Hartlepool students have been praised as they received their GCSE results on 20 August 2026.

Councillor Jim Lindridge, Chair of Hartlepool Borough Council's Children's Services Committee, offered congratulations to all students receiving results that day.

"Reaching this milestone takes determination, resilience and hard work," Councillor Lindridge said. "Whatever your results, I hope you will feel proud of all you have achieved and the progress you have made during your time at school."

He also thanked teachers, parents, carers and families for their support, and wished all students success in their next steps, whether sixth form, college, apprenticeship, training or employment.

Council visit to High Tunstall

Councillor Lindridge, Alison Sutherland (the Council's Executive Director of Children's Services), and Fiona Stobbs (the Council's Interim Assistant Director for Education) visited High Tunstall College of Science to meet students and congratulate them on their results.

The local authority-maintained school's leaders described the outcomes as a testament to sustained effort and effective support. Many students met or exceeded expectations, with a significant number achieving personal success stories that open doors to further study, apprenticeships and employment.

Individual student achievements

Carys Barker passed all nine of her GCSEs. She was particularly delighted to gain Maths and achieve a grade 7 in Drama.

Barker, 16, explained that she has Asperger's and was very shy when she first came to High Tunstall, wearing ear defenders to block out loud noises. She had struggled with maths throughout her academic years but said: "This year I really got my head down and it has paid off – I'm over the moon. All the teachers have been amazing."

A member of Hartlepool Stage Society, Barker has set her sights on a career in acting. She is going to Stockton Riverside College to study Acting for Stage and Screen. "After that I want to progress into acting in TV soaps – Emmerdale is my big dream, and I want to be the next Lewis Cope," she said.

Will Eddowes-Cahill, also 16, earned nine GCSEs including grade 9s in Maths and English Language and grade 8s in French, Biology, Chemistry, History and Physics. He was especially proud of his English Language result.

"It was just amazing – I really enjoy the freedom of creative writing that English Language offers," Eddowes-Cahill said. "I have absolutely loved my time at High Tunstall. The teachers have been great, especially my maths teacher Mr Majeed."