Among the students, Angus Vyvyan achieved eight grade 9s and two grade 8s, while Livia Neville was awarded two grade 9s, five grade 8s and two grade 7s. Both students shared their feelings after receiving their results, saying they felt a great sense of relief this morning.

“I’m really happy. I feel like all the hard work I put in has paid off, and it shows in the results,” said Livia. “I would like to thank my mum for putting up with how stressed I became during exams. I could not have done it without my family.”

Angus, who has enjoyed 11 years of school life at Windhill — first at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Bishop’s Stortford and now at St Mary’s Catholic School — was particularly delighted with his Religious Studies result. “My predicted grade was much lower, but I ended up with a 9, which was such a surprise!” he said.

Both students expressed their thanks to their teachers, especially Miss Jo Ryan, their science teacher and Head of Science. “I used to dislike science, but after Miss Ryan started teaching me, I came to love it — and that’s why I got all 9s in my science subjects,” Angus explained. They also expressed gratitude to their parents for their constant support. “I would like to thank my parents as well,” said Angus. “When I was revising, they just let me get on with it. Normally they’d be telling me to go to bed, but I’d be sitting at my desk saying, ‘No, Mum, I need to prepare for my test.’ Thanks for putting up with me.”

The school is immensely proud of the achievements of all its students and congratulates them on their hard work, resilience, and success.

Miss. Deirdre McHugh, Headteacher, commented:

"At St Mary’s, we are committed to combining academic excellence with outstanding pastoral care and personal development. We are incredibly proud — not only of these fantastic results — but also of the personal qualities our students have shown throughout their journey. They consistently live out our Gospel values and contribute to the strong sense of family that defines our school.

These results are a testament to the students’ hard work and perseverance, as well as the dedication of our teaching and support staff over the past five years. I extend my heartfelt thanks to our entire staff team, who have gone above and beyond to support our students.

These achievements mark a significant milestone, opening doors for our students as they take their next steps in education. We look forward to welcoming many of them back into our Sixth Form to complete their seven-year journey with us at St Mary’s."

Mr. Paul Carroll, Chair of Governors, added:

"The Governing Body is delighted with this year’s results and the direction in which the school is heading. St Mary’s is a close-knit, values-led community rooted in Catholic principles. The determination and hard work of our pupils, supported by dedicated staff and ever-committed parents, is something we take immense pride in.

We are incredibly proud of all our students and thrilled to celebrate their success."

St Mary’s offers its blessing to all students, whether they continue into its Sixth Form, pursue other pathways in education, or enter employment, and wishes they joy and positivity as they embrace the challenges ahead.

About St Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy Trust (https://www.stfrancistrust.net)

St Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy Trust (St Francis Trust) is a multi-academy trust established in 2021. It now serves nine Catholic schools – eight primary schools and one secondary school within the Diocese of Westminster. The Trust’s mission is to provide an outstanding Catholic education for all the children in our schools, helping them to grow in faith and reach their full potential. Guided by the values of St Francis, the Trust promotes academic excellence, spiritual development, and service to others.