Oldham students celebrate top GCSE results

Students across Oldham are making the best start in life after collecting a stellar set of GCSE results, with most schools in Oldham reporting better results than last year.

Sam Sinfield, the son of Oldham’s Freeman of the Borough and rugby league star Kevin Sinfield OBE, was beaming after achieving grade 9 in seven subjects and a grade 8 in three.

After picking up his results at Saddleworth School, he headed off to a college interview where he hopes to study maths, business and economics.

In Chadderton, Shauna O’Brien was thrilled to be one of the high achievers at Newman RC College.

The 16-year-old wasn’t expecting to do so well after missing a lot of school after suffering with her mental health

“This year was hard,” she said. “I suffered with anxiety and missed a lot of school so I’m proud to have done so well.”

Proud headteacher Glyn Potts told us: “We have had some stellar results this year.”

Over at Hathershaw College, Elo was delighted with his grade 9 – the top possible mark – in Spanish. He’s now hoping to go to Oldham College to study to become an electrician.

At Oasis Academy, Leesbrook, Maisha was proud to get 2 9’s and 3 8’s and is now off to do her A Levels at Oldham Sixth Form, where she’ll be studying geography, economics, biology and chemistry. 

Alice Preen wants to become a paramedic after her studies at Crompton House School. Alice is staying on at Crompton House Sixth Form to study biology, geography and music.

Jahanzeb, the head boy at Waterhead Academy, admitted his hands were shaking on Thursday morning. But the nerves were replaced by smiles as he opened his results, including an 8 in biology and 7 in computer science and physics.

He will be studying biology, maths and computer science at Oldham Sixth Form and wants to become a neuroscientist.

At North Chadderton School, co-headteachers Nick Angus and Nikola Westhead, said students have ‘exceeded expectations.’

“These results are a true reflection of our students’ dedication and hard work. The class of 2024 has exceeded our expectations, embodying our school’s values of ‘Work Hard, Be Kind, Make a Difference.’ These results demonstrate the importance of these values in shaping well-rounded individuals prepared to positively influence both their local communities and the wider world around them.”

Cllr Mohon Ali, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, visited schools to offer his congratulations on Thursday morning, and he was there to see his nephew Adil Mustafa collect his results.

Adil is now heading to Oldham Sixth Form to study A Level biology, chemistry, psychology and sociology at Oldham Sixth Form and is hoping to go on to do a science-related degree at university.

Cllr Ali told pupils at The Radclyffe: “Massive congratulations. You’ve done really well. You should be proud, and most of all you’ve made Oldham proud.” 

He said about results in Oldham: “We have seen some positive results in Oldham and students across our schools are celebrating. Our young people have worked tremendously hard.”In Oldham, they are getting the best start in life and we are wishing them all the best as they take their next steps.”

For advice and support after collecting your exam results, visit our Next Steps website www.oldham.gov.uk/nextsteps