Schoolboy happy with GCSEs despite 'vomiting since November'

Some school pupils shouted loudly in celebration as they received their GCSE results at Rainhill High School this morning. One person celebrating was Thomas Evans, 16. He got 8 in maths, as well as a 7 in history and biology, equivalent to A grades. However, he was happiest with his English results, with illness interrupting one of his exams.

Thomas told the ECHO: “I got higher in English literature than I expected. I was stuck on a 5 but managed to get it up to 7. In my English language, because I was sick I didn't manage to sit the second test. I'm happy I got a 5. Since November, I have been in the hospital for a while.

“I've been seeing paediatrics and doctors because I had my appendix out. I haven’t stopped vomiting since then, it’s every day. I’ve missed about four months of school this year. I've been having to put a lot of work in at home because of how much I’ve missed.”

As a result, Thomas was delighted with his grades. He said: “I’m really happy. In English literature, I got a 7 and missed the whole of two plays from being off, which was Romeo and Juliet and A Christmas Carol. I had to really learn the quotes from scratch. I got help from the school but it was still a lot of work.”

Thomas is planning to head to Carmel College to study A-Levels in biology, chemistry and maths. In the meantime, he was thinking about getting a takeaway tonight to celebrate.

Kieran Cashman, 16, from Prescot, was feeling nervous ahead of picking up his results slip this morning. He said: “I was overwhelmed. The nerves took over on the way here. I had to work very hard with the revision to get where I was.”

Kieran, like all of this year’s cohort, began their first two years of high school during the covid lockdown. He was home schooled in year seven as a result, and after joining the school found it hard to adapt.

However, thanks to his hard work and the support of others, Kieran said he was able to turn things around. He said: “Year nine was very difficult. I was going down a different path. I can't thank the teachers enough.

“They sorted me out. They made me enjoy learning. They unlocked my potential. Revision goes a long way but if you don't have the teachers to really push you forward, you’re not going to revise at the end of the day.

“In year 10 and 11, I really enjoyed it. I think I enjoyed it too much to be fair. I sacrificed a lot of time with my mates to revise science because I love it.

“I owe it to my mum and dad and the teachers. They've stuck with me through the bad times. They deserve the good times now just as much as me.

“I was homeschooled in year seven. That’s what makes it unbelievable as well because year seven is the year you really get to grips with high school. For me to go from year seven, not having a school, to going straight into mainstream schools, it’s unbelievable.”

Kieran received several 7s and 6s, with high grades in science subjects. He is now planning to follow the paths of his grandad and cousin and join the navy.

Kieran is eventually aiming to be a medical officer, but he has found an apprenticeship to get his foot in the door. He will be able to apply for it thanks to the numerous sixes and sevens he received.

Kieran said: “It’s something I've always been into. You get to travel the world doing something you love and you’re not restricted to a hospital building. I can't wait for the future.”

Overcoming the struggles that lockdown threw up was a common theme amongst pupils. Frasier Lynch, 16, from Rainhill, said: “It was quite difficult. It was hard to motivate yourself to put in the work. Your day wasn’t as structured.

“It was difficult to hold in information at the time because you weren't in a proper environment. Most of the stuff in those years I felt I had to relearn.”

Frasier was worried about getting his results today. He needed high grades in maths to study the subject as well as further maths in college and struggled in one of the exams. He said: “In the test, my brain fogged up a bit.”

Happily, Frasier got seven 9s and two 8s in his results. He said: “I was shaking. I didn't know what to think. I was in a state of disarray. I'm a bit calmer now. I'm glad I got the results I hoped for.”

Gabriella Matchett, 16, from Rainhill, may have got 8s in drama and English, but was happiest with her 4 in maths, equivalent to a C grade. She said: “It was so hard but all the hard work paid off. I missed out on family meals and parties but it was worth it in the end.”

Gabriella thanked the school for their help. She already has her eyes on what she will do next. She said: “I'm going to LIPA to do music production and performance. I'm going there to enrol today.”