THE anxious wait for GCSE results ends today for schools and pupils.
There has been a slight increase nationally in students’ pass rate to 67.3 per cent, up 0.4 per cent – and a similar marginal increase in top grades (7 to 9) to 20.8 per cent.
It follows controversy since the government’s new ‘9-1 system’ of tougher exams and marking was introduced in a phased way for some courses two years ago, and for most courses last year.
Here’s a a round-up of today’s public announcements from some of our schools – as we get them.
President Kennedy School says standards rose across most academic subjects with Maths and Science in particular performing extremely well.
Students performed above national thresholds in key subjects such as English, Maths and Science, it added.
There was a “significant number” of students attaining grades equivalent to A/A* or above (grade 9) in all or nearly all of their subjects, despite tougher exams.
Student Mollie Wilson gained grade 9 in eight subjects and an A* in Further Maths, Amelia Bassnett achieved an A* in Further Maths, six 9s and two 8s and Amber Nazir secured four 9s and four 8s.
Head Mr Clayton said: “It’s been fantastic to see so many parents sharing the good news today and to be involved in the planning of the next chapter in their lives.
“We look forward to welcoming the vast majority of our students back to Post 16 in September.”
Ash Green School says it is celebrating more 7-9 grades this year, with nearly 10 per cent more top grades achieved than in the previous year’s exams.
Students taking their BTEC Level 2 exams in Business Studies, Media, and Sport have achieved over 25 per cent more Distinction* and Distinction results –the highest number of top grades for BTEC Level 2 ever achieved at Ash Green School, it says.
GCSE subjects that excelled were PE and Combined Science – with Combined Science showing significant improvements on the subject’s 2018 exam results.
Kieran Pickerill, Ash Green School Assistant Principal, says: “This is a nerve-wracking time of year for our Year 11 students, they work really hard to prepare for their exams and this is the first real time they are assessed in this way.
“We’re delighted at the increase in top grades – across both the GCSE and BTEC courses – but we congratulate all our young people on the hard work, focus and camaraderie they have shown during their studies.
“They are a real testament to the positive school life we foster at Ash Green School, where we strive to make every day extraordinary, and we look forward to welcoming many of them into the Sixth Form in the next academic year.”
After topping the city’s A level results table last week, Bablake School is delighted to announce another year of ‘record-breaking’ GCSE results, with an impressive 52 per cent of all grades at 9 or 8.
It summaries its students’ achievements as.. 52% of all grades were 9/8; 73% of all grades were at 9/8/7; 18 pupils gained at least ten 9 or 8 grades; 56% of all pupils gained at least eight 9/8/7 grades.
Headmaster Mr Andrew Wright commented, “Exam results only measure a part of what makes a great education and we are proud not only of what our pupils have achieved but also the balanced and sensible approach they have shown. To gain more 8s and 9s than all other grades put together is exceptional, and all this from a year group which participates in and achieves so much outside the classroom. I am so very proud of them and I hope they will continue to be happy, healthy and high achieving as young adulthood awaits.”
Students and staff at Stoke Park School are celebrating results ‘above the national average’, even higher grades across all subjects, and more student progress from their ‘starting points’ than previously.
More Stoke Park students achieved at least the ‘Good’ pass in English and Mathematics and the number achieving top grades has climbed significantly, it says.
Head of School, Natalie Rock added: “We are thrilled with this year’s GCSE results and I want to personally congratulate all our students who worked so hard to achieve excellent grades. Our students now outperform the national average and we all have much to be proud of.”
Notable exceptional performers include:
Alby Biju who achieved seven grade 9s, Prajan Kashyap who secured three grade 9s, three grade 8s and two grade 7s, Rajpal Kaur who secured two grade 9s, three grade 8s and two grade 7s, Cathy Edwards who achieved three grade 9s, three grade 8s and two grade 7s, Jennifer Robinson who achieved four grade 8s and four grade 7s and Zaakir Hussain who secured two grade 9s, two grade 8s and two grade 7s.
Barr’s Hill School says over a third of students achieved a grade 7 (equivalent to the previous A grade) this year across a wide range of subjects.
