because I’ve never really gotten 9s in English before. So I was buzzing.”
Her advice to her pre-exam self was equally straightforward: “Stop stressing about it, because it’s not that deep, and you’ll do well, no matter what.”
Harry Carter achieved five Grade 9s, three Grade 8s and two Grade 7s, exceeding his original target of three Grade 9s.
“I set high standards for myself because I know I can reach them,” he said. “But to be honest, I just wanted three 9s, and I’ve ended up with five. So I’m absolutely over the moon. It just means so much.”
Harry’s achievement is particularly notable because his GCSE preparation was complicated by an operation on his right shoulder in September, which left him unable to write properly for several months.
“I definitely adapted. I didn’t stop revising. Had I not had the sling on, I would have revised a lot more. But it didn’t really seem to affect us too much.”
He also stopped playing rugby for five months to concentrate on his revision and was particularly proud of improving his Biology grade to an 8. He will now study Maths, Further Maths and Physics at Sixth Form.
Max Milburn achieved three Grade 9s, six Grade 8s and a Merit in Music, having balanced his studies with musical theatre, dance and an amateur dramatic show.
“I'm really happy, but a few of them I’m just really shocked because I feel like after the exam I just panicked,” he said.
Max said the GCSE experience had taught him more about his own capabilities.
“GCSEs have taught me that I have a lot more confidence in myself than I’ve realised, and I’m a lot more dedicated to my work than I thought I was.”
Eve Bullock was another of the school’s outstanding performers, achieving ten Grade 9s, a Grade 8 and a Distinction. She will now study English Literature, Chemistry, Maths and Further Maths at A-Level.
Eve credited the support she had received from both her teachers and her family.
“My teachers have all had engaging lessons with what I’ve been learning, and my parents have always just been very supportive,” she said. “It’s really relieving. I am very happy.”
Headteacher David Watson said students had achieved excellent results across both GCSEs and vocational courses.
“Our Year 11 students had a lovely morning collecting their exam results, enjoying great success in both their GCSEs and vocational courses,” he said. “Once again, our students achieved excellent grades, which means that they are able to progress to the next stage of their education or training.”
Most students will return to St Thomas More Sixth Form, while others will move on to college courses and apprenticeships.
“Our students and staff have worked so hard, and they have been rightly rewarded for their great efforts,” David added.
“It’s been a real team effort again, so thanks to the wonderful teachers and pastoral team who have supported our students during their time at St Thomas More, and particularly the past two years of Key Stage 4.”
At St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy in Bedlington, students were also celebrating a standout set of GCSE results, with improvements in both English and Maths.
Students achieving a standard pass in both English and Maths increased by 2.7 per cent compared with 2025, while those achieving a strong pass in both subjects increased by 3.6 per cent.
Outcomes in both English and Maths improved from the previous year, with higher proportions of students achieving strong passes in each subject. Results for Pupil Premium and SEN students also improved significantly, with 64 per cent of all exams passed at Grades 9-4 and 14 per cent of all results achieving the top grades of 9-7.
Among the school’s highest achievers was Grace Thompson, who secured eight Grade 9s and one Grade 8.
Louie Cuthbertson achieved six Grade 9s, one Grade 8 and two Grade 7s, while Grace Skinner celebrated three Grade 9s, two Grade 8s and four Grade 7s.
Grace Skinner will remain at St Benet Biscop Sixth Form to study Psychology, History and Sport.
“I’m delighted with my GCSE results, the staff have really encouraged and supported me and I’ve decided to stay at St Benet Biscop Sixth Form to study Psychology, History and Sport.”
Aiden Bolton achieved two Grade 9s, four Grade 8s and three Grade 7s and will move to Newcastle Sixth Form to study Maths, Physics and Chemistry.
“I’m really proud of my results, I’ve enjoyed my time at St Benet Biscop but I’m planning to go to Newcastle Sixth Form to study Maths, Physics and Chemistry.”
Lexi Hardy secured eight Grade 8s and one Grade 7, while Freya Ratsey achieved two Grade 9s, four Grade 8s and three Grade 7s.
Josie Forster achieved one Grade 9, five Grade 8s, two Grade 7s and one Grade 6, while Keira Richardson secured one Grade 9, five Grade 8s, two Grade 7s and one Grade 6.
Keira said she was looking forward to continuing her education at St Benet Biscop.
“I’m over the moon with my results and I’m really excited to do Maths, Media Studies and Biology in the Sixth Form at St Benet Biscop.”
Josie added: “I’m glad my GCSEs are over and I managed to get the grades I needed.”
Headteacher Suzanne Lewis-Dale said the achievements of the Class of 2026 reflected the values at the heart of the school.
“I am incredibly proud of our students and their GCSE results,” she said. “They have truly lived our RISE values, showing remarkable determination, resilience and excellence throughout their journey.
“We wish them every success on the next stage of their journey and look forward to welcoming many of them back to our sixth form.”
Across the Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust, the stories of the Class of 2026 demonstrate that success cannot be measured solely by the number of Grade 9s achieved.
There are students who have excelled academically across almost every subject, students who have overcome personal or educational challenges, students who have discovered passions in drama, dance, music, sport and the creative arts, and students who have worked tirelessly to secure the grades needed to pursue their individual ambitions.
Their destinations are equally varied. Some will remain within their Catholic schools for Sixth Form, continuing their studies alongside the communities in which they have grown up.
Others will move to new sixth forms, colleges, apprenticeships and vocational courses, taking the next step towards careers in areas including medicine, engineering, physics, economics, finance, the creative arts and many more.
What unites them is the foundation they have received during their time within the Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust.
The results provide an opportunity to celebrate academic excellence, but the stories of the students also demonstrate the wider purpose of Catholic education: developing young people who have confidence in their own abilities, who recognise and develop their God-given talents, who support one another and who are prepared to use those talents positively in the world around them.
At St Cuthbert’s, the mission is described as forming “great men” of competence, conscience, compassion and commitment. At St Benet Biscop, students have demonstrated the school’s RISE values of determination, resilience and excellence. Across the Trust, those principles are reflected in the experiences and achievements of the Class of 2026.
The students have also been quick to recognise the contribution of their teachers, support staff and families. Whether it was a teacher helping a student improve a particular grade, staff providing additional resources and interventions, pastoral teams offering reassurance on Results Day or parents supporting revision at home, the achievements celebrated today have been a collective effort.
As the Class of 2026 moves on to the next chapter of their lives, the Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust celebrates not simply the grades they have achieved, but the young people they have become.
The Trust congratulates every student at Sacred Heart Catholic High School, St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School, St Mary’s Catholic High School, St Thomas More Catholic High School and St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy on their achievements.
Their GCSE results are the reward for years of hard work and perseverance, but they are also the beginning of something new.
Whatever path they now choose, the Class of 2026 leaves their schools with every reason to be proud of what they have achieved, confident in the talents they possess and hopeful about the contribution they can make in the future.
The Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust wishes every member of the Class of 2026 every success and happiness as they begin the next stage of their journey.
