Guernsey Press

Landmark results day for Les Voies

IT WAS a landmark day for Les Voies School yesterday, which celebrated its first student gaining five A* to C grades at GCSE or equivalent including maths and English.

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Proud parents Mark and Amanda Benwell congratulate their son, Declan, for passing his exams at Les Vois School. (Picture by Stacey Upson, 25577910)

Declan Benwell, 16, nearly did not go in for his results. ‘I just wanted to stay in bed,’ he said.

He had hoped to get an A in English and was a bit disappointed to have to settle for a B.

‘It was difficult at times,’ he said. ‘It’s a pain, but you’ve got to do it.’

Joining him to collect his results were his mum, dad and sister. ‘The last couple of years have been a real struggle but it’s all been worth it,’ said mum Amanda.

All of the 12 students who took GCSEs or equivalents earned a qualification, said head teacher Jon Furley, who said everyone was delighted by Declan’s achievement and what it meant for the school as a whole. ‘We’re really made up,’ he said. ‘It’s been a positive year after a positive inspection report.’

Les Voies opened in 2013, offering students with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties the opportunity to earn qualifications.

A total of a 91% success rate of students attained A* to C grades, said Mr Furley.

Assistant head teacher Tristan Lee taught eight of the 12 students who sat exams and he said that as well as Declan’s success, another first for the school was one of its students talking about going on to university, Stevie Austen.

Stevie earned 10 grades A* to C in the exams she took. ‘I’m hoping to go to college to do art and I’m thinking about going to university afterwards then come back here and do tattooing,’ she said.

Charlotte MacDonald had also got 10 passes and said she would now be looking for work. She agreed that the GCSEs seemed harder this year. ‘Maths was really hard,’ she said. ‘I got the same grade as last year in English and maths, and all the Btecs,’ she said.

Cadeyn Far was pleased with his success in six subjects and will return to Les Voies next term to take higher versions of some of the Btecs.

He nearly missed out on going to pick up his results, and it was only after his mum, Debbie Troth, heard that the results were out that she called him and got him to go along.