A few of our top performing students include Kajaanan Vijitharan achieving 7 grade 9’s (A**), 1 grade 8 (A*) and 1 grade 7 (A). Ellie O’Brien excelled in all her subjects with 5 grade 9’s, 1 grade 8, 1 grade 7 and 1 grade 6. Marina Tori excelled across all her chosen subjects achieving 6 grade 9’s, 2 grade 8’s and a grade 7 and Amanpreet Singh achieved 6 grade 9’s and 2 grade 8’s.
All four students are now going on to Post 16 Select to study A levels in a variety of subjects including Maths, English, History and Sociology. Places in P16 Select are at a premium in the joint provision with President Kennedy school due to the wide range of courses to study and the outstanding teaching and educational experiences available from both schools.
Headteacher, Mr C. Jupp said: “The atmosphere today has been incredible at Barr’s Hill. Our students have really shown that if you put your mind to it you really can achieve great things. We are very proud of each and every student as they have worked extremely hard and fully deserve their outstanding results. We expect the results to be the best the school has ever achieved and another example of the echo of our strong academic traditions going back to 1908.”
Students at Coventry College are celebrating after the further education provider recorded its best ever year of GCSE results.
Coventry College, which teaches maths and English GCSE courses to hundreds of 16 to 18-year-olds and adults who are re-taking their exams, achieved 455 grades of level 4 or higher – with 4 being the equivalent of the old C grade, and 9 the equivalent of an old A*.
The figures are an increase on last year, and saw 252 passes of level 4 or higher for English, and 203 for maths.
It was a 19th birthday to remember for Sabina Di Nicoli, who achieved a level 6 in English and level 5 in maths at Coventry College after arriving in England from Turin in October 2017.
“English is not my first language so I was really shocked in a good way by my result,” Sabina said.
“I needed to achieve at least level 3 in maths and a level 4 in English to get on to my access course in business and administration to prepare for university, all is going to plan and I’m really thrilled.”
It was third-time lucky for 18-year-old Riley David-Guild, who after missing his English GCSE exams in secondary school due to a migraine, eventually passed his English GCSE at Coventry College with a level 4.
“I wanted to make sure I had my English GCSE because if there were any doors that I wanted to try and open in the future, I now know I have some strong qualifications behind me if they are needed,” added Riley, who has ambitions to work in the automotive industry.
Gill Banks, CEO at Coventry College, said: “A lot of our students who have achieved these results have had to overcome some form of adversity – be it taking their exams for a second time or returning to learning after a long break – so tutors and students alike should all be proud of themselves.
“Seeing the delight on the students’ faces when they open their envelopes is what makes the job so worthwhile, particularly for the tutors.
“GCSEs are some of the most important qualifications you can have as they unlock access to so many different educational pathways, both at our college and elsewhere.
“Hopefully today’s results will inspire our next generation to pursue further education in a chosen field – whether that’s through an apprenticeship or a vocational course at college.
“All of this said, it’s also important to recognise that there will be some students across the region who didn’t get the grades that they were hoping for, and we’d urge them not to panic, and to consult with their college tutor or a careers advisor on what their options are.”
Students at WMG Academy Coventry are today celebrating outstanding results in its specialisms maths and sciences.
In higher maths 95% of students achieved Grade 9-4, and in further maths 87.5% achieved A*-C
The Grade 9-4 rate for biology and chemistry was 96%, with 92% of students achieving Grade 9-4 in physics.
The academy, in Mitchell Avenue, also saw 11% of all students achieving at least one Grade 9 GCSE (higher than an A* in the old A*-G system).
The success follows on from last week’s A-level results, with the academy seeing its best ever maths results (81% A*-C).
Mr Matt Brady, Principal of WMG Academy Coventry, said: “We are delighted to continue to achieve strong results in science and maths and I am extremely proud of all our students who have worked incredibly hard.
“These results demonstrate the tenacity, talent and teamwork of our students and staff and we will continue to work together to build on our success.”
Many students will stay at WMG Academy to study A-levels and BTEC. Others have secured impressive apprenticeships with local, national and global companies.
WMG Academy provides GCSE, A-level and BTEC education for 14 to 19-year-olds with an interest in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).
Heart of England School in Balsall Common said its GCSE students had “once again achieve an excellent set of results”.
Over 22% of grades were 7-9, outstripping the national average. Grade 4 or higher was nearly 10% above the national average for standard passes overall, the school added.
