Results

Ormiston Victory Academy is celebrating exceptional GCSE results

There was so much to celebrate at Ormiston Victory Academy today as students collected their GCSE results, with the Class of 2025 receiving excellent outcomes, including – 70% gaining at least a grade 4 in English and mathematics, around 3% higher than the national average.

Based in Costessey, Norwich, and a proud part of Ormiston Academies Trust, the academy continues to foster a culture of ambition, support and resilience – values that have clearly shone through in this year’s outcomes.

The Year 11 cohort achieved particularly highly in subjects including:

64% grade 7 to 9 in French
50% grade 7 to 9 in Mandarin
In vocational studies, including beauty, childcare and creative media, all included at least 50% grade 7 to 9 equivalent outcomes

The whole school community has come together today to mark the students’ achievements, hard work and dedication, as they now prepare to take their next steps in education.

While all students have achieved well, some individual achievements include:

Huey Wightman, who has enjoyed the academy’s partnership with the SWIRE foundation which promotes the teaching of Mandarin in the UK, scored an impressive eight grade 7 to 9s. Alongside Mandarin, this includes a Double Distinction* in sports – which will no doubt be celebrated as Huey is the goalkeeper for Great Yarmouth Town Football Club. Huey will be staying to study at Victory’s own Sixth Form – Lord Nelson.
Jennifer Lopes, acclaimed performer who, whilst sitting her GCSEs was also busy in rehearsals as the lead role of Elsa for Victory’s production of Frozen, secured nine top GCSEs – including the three at grade 8. Hiba Najam achieved ten GCSEs at grade 7 to 9, of which four were a grade 9. Both Hiba and Jennifer will also be continuing their studies at Lord Nelson Sixth Form, based at Victory.
Anna Challen, truly part of the Victory family as the last one of four Challen girls to have studied there (and her talented mum is part of the staff), racked up a suite of great results, including grade 8s in English and French. Following in the footsteps of her sisters, Anna will also be studying A Levels at Lord Nelson.
Alice Yared, Leo Pitt and Easy Adejuwon who have all won prestigious scholarships to study at Norwich School for their A Level courses and between them achieved a grand total of 19 grade 8s and 9s.

Ormiston Victory Academy places student success and wellbeing at the centre of everything it does. As part of Ormiston, the academy is dedicated to providing the highest quality education and ensuring that every child, irrespective of any challenge life presents them with, gains the skills and opportunities they need to thrive.

Naomi Palmer, Principal at Ormiston Victory Academy, said:

“This is a very emotional day for us – this year group joined us having had no formal end to their primary education due to Covid. We have endeavoured to offer them the best pastoral care alongside the strongest academic support, and we are thrilled that due to their hard work and willingness to accept the help they have been offered, they have achieved some of the best results in Victory’s history. We are so proud of them for so many reasons – and this fine set of results is so well deserved by a genuinely wonderful group of young people.”

DfE School Performance Comparison

Student Destinations

95% GCSE (2024) are in employment, education or training

99% A Level (2024) are in employment, education or training

Celebrations as Ormiston Victory Academy students secure next steps

There was a palpable sense of joy, pride and celebration at Ormiston Victory Academy this morning as the Lord Nelson Sixth Form students collected their A Level and BTEC examination results.

Located in Costessey and part of Ormiston Academies Trust, the academy has seen its Year 13 students secured an impressive suite of results across a variety of subjects, reflecting their dedication, resilience, and commitment to achieving their goals over the past two years.

The students enjoyed particular success in A Level art; applied psychology; ICT and performing arts. The average grade for A Level art was a ‘B’ and students achieved almost a whole grade better progress in ICT than expected, based on their starting points.

Lord Nelson students have secured places at their chosen universities, in exceptional employment placements, and in coveted apprenticeship programmes.

Individual notable achievements include the following students:

Beren Guller, who secured Victory’s highest ever Progress 8 score at GCSE in 2023, has gone on to achieve an excellent suite of grades today which includes grade A* in A Level mathematics, grade A in A Level physics and a Distinction* in BTEC Level 3 computing. Beren will be joining Warwick University in September to study physics
Renwar Ali achieved extremely well in a set of highly challenging subjects, securing a grade A in A Level physics and a Distinction* in both engineering and computing. Renwar will be studying Energy Engineering at the University of East Anglia
Ellie Howes, a wonderful performer and part of the winning team for the Royal Norfolk Show ice-cream challenge in 2024, worked hard to achieve Double Distinction* in performing arts; Distinction* in applied psychology and grade C in English literature. She will be heading off to Nottingham Trent to study English with Film and Television
Cali-Jo Chamberlain, an exceptional performer and co-host of the recent national Ormiston’s Got Talent awards in Birmingham, made fantastic progress across her subjects. The academy looks forward to seeing her putting her Double Distiction* in performing arts to good use in the near future when she returns to the academy to continue her dance coaching alongside her degree course in psychology at the University of East Anglia.
Matthew Prior, previous winner of the Ormiston Academies Trust Hero award and co-host of the 2025 Ormiston’s Got Talent awards, has secured a unique internship with prolific local leadership coach, Nigel Cushion, as a subsequent success following two years as a Future Leader with Nelsonspirit. Matthew will enjoy collaborating with many high performing business leaders in his new role as Business Manager. His Distinction* in business studies will come be useful.

Victory’s ethos focuses on ensuring its students achieve their academic and personal goals in a setting which supports them to access the best universities in a pastorally supportive setting. Smaller class sizes ensure they receive individual support, so they can, and do, successfully make the jump from GCSEs to A Levels.

As part of Ormiston, the academy is committed to providing the highest quality teaching, learning and care so every young adult can flourish, whatever their starting point.

Naomi Palmer, Principal at Ormiston Victory Academy, said:

“We are incredibly proud of our students and the results they have achieved this year. They have shown exceptional pride, perseverance and determination – their successes today are a reflection of their hard work and the support of their families and our dedicated staff. We know they will go on to great things, and we wish them every success. They know they will always have their Victory family for support in the future too.”