Rosie Partridge, who now lives in Darlington, secured seven GCSEs at Carmel College despite having to take two years out of school due to personal health, family illnesses and bereavement.

Rosie joined the college in 2021 for the beginning of year 10, after her family moved from Stockton-on-Tees to get a “fresh start” after her dad Sonia lost his life to Covid aged just 35.

Read more: Wyvern Academy, Darlington celebrates GCSE results day

Since then, 16-year-old Rosie stepped in to help look after her mum, Kerry, who lives with epilepsy, Fowler’s syndrome and a broken back as well as her seven siblings who live at home.

She also walked into a fish tank in the dark severing tendons in her foot.

Rosie is now planning to study children’s nursing after what has been described as a “tumultuous” two years.

She said: “It has been a challenging two years, especially when dad died, but also a lot of fun,” said Rosie.

“I thought I had failed everything, so I nearly cried when I opened my results and had passed seven.”

Her mum said: “I am so proud of her. She has always been a fantastic support. She has been my little sidekick.”

Rosie is one of many teenagers who have finally received their eagerly anticipated GCSE results after a two-month wait.

Rosie Partridge. (Image: IAN LAMMING)

Read next:

• Darlington girl's GCSE success after bullies made her leave school
• North East achieves lowest national total of top GCSE grades

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As the results have flown in, figures showed students in the North East achieved the lowest combined number of GCSE exams marked 7 (A equivalent) in the whole of the UK for 2023’s exams.

Only 17.6 per cent of grades awarded to students in the North East of England were in the top-grade boundaries (marked an A or above).

This is down from 2022, where 22 pr cent of grades awarded were in the highest band.