PUPILS across Bangor, Bethesda and Caernarfon were pleased with their GCSE results today, but statistics suggest that Wales has recorded its lowest pass rate for more than a decade.
The proportion of students getting the very highest marks has increased though and that was evident in certain parts of Bangor and Caernarfon this morning.
Ysgol Friars
The Bangor-based school was celebrating another excellent set of results this morning with performances up against all national indicators.
Both Lim Audrey and Shruti Senthilkumar received 12 A* and one A grade each and were Friars' top two performers on the day.
Other standouts were Elen Parry and Maia Whomsley-Walker (Both 11 A*, two A's and one B each), Ciara Dodd (11 A*, one A and two B's) and Rosa Barrett (10 A* and three A's).
Commenting on the success of his pupils, Friars headteacher Neil Foden said: "We’re delighted with our results again this year, which show the continued progress of the school and improvements in performance.
"I would like to thank the staff and pupils for all their hard work and the parents too for their support."
Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen
There were smiles all around over in Caernarfon too as several pupils at Syr Hugh achieved excellent grades.
Caio Tomos ap Rhun received three A*'s, eight A's and one C grade in his results, whilst Beth Alaw Williams achieved two A*, one Distinction*, seven A's and three B's.
Christina Sam achieved eight A*, four A and two B grades, Lowri Bebb received seven A*'s, one A, three B's and two C's and Osian Griffiths received five A*'s, five A's and three B's
PICTURE: Beth Alaw Williams and Christina Sam at Syr Hugh Owen this morning.
Headteacher Rhian Parry-Jones said: "We are celebrating another successful year at Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen."
Ysgol Tryfan
Back to Bangor now and pupils at tryfan were up bright and early to pick up their results this morning.
Six pupils - Mali Jones, Medi Morgan, Gruff Boyle, Tomos Mather, Caio Hughes and Gwydion Elliott - received eleven A-A* grades each.
Owain Jones (Pictured below) was the school's top performer having achieved 12 A*'s.
Tryfan headmaster Gwyn Tudur said: "On both an individual level and as a school we have seen some great results this time around.
"Pupils in year 10 and 11 have achieved grades that they fully deserve and I would like to say a big congratulations to them all."
St. Gerard's
Pupils at the Bangor-based school have achieved an outstanding set of GCSE results this year with 66% of them receiving A/A* grades.
Top performing pupils achieved straight A* results across all eleven subjects.
PICTURE: Maia Williams and Tomos Lloyd-Owen analyse their results this morning.
Headmaster Campbell Harrison commented: "St Gerard’s maintains a focus on individual pupil achievement and working with each pupil to achieve their best.
"Congratulations to all pupils for their GCSE success in 2018 and to the staff and parents who support them in their endeavours."
Ysgol Dyffryn Ogwen
Headteacher Dylan Davies says he was "happy with the school’s GCSE results again this year" and that "students and teachers were coping with the increasing demands of the new qualifications."
Amongst the high performers this year were Ella Baker with a flawless set of 12 A* grades and 1Distinction*, Beca Nia with nine A*, three A and one Distinction, Thalia Lichtenstein with 10 A* and four A grades, Macsen Wyn with five A*, three A and five B grades and Ryan Pople with three A*, seven A, three B and two Distinction* grades.
Mr Davies congratulated all the students and their parents for their successes and thanked the school’s teachers for their unstinting hard work in supporting them.
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