MEMBERS of the Bradford Grammar School rowing team were celebrating their ‘oarsome’ GCSE results today (August 12) with straight 9s across the board.

Tzavier Thornber, of Brighouse, Elise Stanton-Davies of Huddersfield, James Burke, of Ilkley, and Alasdair Clarke, of Horsforth, Leeds, each achieved 9s in every subject they’d taken.

Tzavier, 16, who had taken 12 GCSEs, said he was completely speechless when he saw his results.

“It hasn’t really hit me yet that they’re all 9s,” he said. “I love learning and it’s something I’ve worked really hard towards.”

Tzavier said that while COVID had impacted the amount of training in the water the rowing team could do, the crew had set its sights firmly on qualifying for Henley.

“We’ve got our work cut out because we’ve missed time in the water because of COVID so it’s not going to be easy, but it will be very rewarding, even if we can just get there.”

Elise, 16, who had sat 10 GCSEs and is the rowing team’s cox, said: “I’m really pleased. I thought I would get good grades, but I never imagined they would all be 9s.”

James, 16, who gained 10 GCSEs, said: “I wondered if I would do as well with all the disruption that we’ve had to our learning, so I was really surprised when I got all 9s. We’ve had great support from the school.”

Alasdair Clarke, 15, who had taken 11 GCSEs and who also rows for Bradford Amateur Rowing Club, added: “I was absolutely amazed when I got my results. I didn’t expect to do this well so I’m really happy.

“It’s been a tough year. I can remember at one point spending hours and hours in my bedroom with online learning so getting these results feels like the light at the end of the tunnel.

Dr Simon Hinchliffe, headmaster of BGS, said: “Congratulations to all our rowing team for their outstanding results. I’m delighted to see all their hard work has paid off and look forward to welcoming them into the sixth form where their next goal will be Henley.”