GCSE results: how did your school do?

Despite a slight drop in the national pass rate and a second successive fall in the number of top grades, many local secondary schools say they notched up their best ever results.

Experts had warned it was a “turbulent” year for the exam system, due to tighter marking, an increase in pupils taking exams early and new syllabuses and exams in the sciences.

See all our pictures from yesterday here

But while some schools did see their results affected, there were many that bucked the trend and saw an increase in the numbers of pupils achieving at least five GCSEs at A* to C, including English and mathematics – the benchmark set by the Government.

These included Parkstone Grammar School, where every pupil met this criteria and 64.7 per cent of all GCSEs were at A* or A. A total of 54 students achieved at last 10 GCSEs at grades A* or A with four girls achieving A* grades in all their GCSEs.

Head Tracy Harris said: “In a year when GCSE results nationally are predicted to fall, I am delighted that Parkstone has increased its GCSE performance and continues to provide outstanding education for girls in Poole and the surrounding area.”

The head of the Bishop of Winchester Academy said they were “flying high” after recording their best ever GCSE results. Their pass rate, including English and maths, increased to 61 per cent from 43 per cent last year – a rise of 42 per cent.

Head Paul McKeown: “We are so pleased with an outstanding set of results this year. It marks such a huge improvement from last year and coupled with an excellent Ofsted inspection in July we are flying high.

Students at Poole High School also recorded their best ever results, with the pass rate up by seven per cent. Delighted head teacher Fan Heafield said: “The core subjects of English, maths and science as well as many other subjects are showing a huge improvement.”

There were also celebrations at Winton Arts and Media College where 65 per cent of pupils achieved five GCSEs at A* to C grade, including English and maths.

Among the delighted pupils was Megum Muhic, who achieved 8 A*s and 2 As, including an A* in further maths and a perfect score of 100 per cent in his GCSE maths.

Head Ben Parnell said: “I’m absolutely delighted, this shows we are able to sustain outstanding results at the school.”

At Glenmoor School, the proportion of pupils achieving five or more A* to C grades, including English and maths, rose by 13 per cent to 63 per cent. Kateryna Zhyvitska achieved 7 A*s and 2 As and Marta Ross achieved 5 A*s and 5 As.

Mr Parnell said: “We are just absolutely thrilled that we have managed to drive the school forward so much over the past year.”

At Talbot Heath, every single pupil achieved five or more A* to C grades, including English and maths and over 50 per cent of students achieved at last seven A* or A grades.

Lucy-Dicks Illori scored a winning set of GCSE results, gaining A* and A grades in her nine GCSEs, alongside her rigorous twice weekly netball training in Bath.

Outstanding linguist Lydia Henning gained 100 per cent in both her French and Spanish papers and Florence Hockey achieved 100 per cent in history and French.

Head Angharad Holloway said: “Year after year we are able to achieve excellent results, which is again thanks to the commitment, hard work and talent of the pupils and staff.”

The pass rate at the Oak Academy was 46 per cent including English and maths and 97 per cent without.

Principal Gill Blanshard said: “We are very proud of our students. For us, it’s not about qualifications for qualifications sake – we want our students to enjoy their learning.”

Ashdown Technology College, which will reopen as the Magna Academy on September 1, recorded its best ever results, with a pass rate of 51 per cent, including English and maths.
Principal Richard Tutt said they were looking forward to an “exciting” future.

Year 11 students at Ringwood School secured the best ever results for the school, with 67 per cent of students securing five or more A* to C grades, including maths and English.
A total of 62 students achieved five or more A* and A grades.

Head Christina Edwards said: “Students have matched and in many cases exceeded our expectations. We take great pride in being a true comprehensive school and I am delighted with the success of every single student.”

Alistair Brien, head at Bournemouth School for Girls grammar school, said the school had achieved its best results ever by some margin. All girls passed five GCSEs, including English and maths and 67.2 per cent of all exams were passed at A or A* - an increase of nearly five per cent on last year.

More than 70 per cent of girls got five or more As and A*s and 62 girls got 10 or more As and A*s. “Congratulations to all our girls for their fantastic achievement,” he said.

At Poole’s St Edward’s School 64 per cent of students achieved a pass rate of five or more GCSE’s A*-C grades including Maths and English.

Head teacher Pola Bevan said: “Staff and students have worked very hard to achieve success and the many new initiatives to improve learning and attainment over the last year have paid dividends.”

There were also record-breaking results at Highcliffe School, where 74 per cent of students met the required standard and 28 students gained 10 or more A* or A grades.

