York girl with down syndrome achieves 7 GCSEs at All Saints

Ellie Harrison, who is 17 and from York, has achieved 7 GCSE’s in Maths, English Language and English Literature, Combined Science, Food, and Religious Education from All Saints RC School in Mill Mount.

She also achieved a level 2 in the Kings Trust Extended Certificate. 

RECOMMENDED READING:

This comes as part of a strong set of results for the school, where there has been ‘excellent outcomes across a wide range of subjects, contributing to an overall improvement in attainment’.

Proud mum Rachel Harrison praised the school for the support that they’d given her daughter, adding that Ellie was ‘really pleased’ and delighted with her results – with plans made to go onto York College in the September.

She said: “The school have just been so supportive of Ellie since she started, especially from the school support team who have had such high aspirations for Ellie and they’ve supported her to achieve it.

“From the world go, they’ve said let’s aim for GCSEs for Ellie and they’ve been so supportive of her doing that.

“The school journey can be a difficult one, but the school have been so great and they’ve made it as easy as it can be for us as parents with their pupil centric approach.”

Rachel added that Ellie’s time at All Saints was particularly special as she was able to spend much of her time in secondary school with her sister – who graduated as head girl and is currently studying at Oxford University.

She said: “It’ll be bittersweet to say goodbye to All Saints after all these years – both of my daughter’s have been here and it’s where I went growing up – but it’s been so nice that the girls were able to go to school together.”

Ellie celebrated her results by going out with the family for her favourite meal – fish and chips – before spending the afternoon crafting with friends.

Head teacher Sharon Keelan-Beardsley said that the community at All Saints were ‘so so proud of Ellie and what she has contributed to our school’.

She said: “She has been involved in the wider life of the school, including choir and reading in services. She is very popular and came to prom. She undertook work experience at cafe West and did very well.

“She is going to be working there a day a week next year, alongside her college course.”

Debbie Plaxton, a member of staff who has worked closely with Ellie, over her time at All Saints described her as ‘joyful’ and said that she always has a smile on her face.

She said: “She is friendly with everyone and works hard. Ellie is a real team player and achieved her gold sports tie.

“We will miss Ellie next year, but feel privileged to have been a part of the development of the lovely young woman that she has become.”