A STEADY stream of teenagers in skinny jeans and summer dresses wended its way up The Causeway towards The Petersfield School (TPS) last Thursday as the Year 11 students collected their GCSE results.

The school’s sports hall was laid out with tables of brown envelopes, and members of staff were on hand to explain the results and commiserate or celebrate with their students.

Some youngsters simply grabbed their envelopes and raced off to open them at home or somewhere private, others celebrated with friends.

This year’s top scorers, helping to keep TPS’ league table status high included Daniel Parry who was playing it very cool. “I could have done better but I’m pleased with my results” he said, after getting 10A*s and two A grades. He’s going to study biology, chemistry, maths and physics at Alton College.

Milly Jonas was also “really happy” with her nine A* and four A grades, and a distinction in ICT. She’s going to Godalming College to study history, philosophy, art history, and English literature.

Peter Brown was smiling after opening his envelope to discover nine A*s, four As and a B in English, plus an A* in further maths. He hasn’t decided whether to attend Havant or South Downs to study physics, maths, further maths and psychology.

He said: “ I’m really bad at making decisions so I’m not absolutely sure yet. I’ll chat to the colleges and get some advice.” He’s fascinated by quantum physics and wants to study it at university.

Peter lives in Denmead and went to Cowplain in Year 7 then switched to TPS because of its performing arts reputation as he loves music. He’s just about to take grade eight guitar and says he played to de-stress during revision for his exams. He wants to continue playing music as a hobby.

There was some sibling rivalry as Kate Willett – sister of Emma Willett who was also a GCSE high flier and has just done well in her A-levels – picked up 11A* and three As. “I don’t think I did quite as well as my sister,” Kate said, but she will be going to Alton to study biology, chemistry, physics and maths as she would like to study biology or biomedical sciences at university.

Ned Harvey found he had gained six A*s, sixAs and a B in chemistry which surprised and delighted him. He’s off to Godalming College to study English, economics, graphic design and history.

He said the exams were “very stressful. My PS4 and bike distracted me a bit, so I was very surprised to do well in the end. Considering how I thought the exams went, I’m pretty happy.”

Charley Foster, from Denmead, is overjoyed with her four A*s and seven A grades. She’ll be heading to Havant College to study biology, chemistry, psychology and sociology, as she would like to be a psychiatrist. She said: “At the time the exams were very stressful but I’m very happy now – all my friends seem to be happy with their results too.”

Gain Gison from Petersfield got seven A*s, three As and a B. She is off to Havant College for science and maths A-levels as she wants to study medicine at university. She said she had just told her family, who were “really happy and proud”.

James Kinally from Petersfield is going to South Downs College to study law, biology, physics as he’d like to be an RAF pilot.

“I got an A in biology and B in physics so I’m very happy” he said.

He said a lot of the boys have chosen to go to South Downs College “because it’s a sporty college – we’re quite a sporty year this year.”

More reports and pictures in this week’s Petersfield Post