2 days ago
Remembering GCSEs: a milestone in Cumbrian children's education
Exam season is under way and for school-leavers across the county, that means the challenge of GCSEs.
UVHS student Hannah Roper (16) from Ulverston was anticipating 11 passes after studying for her GCSEs (Image: Harry Atkinson) In 2006, we reported that teenager Rhiannon Monckton, 15, who was taking GCSEs in maths, physics and chemistry, was hoping to follow in her dad's footsteps by pursuing a career in the nuclear industry.
Billie Little (left) and Chloe Gallagher, of Newman Catholic School both passed 10 GCSEs (Image: Newsquest) Rhiannon, a pupil at Nelson Thomlinson School, spent two weeks learning about engineering during a work experience placement at nuclear decommissioning company REACT Engineering.
Nicole Wilson from Walney got her GCSE results on her 16th birthday (Image: Newsquest) Her father Nigel was a press officer at BNFL's Sellafield plant near Whitehaven. Rhiannon, of Allerby, Aspatria, said: 'I want to be a chemical engineer when I've finished all my studies so the two weeks at REACT have been really useful.'
James Hemsworth and Laura Currie deliver webchat GCSE tuition (Image: Newsquest) Chartered chemical engineer Paul Botteril, REACT's operations manager, said: 'Rhiannon was very interested in what we do and she got a real insight into the working world. More and more girls are looking for jobs as engineers.'
Sophie Bell, 16, of Lowca Lane, Seaton, and Elliot Hughes, 16, of Arlecdon, celebrate their record-breaking GCSE results (Image: Newsquest) The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is an academic qualification in a range of subjects taken in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, having been introduced in September 1986 and its first exams taken in 1988. State schools in Scotland use the Scottish Qualifications Certificate instead. However, private schools in Scotland often choose to follow the English GCSE system.
Millom School retiring headteacher Les Higgins delivers the 2006 GCSE results to his year 11 pupils (Image: Newsquest) Each GCSE qualification is offered as a specific school subject, with the most commonly awarded ones being English literature, English language, mathematics, science (combined and triple), history, geography, art, design and technology (D&T), business studies, economics, music, and modern foreign languages (Spanish, French and German).
Richard Rose Central Academy pupils assembled a skeleton as revision for their PE GCSEs (Image: Newsquest)
The Department for Education has drawn up a list of core subjects known as the English Baccalaureate for England based on the results in eight GCSEs, which include both English language and English literature, mathematics, science (physics, chemistry, biology, computer science), geography or history, and an ancient or modern foreign language.
Millom School pupils Hannah Skeen and Gavin Stewart both passed 12 GCSEs (Image: Newsquest) Studies for GCSE examinations take place over a period of two or three academic years (depending upon the subject, school, and exam board). They usually start in year nine or Year 10 for the majority of pupils, with around two mock exams normally being sat during the first half of Year 11.
