Teacher hopes app 'doesn't kill results days'

A deputy headteacher has told the BBC he hopes the new GCSE results app "doesn't kill results days".

This year, for the first time, pupils at more than 750 schools in England were able to see their grades via an app on their phones.

But Luke Kilvert, deputy headteacher at Mayflower High School in Billericay in Essex, said it was still important for pupils to come into school.

He said: "It's a chance to celebrate with staff and parents.

"But, most importantly, pupils can get the support they need if they don't get the grades or if they need to make changes to some of their plans."

Kilvert added: "I think it is really important that students are still able to come in and access that support.

"But we'll wait and see - only time will tell."

Kilvert said the school has been pleased as a whole with the results this year and that this is the third year where there has been an improvement in results.

He added the school was "particularly proud of our maths and maths teams."

Parents Nicki and Graeme Sargood said they were more nervous than their son, Oliver, when they went with him to get his results.

Oliver got grade nine in Spanish, eight in geography, eight in English literature, eight in business, seven in English language, nine in maths and eight in PE.

Graeme said: "We're incredibly proud of him, he's put an enormous amount of effort.

Nicki added: "The school has really prepared and supported them and we're just so proud of what he has achieved."

National data shows the overall GCSE pass rate has remained stable - with 67.3% of all grades across England, Wales and Northern Ireland at grade four/C and above.

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