Manchester High School for Girls pupils Natalya Paul and Hannah Lee had double cause to celebrate when they obtained their GCSE results today (Thursday August 23^rd).

The school friends are in contention to be crowned UK Student Of The Year for Performing Arts having finished within the top six of from a field containing almost 70,000 students.

The duo will now enjoy a trip to London for an awards ceremony organised by The AQA (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance). The winner of the accolade will receive a trophy and a cheque for £250.

Natalya, from Altrincham, and Hannah, from Hale Barns, were among 106 MHSG students responsible for the School's 84% success rate for either A* or A grades.

Drama accolades for Natalya Paul (left) and Rachel Lentin

Hannah returned 10 A* grades in her GCSEs, and a further two A* grades in GCSE short courses in I.T. and Religious Studies. Natalya recorded five A* grades, four A grades, an A* grade in Religious Studies and A grade in I.T. (both short courses).

The School’s overall pass rate was 99.9% (A to C grades).

A total of eight students returned 10 straight A* grades.

They are: Zara Abod; Catherine Moshkun; Preithy Kumar; Rebecca Banks; Phoebe Canning; Rosie Collier; Susannah Thom; as well as Hannah Lee .

A total of 14 MHSG students finished within the top five percentage marks in the country, across several subject areas.

They are: Hannah Lee (Religious Studies, Drama); Natalya Paul (Drama); Rachel Lentin (Drama); Emma Cohen (Drama); Mariella Pacey (French, German); Helen Firth-Anwar (French, Food Technology); Susannah Thom  (French); Julia Bruton-Broca (Spanish); Cloe Pabst-Bohan (French); Iqra Ashraf (Food Technology); Selina Ng (French); Catherine Moshkun (French); Rebecca Banks (French); and Rosie Collier (French).

Joy for Lola Agboola who recorded eight A* grades

MHSG Head Mistress, Mrs Christine Lee-Jones said: “I congratulate our GCSE students for returning such excellent results.

“The School has registered a healthy 84% success rate in recording A* or A grades, an improvement of 6% on last year, and we also have our first GCSE students who have passed their Chinese examinations with flying colours.

“Both Natalya and Hannah are real talents who deserve their national recognition. They share an obvious gift for drama and I wish them well for the awards ceremony later this year,” added Mrs Lee-Jones.  

Excitement for Fiona Chan (left), Natalya Paul (centre) and Rachel Lentin (right)

Natalya, who recorded five A* grades, as well as four A grades, said: “I was overjoyed to learn I had done so well, and pleased for Hannah, who has done fantastically to record 10 A* grades, and another two A* gardes on the short courses.

“We are good friends and the School’s drama department has provided us all with some great opportunities. Winning this recognition would not have been possible without the support of our teachers.”

“The GCSE in drama involved a lot of hard work, with both performance and in understanding different dramatic techniques. We are all close friends on the course and it is great news to learn that so many of us have done so well,” added Natalya, who will now join the MHSG Sixth Form.

Lola Agboola (left) and Zara Abod shared a total of 18 A* grades

Selina Ng from Altrincham returned 8 A* grades, two at grade A, together with two A* grades for GCSE short courses. She also recorded one of the top five marks in the country out of almost 101000 GCSE French candidates.

Selina, who will now join the MHSG Sixth Form, said: “I am very proud to learn that I have done so well, and to have recorded one of the top marks for French. It has taken a lot of hard work and I am thankful for the support I have received from my teachers.”

Preithy Kumar from Chadderton recorded 10 A* GCSE grades as well as two further A* grades for GCSE short courses in I.T. and religious studies.

Preithy, who will now join the MHSG Sixth Form said: “When I opened my results envelope I was shocked but then overjoyed. Both parents and my teachers have been highly supportive and I am looking forward to joining the sixth form and possibly working towards a business or economics university course.”

Summya Fatima jumps for joy upon learning her results

Summya Fatima from Altrincham attained 9 GCSEs at A*, one A grade and two further A* grades for GCSE short courses in I.T. and religious studies. She will now enter the MHSG Sixth Form and has ambitions to study medicine at university.”

She said: “I did not sleep much the night before, and neither did my Mother, but these results have surpassed my expectations. I will be celebrating later with my family.

Phoebe Canning from Didsbury also recorded 10 A* GCSE grades as well as a further A* and A grade for GCSE short courses in I.T. and religious studies. Last week, her Sister Susannah achieved four straight A grades in her A Level results.

Phoebe commented: “I received a call asking me to go into School early to collect my results when I was delighted to learn I had done so well. I will enjoy a family celebration tonight and will join the MHSG Sixth Form to study french, mathematics, history and business studies.”