Quadruplets among students in South celebrating GCSE success

Students across the south of England are celebrating an outstanding year of GCSE results, with several schools reporting their best-ever performances.

Among the standout stories are quadruplets collecting their grades side by side, a young carer who balanced her studies with looking after her brother, and a student preparing to trade the classroom for a potential career in professional basketball.

Schools across the region reported particularly strong results in English and maths, with head teachers praising pupils for their hard work, determination and resilience throughout two demanding years of study.

BBC South spoke to some of those picking up their results in Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Hampshire and Dorset.

Quadruplets Ellen, Eric, Layla and Rose Lamb picked up their GCSE results together at Aureus School in Didcot, marking the end of a school journey they have shared side by side.

Ellen, whose results included a grade 9 and five grade 8s, has secured a place at Oxford City College and hopes to become a paediatrician, while Eric is going on to study dance, and Rose will take on a-levels in history, sociology and English.

The siblings opened their results together, although Eric admitted there was "an element of competition" and joked: "I think Ellen's probably the smartest out of the four of us."

Layla, who will study English, history and psychology at sixth form, said: "Finishing our GCSE exams together as quadruplets is definitely something none of us will ever forget."

The school's results were the best in its history - with significant improvements across English and maths.

Head teacher Kirsty Rogers said: "These results reflect not only their hard work and determination, but also the dedication of our staff and the support of our families."

Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre in Reading secured the best GCSE results in its history, with nearly 40% of entries awarded grades 7 to 9.

Standout performers included Ellie Chan, who achieved 11 Grade 9s, and Samuel Boughton, who earned 10, while Katla Baldursdottir, George Busby, Jacob Payne and Nik Wong each picked up nine top grades.

Head teacher Laura Matthews said she was delighted the results had "opened doors" for students as they move on to the next stage of their education.

At Upton Court Grammar School in Slough, more than half of all grades were 8s or 9s, with Simran Wilkhu achieving 11 grade 9s and Vedika Gupta and Luv Murudkar earning 10 grade 9s and a grade 8.

Students at Desborough College in Maidenhead were also celebrating strong results, including Roman, who secured the grades needed to study A-levels.

"I am so happy about what the future holds," he said. "I am going to celebrate with family and friends tonight for sure."

Daniel was among students collecting results at The Priory School in Portsmouth, and is already planning his next move - away from the classroom.

Despite grades including several 7s and a 6, he is turning down further studies to focus on basketball, aiming to join a development squad with hopes of eventually turning professional in the US.

"I'm really happy with what I got - sevens and sixes, I can't ask for more," he said.

"I'm going to go play basketball and I'm hoping to pursue that, go to America, go pro."

Also celebrating was Grace, who picked up mostly 9s, 8s and 7s.

"I'm very proud of me," she said.

Hope, 16, from Bournemouth, has balanced her GCSE studies with caring for her brother and part-time work - something she said does not show up on her results sheet.

"Balancing all of this has not always been easy, but I am proud of everything I have managed," she said. "My mum has been my biggest support."

Despite the extra responsibilities, Hope earned five GCSES at grades 4 and 5, including in English and maths.

Hope, who said she was thrilled with her results, will now study Level 3 Business at Bournemouth College.

She told the BBC about the the pressure placed on young people in her position.

"Sometimes we feel like we have had to grow up faster than our age, which means missing out on parts of our own childhood that we can never get back," she said.

Dorset charity MYTIME Young Carers is using results day to call for schools to do more to identify and support young carers.