Huge congratulations to students who got the grades they were hoping for today. Many of our local schools have delivered results that show exciting achievements. Like Blatchington Mill where almost a third of students achieved A* or A’s, a stunning result, and PACA which exceeded the national average in the key subjects of English and Maths. Hove Park has also seen its overall performance hold up and has succeeded especially well in ensuring students from disadvantaged backgrounds gain the qualifications every young person needs. These achievements are all in a year where Michael Gove wreaked havoc in the way GCSE’s are taught and marked, placing real strain on students and teachers alike.

A special mention to BACA too (the school I’m chair of governors for). In addition to another year of overall improvements they managed the feat of improving English A* – C passes by a stunning 10% against a national backdrop of -2%.

Highlights like these can only be achieved where students and teachers work together and work hard and I’m full of pride and admiration for them.

If you didn’t get the grades you were hoping for today don’t give up. There are many routes to success and there are plenty of people, including your teachers, who will guide you through them. My advice is to take every opportunity for guidance that is offered to you and continue to work hard regardless of your grades. That way you’ll avoid the mistakes I made and having to return to school later in life like I did.

All the best, Peter