Beccles student Eve Waller recovers from broken neck to pass GCSEs

Saxmundham Free School students celebrate their GCSE results. (L-R) Millie Cartwright-Jones, Aeryn Jeffery and Katie Lee. (Image: Pagepix Ltd.07976 935738)

For Eve, 16, a student at Beccles Free School, the exam results marked her triumph over adversity – having suffered a significant absence from school with a broken neck. She received nine GCSEs at grades A* to C, including three As and five Bs.

She said: “I’m so relieved and happy, especially with my result in maths. I had a lot of time off school after an accident where I broke my neck, so this is a nice surprise.”

Eve is now preparing to study English literature, history and psychology at East Norfolk Sixth Form. Her dream is to become a writer.

Fellow students at Beccles Free also took another step toward their goals in life.

Saul Baker, 16, was delighted to receive four A*s, three As and three Bs. He plans to study physics, maths and further maths at A-level at Sir Issac Newton College in Norwich.

He said: “I’d like to be a scientist so I’m really pleased that I got A’s across all the sciences.”

Meanwhile, head girl Chloe Ayers, 16, is planning to follow her ambition to study A-level geography, maths, biology and physics at Lowestoft Sixth Form after achieving one A*, six As, one B and one C grade.

Chloe said: “I’m very happy, I was so worried and nervous this morning! I found the geography exam hard but I did well and it’s something I’m going on to study so I’m pleased.”

Drama enthusiast Maisie Spackman, who received two As, seven Bs and one C, commented: “I found GCSE’s really challenging but I got there in the end after lots of revision! The school has been good and I’ve had a really good time here.”

Maisie, who is part of West End Kids drama group in London is planning to study drama and theatre studies, French, psychology and politics at East Norfolk Sixth Form and aspires to be on the West End stage.

At Saxmundham Free School, Katie Lee, 16, from Kelsale, was thrilled to achieve 10 GCSEs at grades A* to C, including three A* grades in maths, geography and a self-taught GCSE in law during the schools’ enrichment programme.

Katie, who is determined to become a lawyer when she’s older, is now heading to One sixth-form college in Ipswich where she’ll study history, biology, psychology and maths at A level, before embarking on a law degree.

Millie Cartwright-Jones, 16, from Saxmundham, has made incredible progress at Saxmundham Free School, achieving eight GCSEs at grades A* to C despite arriving at the school with a very low starting point.

Millie has exceeded expectations in progress for all eight subjects, and is looking forward to studying Health and Social Care at One sixth-form college in Ipswich in September. Through the school’s enrichment programme, Millie has also earnt her Bronze Duke of Edinburgh award and enjoys spending time coaching and participating in judo.

Aeryn Jeffery was delighted to achieve a string of excellent GCSE results, a week before her 16th birthday. Aeryn, who lives in Saxmundham, achieved one A, four Bs and five Cs at GCSE. She is now heading to Thomas Mills High School in Framlingham where she’ll be studying biology, chemistry, psychology and maths at A level, with the aim of working in medicine when she’s older.

One of the many success stories at Woodbridge School was William Emery, who achieved seven A*s and five A grades at GCSE.

A gifted musician, he has been busy over the summer playing viola with the National Youth Orchestra, including at the world-renowned BBC Proms. At the Suffolk Festival earlier this year, William won an award in every strings category as well as the prestigious Suffolk Festival Senior String Champion Music Committee Cup.

From September, William will be working towards A-level music, French, maths and further maths at Woodbridge School sixth-form. Once he leaves Woodbridge, William is very keen to continue his music studies at Oxford University.