STUDENTS in Maldon have been recognised for their hard work and resilience at GCSE results day.

Pupils headed to Plume, Maldon’s Community Academy, bright and early this morning to collect their results.

The year group was awarded 398 9 to 7 (formerly A*-A) grades with an equally impressive 19 students securing eight or more 9 to 7 grades.

The year group also secured an outstanding 100 per cent pass rate in 18 subjects.

A significant number of Plume Academy’s students secured extremely impressive results including:

• Benjamin Frost who achieved an unprecedented nine grade 9s, one grade 8, one grade 7 and one grade 6.

• Poppy Brown achieved an exceptional eight grade 9s, two grade 8s and two grade 7s.

• Harry Webber who achieved eight grade 9s, two grade 8s, and a grade 7.

• Rachel Monk who achieved six grade 9s, two grade 8s, one grade 7, two grade 6s and a distinction.

• Anna Flower who achieved six grade 9s, three grade 8s, and three grade 6s.

• Matthew Emerson who achieved a fantastic five grade 9s, three grade 8s, two grade 7s, a grade 6 and a distinction*.

• Oliver Cooper who achieved four grade 9s, five grade 8s, two grade 7s and one distinction.

Carl Wakefield, executive principal, said: “I cannot begin to tell you how proud I am of the class of 2018-2023 as well as their team of teaching and support staff for achieving these fantastic set of results.

“It is always difficult to refer to specific results and individual students but, if I had to, the sheer amount of 9 to 7 grades achieved by the year group, as well as the number of subjects securing a 100 per pass rate, are two particularly pleasing outcomes.

“Nevertheless, this is without taking anything away from all the other significant successes achieved by this terrific group of students and their outstanding team of skilled and unrelentingly committed staff of course.

“To those students and their respective families who will be moving onto pastures new from this point onwards, I only wish them all an enjoyable, happy and ultimately, successful future.

"They will always remain as members of the Plume family, however, and must never forget this.”

Mr Wakefield, who is now preparing to leave the school, has now praised staff, families and students for making his tenure so enjoyable. 

He added: “To those students who will be staying on to study in our college, my remaining colleagues I know very much look forward to working alongside them over the next two years and as they strive to achieve the outcomes that will undoubtedly see them secure a place at their first choice university, on a high-quality apprenticeship or progress into the world of work.

“It has been the honour of my professional life to have worked alongside such fantastic students, staff and families these past eight years, and I am delighted that my tenure comes to an end on the past two weeks’ worth of such pleasing Post-16 and GCSE results.”