GCSE pupils in Torfaen celebrate on their results day

After more than a year of disruption, Year 11 pupils from across the local authority collected their results on Thursday and can now look ahead to continuing their education or heading into work.

At Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw – the only Welsh-medium school in Torfaen – acting head teacher Helen Rogers, said: "Today we celebrate the successes of our Year 11 learners at the end of a very challenging period.

"Since beginning their GCSE courses in 2019 they've lived through an unprecedented time and have had to cope with and adapt to major changes to their education, with little notice at times.

"We would like to thank them for their application and diligence, particularly during the lockdown and blended learning periods. We would also like to thank the families of our learners for the support they've given to the learners and the school during their time here.

"Many congratulations to all of our learners. We hope to welcome them back to the Sixth Form soon, but we wish them all the best wherever the next step of their journey takes them."

Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw pupil Callum Negrotti celebrated after getting 3A*s, 6As, a B and a C, and a distinction in additional mathematics.

He said: "I've got the grades I wanted. I'm going to come back in September and enjoy my A-levels.

"I got on pretty well - not over lockdown but when we came back into school it was a lot better.

"I found it difficult to concentrate on it at home - it was a lot harder not having someone in the room to help out."

He will be studying Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry, and Physics at A-level, and hopes to get into astrophysics or aerospace engineering.

And Chloe Taylor, will be going to college in Hereford to study Dance, Musical Theatre and Spanish after getting got 4 A*s and the rest As - with the hope of studying Dance at Bath University.

"It went really well. It was a struggle to get there, but I got the results I was looking for," she said. "The work got a bit overwhelming at the start of the year but the more we got in to the year, the easier it got."

When asked whether she'd be celebrating her results, she said: "I'll be spending time with my parents as they've been a massive help through all of this. They've given me so much support."

The schools across the local authority praised their pupils, and wished them well going onto their next stage.

A Cwmbran High School statement said: "All the very best to our pupils collecting their GCSE results today. It has been such a tough year for you but hard work pays off."

And Croesyceiliog School said: "Many congratulations to all our students getting their results today, we are incredibly proud of the hard work and effort you have put in over the last two years under challenging circumstances."

"The best of luck and also congratulations to all learners picking up results today," read an Abersychan School statement. "We wish all the very best for the future to pupils who have now left Abersychan School, but please remember that you will always be part of the Abersychan family and we are proud of you all."

And West Monmouth School said: "Congratulations to all our pupils collecting their GCSE results this morning.

"It has been a tough year but they have done West Monmouth School, their families and, most importantly, themselves proud. Well done all."