BROAD smiles were on show as the GCSE results day celebrations got into full swing at a Barrow school.

After digesting the great news of receiving top grades and A*s galore, Furness Academy also put on a cooked breakfast to welcome back its Class of 2017.

<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/FurnessAcademy">@FurnessAcademy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GCSE?src=hash">#GCSE</a> results day <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/congrats?src=hash">#congrats</a> <a href="https://t.co/cDRQEVkw5h">pic.twitter.com/cDRQEVkw5h</a></p>— Natalie Chapples (@nchapplesNWEM) <a href="https://twitter.com/nchapplesNWEM/status/900607888724561921">August 24, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Head girl Hannah Bethell was overjoyed with her nine A*s, including a new grade nine and two eights. She also achieved an A and a B.

"I'm really happy. I was really unsure about my English and maths grade with the GCSE changes," she said.

Hannah is off to Barrow Sixth Form College and her ambition is to study medicine at university.

She said: "I have loved my time here, I've met so many people and enjoyed being headgirl.

"It's a great school, I've been so impressed with it. There is a lot of support from the teachers."

Italian student Vivian Iroanya achieved a string of top grades after spending just a year at the school.

Vivian, of Padua, received an A*, two As and three Bs. Her younger brother Emmanuel also attends the school.
She said: "I feel amazed, I was not expecting this. I wanted make my parents proud.

"We have been made very welcome here, the teachers are very helpful."

Vivian is going to Barrow Sixth Form College and she is aiming to become a journalist.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wow Martha Tickle 8A* (inc3×8s) 2×As <a href="https://twitter.com/FurnessAcademy">@FurnessAcademy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Barrow?src=hash">#Barrow</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/b6fc">@b6fc</a> bound <a href="https://t.co/ck5yv5JPuC">pic.twitter.com/ck5yv5JPuC</a></p>— Natalie Chapples (@nchapplesNWEM) <a href="https://twitter.com/nchapplesNWEM/status/900613409036783616">August 24, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Deputy head girl Martha Tickle was very proud of her eight A*s and two As. She said: "I feel shocked, I didn't expect this.

"It's a brilliant school, I don't think I'd have done as well anywhere else."

Martha is going to Barrow Sixth Form College and she want to study biochemistry at university.

The student says that in the first two years of school she could be opinionated, but she turned things around, focusing on her learning and her capabilities.

She said: "I had the best head of year in Mr Riley. He set me back on track and I got into my studies and knuckled down.

"Miss Dempster has been an angel. The support system is really good here."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Reuben Howe & his mum <a href="https://twitter.com/FurnessAcademy">@FurnessAcademy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GCSEresults?src=hash">#GCSEresults</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Congratultions?src=hash">#Congratultions</a> 7As (ins 3x7s)BC most progress in his year group. He's off to <a href="https://twitter.com/uvhs">@uvhs</a> SF <a href="https://t.co/rhsWiVgaEg">pic.twitter.com/rhsWiVgaEg</a></p>— Natalie Chapples (@nchapplesNWEM) <a href="https://twitter.com/nchapplesNWEM/status/900615121428508673">August 24, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Headteacher Simon Laheney said: "We are very proud of the achievements we are celebrating. We take a rounded approach to our students' education and strive to ensure all individuals are given the very best opportunities to succeed. Our students have worked incredibly hard and each grade represents the amount of effort, time and energy they have put into their studies.

"I would also like to acknowledge the dedication and commitment of our staff, along with parents and carers who have all played their part in supporting our students through both their examinations and during their time at Furness Academy."

Mr Laheney is delighted that a number of students achieved the top new grade nine in maths and English, which is awarded to the top 3 per cent of students in the country.

The head wished all students every success for the future. He said the school is going from strength to strength and in September the team welcomes another record intake of more than 200 students to Year Seven.

*See more from Furness Academy and our other schools at nwemail.co.uk tomorrow and in The Mail tomorrow and on Saturday.