Vice Principal Mr Bennett was in the hall to welcome students and congratulated many.
He said: “It is always impossible to list all of the fantastic achievements across the curriculum but subjects such as History achieving almost 10% grade 9s, French with over 90% grade 9-5 and music achieving over 30% 9-7.”
THE CLASS of 2019 celebrated GCSE success at Rugby High School.
Some 98 per cent of all entries were awarded a grade 4 or better, while 69 per cent scored grade 7 or better. 32 per cent of students got an average of a grade 8 across all of the GCSEs that they sat.
Head teacher Charlotte Marten said: “We are delighted by our students’ results. They have worked so hard to achieve these. Strong GCSE results put students in a strong position whether they are choosing to continue with A-Level studies, embarking on an apprenticeship or a vocational course, or moving into employment.
“This group of students have exciting futures ahead of them. They have lots of transferrable skills from all the other activities that they have undertaken over the course of the last few years – Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, a part in the school play, charity fundraising, and being a member of school and county sports teams.
“Well done, Class of 2019. We look forward to welcoming many of you back into the Sixth Form in September together with students – both boys and girls – from other schools in Rugby and the surrounding area to start preparing for A-Levels.”
North Leamington School saw 76 per cent of students achieve a 4+ in English and maths and 17 per cent achieving 7+ in the subjects.
Top marks went to Fern Linehan who scooped ten grades 9 to 8.
Headteacher Joy Mitchell said: “I’m delighted and very proud of what we have achieved again this year. I’m confident our students will continue to be successful in the future and I wish them well.”
Campion School saw more than 80 per cent of pupils achieve a grade 4 or above in English and 70 per cent achieve the same in maths.
It also saw more pupils than ever achieve the highest grades of 7, 8 and 9.
Headteacher Jassa Panesar said: “Well done to all our pupils and their families. I am very pleased with this year’s results as I have seen the dedication and hard work that has gone into achieving them.”
More than three quarters of pupils at Myton School achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths.
Grace Jordan achieved ten grade 9s while Matt Teevan took home eight grade 9s.
Headteacher Andy Perry said: “I would like to congratulate our students on their achievements this year and to thank the parents and carers for their ongoing support and also the staff at Myton for their dedicated teaching and wider support. My best wishes to all our students in their next steps and we look forward to welcoming many of them into our Sixth Form.”
Warwick School had another good year with 66 per cent of grades awarded at 9 to 7.
Top marks went to Rupert Bottomley-Matts, Timothy Briggs, Young Ha Chun, William Foster, Joshua Hill, Freddie Keays, William Knights and Archie McCusker.
Headteacher Deneal Smith said: “This is another strong set of GCSE results and I would like to offer my congratulations to all those boys who have worked so hard for this success. I am very proud of our boys and of the teachers who have done so much to support them.”
At The Kingsley School 83 per cent of pupils scooped levels 9 to 7.
Lily Lawson and Imogen DeArmitt both achieved nine level 9 to 7 grades.
Headteacher Heather Owens, said: “I am full of pride for the girls’ individual success stories. We are extremely proud of the well-rounded individuals they have become, and look forward to seeing them continue to flourish in the future.”
And at Arnold Lodge they were celebrating a record-breaking set of results, with ten per cent of all grades awarded a level 9.
Ellis Clifford was awarded ten grade 8 and above.
Headteacher David Preston said: “I wish to congratulate all of our Year 11 for their success. They have worked tremendously hard and it is wonderful to see them rewarded for their efforts. Seeing the tremendous success of our pupils is wonderful and I look forward to our pupils’ continued achievements across their A Level years.”
Girls at Kings High School saw an impressive year with 72 per cent of grades 9 to 7.
Headteacher Richard Nicholson said: “I congratulate our girls and our staff for the excellence demonstrated by these exceptional results. It is particularly impressive that the girls have achieved so highly at a time of so much change to the GCSE examinations.”
Southam College saw 83 per cent of pupils achieve a 4 or above in English and maths.
Top marks went to Jonathan Fletcher and Cara Andrews who received ten 9 to 7 grades.
Headteacher Ranjit Samra said “I am delighted with the impressive performance of our students once again. They have worked incredibly hard and deserve every accolade.”
More GCSE results and pictures as we receive them.
