GCSE results: Brighton pupil swam Channel between exams

Rose Owens, 15, had been training for months to complete the crossing as part of a six-girl charity relay team, completing the overnight swim in 13 hours and 13 minutes, just hours after sitting her biology exam.

The group raised £7,000, which will go towards supporting a group of Ukrainian refugee pupils set to start at her school, Roedean, next month.

Rose said: “We had to wait to be told when our slot would be to make the crossing and I was really worried in case it clashed with one of my exams.

“Luckily, we were given an 11pm departure time by the Channel Swimming Association, so I sat my biology paper in the morning and rushed to Dover to start the swim that evening with the others.

“It was tough doing it in the dark because it was very cold and there were lots of jellyfish to swim through but I kept thinking about the team and not wanting to let them down.

“We were so delighted when we made it to France but there wasn’t much time for celebrating because I had to revise for my next paper.”

The following week, she completed a chemistry paper, for which she achieved a Grade 9, equivalent to an A*.

Rose Owens

Rose swan with fellow GCSE student Amy Ng and Roedean pupils Bella Mapledoram, Clara Burton-Dowsett, Olivia Crawley and head girl Jemima Venturi.

They are thought to be the first team of schoolgirls to complete the crossing along one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world - with 600 tankers passing through daily, as well as 200 ferries and other vessels.

Rose said: “We trained for months every Monday and Friday at 6.30am before school and at weekends, so I was able to revise for my GCSEs in the evenings but I’m still relieved that it’s all over even though it was an amazing experience.”

She secured nine Grade 9s and one Grade 8 in her GCSE results today, and will stay on at the school to study double maths, physics and chemistry.

Roedean headmaster Oliver Blond congratulated students after securing some of the most successful grades in the school’s history, despite uncertainty around exams and disruption to in-person learning.

Out of more than 1,200 GCSEs taken at the school, almost 600 secured the highest grade.

He said: “On behalf of Roedean, I would like to congratulate this year group, who we know have had their education over the last two years heavily disrupted by Covid.  

“Given that context, they have performed exceptionally well, and shown remarkable determination, dedication, and resilience.

“The fact that two members of this year's group swam in the cross-Channel relay in the middle of their exams is an example of how rounded Roedean students are, and there are also very many examples of exceptional commitment to sport, dance, drama, art, music and community activities across this year group.

“They have really shown that it is possible to contribute widely while achieving their aspirations.”