Record-breaking athlete celebrates GCSE success at Westcliff school

Yahoo

4 hours ago

A record-holding athlete from Westcliff is celebrating her GCSE results while hailing the opportunities her school gave her both in and out of the classroom.
Kara Dodd, 16, collected one Grade 8, one Grade 7, five Grade 6s and a Distinction* when she returned to Chase High School on results day today.
She will now stay on at the school's sixth form to study biology, chemistry and psychology.
Kara, who described sport as the 'highlight' of her time at Chase, has broken school records in high jump every year from Year 7 to Year 10.
She is also a borough champion in both high jump and hurdles, and has competed in regional athletics finals, as well as helping her school team win the borough basketball championship in Year 8.
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Kara said: 'I am actually very happy with my results. It is a massive weight off my shoulders.
"Sport was the highlight of my time at school. The school literally has every path open to you.
"Whatever sport you wanted to do, the school would support you.
"There is the option to take sport as an enrichment at sixth form, so I will definitely be doing that.'
Alongside her sporting achievements, Kara also served as a school prefect, helping at events and hosting tours for visitors.
She added: 'Being a prefect helped me to build my confidence from talking to people.
"It was good to be a part of the community.'