School's high achievers

Paul Skipp became head teacher of the Trowbridge school in December and has been working to support pupils to achieve the best possible grades at GCSE.

Overall John of Gaunt students achieved 25 grade 9s, which sit above the traditional A*, and in turn will place these pupils in the top 3 per cent in the country.

With results being announced last Thursday, some of these students who did exceptionally well include Lewis Clifton who achieved 4 grade 9s and 6 grade 8s, and Will Sheppard and Benjamin Wallis who both achieved 4 grade 9s.

Mr Skipp said: "I’m delighted that the hard work from students, staff and parents has materialised into a fantastic set of results.

"We have seen significant increases in a number of subjects this year, and this reflects how tirelessly staff and students have worked.

"I’m so pleased many of our students will transition into our Post-16 provision so we can continue to celebrate further achievements with them.

"I would also like to thank our parents who have worked so hard preparing their young people, and for continuously supporting our wonderful school’’.

Since starting as head teacher at the school in December, Mr Skipp has focused on increasing expectations and the support available to pupils.

He added: "We have tried to blend the inclusive nature of the school whilst having much higher expectations.

"I think when you are raising standards you are helping the pupils to aim for those top grades which is what I have worked to do over the past 9 months.

"We do everything we possibly can as a school to support them and help them to get there.

"The new specifications that have come in over the past few years are harder without a doubt, so students are having to be really resilient and they are working very hard, and they have done really well.

"We have changed all sorts of things this year and they have adapted really well and our grades over the next two years with the predictions we've got coming through look even stronger."