Gerrard Awoyemi received all grade nines in his subjects and one grade five in PE.

Looking ahead to the future, he said: “I feel good about my grades, I feel happy and a bit surprised as well because I didn’t think I would achieve these results.

“I was expecting the PE result, which is a five, but I am happy about my other grades.

“I am going onto Bolton Sixth Form because it has really good facilities and I will be studying Biology, Chemistry and Maths.

“I am not sure what I would like to do but I am leaning towards something in the STEM field, definitely something in STEM.”

Muhammad Pariejwala received three nines, four eights, one seven and two sixes in his GCSE results.

Muhammad Pariejwala received three nines, four eights, one seven and two sixes (Image: NQ)

He said: “I am happy with most of my grades however with a few I am disappointed.

“I wanted sevens and above in my results but in English I managed to get two sixes.

“I have two options on the college I want to go to, but I am swaying to Bolton Sixth Form, my other choices were Runshaw and Pendleton.

“I am thinking of studying maths, biology, and chemistry. I want to go into the medical side of things, and I think I am very good at science and maths.

“I am still considering my career aspirations, but I would like to continue getting good grades and I am looking forward to the future.”

Bilaal Harill received three nines, four eights and two sevens.

He said: “I want to study further into maths and find like philosophy and how people have discovered things in the past, I want to do that.”

Bilaal Harill received three nines, four eights and two sevens (Image: NQ)

Essa Academy headteacher Martin Knowles said: "We have had some great successes this year, despite the adversity that our students have faced across their five-year journey.

"We are very proud of how hard they and our staff have worked.

"Our students achieved some incredible results ensuring they have the skills and qualifications needed to move onto their next steps in their career journey.

"We are proud of you all."

Assistant vice principal Sophie Perry said: "We are really proud. Over the five years they have had a lot of adversity, they have had two years of Covid with bubble closures, they have had extra bank holidays, teacher strikes which although many teachers were in it still affected them and despite all that adversity they have still managed to achieve really really well.

"We are very proud, and it is the resilience that they have shown which will take them through to the future."

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @chloewjourno.