St Clement's High School students celebrate great results

Students at St Clement’s High School are celebrating another great set of exam results - the best since the pandemic when teacher grading was used.

Headteacher Nigel Willingham said the results were testament to the hard work of the students in this year's group.

“We have seen a significant increase in the number of students achieving higher grades in both maths and English this year. Students studying Arts and Humanities subjects have continued to do well, but special mention must go to drama this year  when almost a third achieved a Grade 9,” he said.

“I would like to thank all the staff and family members who have supported our students during the exam season and we wish all students the very best of luck for the next stage of their education.” 

Two students achieved a set of top grade 9s, with Isla Bennell working towards a future as an aeronautical engineer and Olivia Simms with her sights set on studying law after her A Levels.

Isla’s interest in all things space started after a family trip to Florida where they visited the Kennedy Space Center and it inspired her to pursue subjects which would enable her to study aeronautics or to become a pilot.

The 16-year-old  will be joining Springwood High School, King’s Lynn, later this year and working towards her dream role having achieved nine grade 9s and a grade 8 in her GCSEs. 

Her Dad Phil, an art teacher at St Clement’s High School, a member of the West Norfolk Academies Trust, for 25 years, said the family was very proud of his daughter’s achievements.

“I am really pleased with my results, I was so happy when I saw them,” she said.

Olivia, 16, also achieved nine grade 9s and an 8 and will also be going to Springwood for her A  Levels in economics, politics and possibly law.

“I am really happy with my results and I worked very hard. I would possibly like to study law at university in the future,” she said.

She will be celebrating her success with a family meal and said putting in the hard work had paid-off.

Esther LaRosa, 16, achieved grades 8 and 9 across 11 subjects as she took an extra GCSE, and is hoping for a career in robotics or engineering.

She will be moving on to Springwood to study maths, physics, drama and further maths at A Level and says if engineering doesn’t work out, a future in performing arts might be on the cards.

“She was the student you had to tell to take a break and stop working,” said her proud mum Louise, who also attended St Clement’s High - but didn’t have the stellar results her daughter received.

Ella-Evie Baker, 16, will also be heading to Springwood High School for her A Level subjects of drama, politics and history and hopes to work in the drama field when she leaves education. 

“I was really calm when I was doing the exams, and afterwards but from last night I’ve been really nervous,” she said.

She has been at St Clement’s since Year 7 and said she had enjoyed her time at the school and added the teachers had been very supportive.

The Royal Marines could have their next recruit as Finn Southerland collected a batch of grade 7 and 8 results. Currently a member of the King’s Lynn detachment of the Norfolk Army Cadets, he is focussing on a military future with the elite corps.

“He has always been determined to join the Marines, he works hard,” said his mum Rebecca.

There is no family connection, Rebecca works at St Clement’s as an administrator for the SEND (Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities) team while his sister Ella, also a former St Clement’s student, is at Lincoln University studying business.

Ellie-Mai Prothero is heading for the College of West Anglia, King’s Lynn, to study Art Vocational and envisions a future within the subject. Her proud mum Rachael said Ellie-Mai was ‘born with a pencil in her hand!’

Ellie-Mai said she was delighted with her GCSE results and was looking forward to her next stage.

Caitlin Cox has ambitions to become an architect and with six Grade 9s, three 8s and a 7 - her grades were more than enough to study A Levels at Springwood High School from September.

Head of Year 11 Miss Dani Bird said: “I have loved working with this year group and will miss them all, their hard work and dedication has paid off and I’m proud of them all.”