Pleckgate High School Headteacher Aishling McGinty praised an ‘exceptional year group’ as their class of 2025 celebrated fantastic GCSE results.
She said: “The Class of 2025 have done brilliantly, they joined the school in Year 7 without any of the preparations that you would expect from a regular year group coming into the school due to Covid. They have always worked really hard and been supportive of each other, they are a very united group. All the staff are here to celebrate with them, we are so proud of all of them.”
Pupils praised the dedication of the Pleckgate teachers who have gone the extra mile for them. Mohammed Zain-Mirza said he had “been stuck on a 7” in the run-up to his final GCSE exams, but he thanked his teachers for pushing him all the way to achieve a grade 9 in maths. Mohamed, who is now going to Cardinal Newman to study maths and physics, with the option of computer science, after also getting 7s in biology, chemistry and English literature, as well as an 8 in religious studies. “We had intervention classes on Monday night, Friday night and every Saturday morning and I’m so happy with my maths result in particular
That sentiment was echoed by Sa’ad Patel, who got 8s in maths, geography and history, 7s in biology, chemistry, physics, English language and literature and a 6 in religious studies. “ I’ve got the results I wanted,” said the aspiring GP, who wants to be the first in his family to go into medicine.
Head girl Anam Ishtiaq is planning a career in optometry or pharmacy after getting 7s in biology, chemistry and physics, as well as maths, with 8s in religious studies and English language. “It’s been busy juggling all the work and revising but it’s been a fun year and an honour to be head girl,” she said. “It’s helped build my confidence, I’ve made new friends and I’ve been helping some of the younger pupils as well.”
Maariyah Timol was celebrating with a family trip to London straight after collecting her results, and bidding farewell to the school before a new chapter at St Wilfrid’s Sixth Form, studying English language, psychology and human biology. “It’s sad to leave but also exciting to move on to new things,” said Maariyah, who achieved 8s in English literature and religious studies, a 7 in English language and 6s in geography, maths, biology, chemistry and physics and wants to become a physiotherapist.
Aleena Ahmed is also going to St Wilfrid’s sixth form to study sociology, psychology and business, with a view to running her own business as a child therapist in the future after getting 8s in business and English language, 7s in religious studies, history and English literature, 6 in French and a 7 and 6 in combined science. “It’s what I hoped for and I’m very happy,” she said.
Raihaanah Hussain has ambitions of becoming an author, and celebrated 9s in English language and literature, religious studies, history, a 9 and 8 in combined science, 8 in maths, 6 in further maths and 7 in French. “Over the summer you get nervous and doubt yourself, so I was shocked. I did a lot of revising but I didn’t expect it,” said Raihaanah, who studied An Inspector Calls, A Christmas Carol and Macbeth, which was her favourite, in English literature.
Asiya Patel said the hard work was worth it after getting 9s in religious studies, history and English literature, an 8 in chemistry, 7s in maths and biology and 6s in physics and English language, ending a chapter of school life that got off to an unusual start because of the covid pandemic. “It was tough because we were in one class and didn’t move around between lessons. It was different,” she recalled.
Head boy Peter Adegbohun was the top scoring boy leaving with 9s in geography, maths, religious studies, biology, chemistry, physics and English literature, 8s in French and further maths and a 7 in English language. He will now go to Cardinal Newman to study maths, chemistry and aerospace engineering.
Rana Salaar Hamid is planning a career in medicine or dentistry after getting 8s in maths and English literature and 7s in biology, chemistry, physics and English language.
Many pupils collected their results with members of their family who were as nervous as their children. Parents were joyful and expressed their appreciation to all the teachers at Pleckgate.
