THE school hall at Les Quennevais was a hive of activity as students, staff and parents received results that had been five years in the making.
GCSE results day was also the last hurrah for head teacher Sarah Hague, who is leaving after 27 years, including 11 as head, to take up a new role at St George’s Preparatory School.
Mrs Hague said she was delighted to be going out on a high, with students achieving the school’s highest-ever percentage of passes at grades 4-9, as well as records for English – 93% of pupils achieving grade 4 or higher – maths and science.
“From the first day they were here [in September 2019] this group have thrown themselves into every aspect of school life,” she said. “They started out at the old school site and I think they really appreciate what they’ve been given with our new building – they know not all schools are like this.”
Mrs Hague said she was proud to count 26 former pupils on the school staff, and wished her successor, Jon Sindall, well.
“He may not realise until he gets here, but he has won the education lottery prize,” she said.
Deputy head teacher Catherine Moisan was also saying goodbye, retiring after a 40-year teaching career, including 34 years at Les Quennevais.
Friends Hannah Le Monnier and Julia Swol shrieked with excitement at confirmation of the results they needed to take up places at Beaulieu and Highlands College respectively, while Thomas Morris gasped at “better than expected” news. His achievements should set up a move to either Highlands or Victoria College, he said, although becoming a pilot was also on his radar.
Nicki Butler, whose daughter Ruby will study for A-levels at JCG over the next two years, said the wait for results had been every bit as tense for parents.
“I was here for my son’s results in 2020, but everyone was wearing masks and it was hard to celebrate,” she said.
“It’s a lovely atmosphere today and there’s no concern about hugging people.”
Not everyone was planning moves within education. Pierre Le Garignon said he was looking forward to starting an apprenticeship as a watch mechanic next week after achieving some impressive marks that included a pass at grade 7 in Religious Studies.
And it was the last day on parade for head boy Dylan Hedgecock, who will do A-levels at Victoria College. Les Quennevais’ head girl, Harriet Searle, meanwhile, is bound for a college in England as part of her ambition to work as an architect.
“If I could have stayed here, I would have,” Dylan said. “There was a student council review about ways the school could be improved, and the biggest piece of feedback was to have a sixth form.”