Jenny Bewley, head of achievement for Year 11, said: “We are so proud of our students. This is fantastic news. Thanks go to all the students and their parents. We have worked together over a five year period to achieve these great results.”

At Bournemouth School, a slight decrease in the number of A* and A grades was attributed to the school’s decision to change from traditional GCSEs to the more rigorous and challenging iGCSEs in all of the three sciences.

But 99.3 per cent of Year 11 students attained five or more A* to C grades, including English and maths and 56 per cent of all entries were graded A* or A.

The school also had many high achievers, with 44 students attaining 10 or more A* or A grades.

It was another week of celebration for the Chatfield family, who last week saw their son Daniel achieve two A* andtwo A grades in his A levels, securing a place at Cambridge.

Yesterday, Daniel’s younger twin brothers Alex and Rowan achieved an impressive 13 A*, nine A and two B grades between them.

Another student Kieron Parrett combined three days school attendance a week with training at Southampton FC yet still attained six A and three B grades.

More than 70 per cent of students at Corfe Hills achieved five A* to C grades , with 12 students achieving 10 or more A and A* grades.

Headteacher Gary Clark said: “These results are a great testament to the dedication and hard work of our staff and students.”

Dr Terry Fish, head at Twynham, was particularly critical of the way English exams were marked last year, but this year 65 per cent of pupils achieved at least five A* to C grades, including English and maths.

However, he added it was impossible to compare this year’s results with last years, due to the large number of students sitting GCSE maths early, the changes to the science examinations and the way in which comparable outcomes are being applied.

Ian Carter, the head teacher of Poole Grammar School, said they were much happier with the marking of English exams this year. He said every pupil had been awarded at least five A* to C grades, not necessarily including maths and English, and the number of pupils receiving A and A* grades had risen.

“We’re confident that we’ve bucked the trend in terms of national results and we have a higher level of A and A* grades than we’ve ever had before,” he said.

At St Peter’s School the number of students achieving five or more GCSEs at A* to C rose from 73 per cent last year to 82 per cent. The figure for those reaching the benchmark of five passes including English and maths has not yet been calculated.

Headtacher Angie Wazejewski said: “St Peter’s School has recorded outstanding GCSE results this year, with some notable improvements overall, making many of the measures our best ever” Ten students at the school achieved 112 A* and A grades between them.

Pupils at Avonbourne achieved a pass rate of 60 per cent A* to C, including English and maths – an increase of six per cent on last year’s grades.

Debbie Godfrey-Phaure, headteacher, said: “We are delighted that in both the headline and threshold figures we have seen great results. We are proud of every single one of our students who have worked so hard and diligently throughout the year.”

At Harewood College, boys had not yet received their English results. But with GCSE maths included, pupils achieved a pass rate of 67 per cent A* to C.

Three quarters of students at Carter Community School achieved five or more GCSEs at A* to C grade, not necessarily including English and maths. High flyers included Alice Hibbs who received 10 grades at A* and A and Jodie Symes, who secured seven A* and A grades.

At Bournemouth Collegiate School, 74 per cent of all pupils achieved five or more A* to C passes, including English and maths. Principal Stephen Duckitt said: “I am delighted with the GCSE results of the top cohort this year. This group of high performing girls achieved a remarkable 68 per cent A* and A grades.”

St Aldhelm’s Academy in Poole said it was unable to give a pass rate yet, as it was still waiting for some data. But the school said they knew already their results would be better than last year, when 29 per cent of pupils achieved five GCSEs at A* to C, including English and maths.
They have seen increases in English, from 39 to 48 per cent and in maths, from 38 to 46 per cent.

The Grange School in Christchurch is celebrating a seven per cent increase in their figures. The proportion of pupils achieving at least five A* to C grades, including English and maths, has risen to 46 per cent this year and the school has seen its highest ever figure for A* to C grades at GCSE.

Headteacher Steve Dossett said: “In a year of uncertainty with regards to GCSE grades we are bucking the national trend and are delighted with our results this year.

“Students across the ability range have achieved well. At the Grange we are seeing a real trend in improving student outcomes. Quite simply students that come here make excellent progress.

“We are proud of the achievements of all our students but many of our highest achievers are leaving us this year with straight A*s and As.”

Canford School was one of many local schools bucking the national trend by reporting an increase in the number of students awarded top grades. Ninety four per cent of all entries were graded A* to B and 99 per cent A* to C.  Their individual success stories included two pupils who achieved 11A*s and two who achieved 10A*s.

Head Ben Vessey said: “As well as the obvious glittering arrays of A*s and As, I am equally delighted that there are many pupils with more modest abilities who have succeeded far beyond their expectation.”

Overall results were down slightly at Ballard School in New Milton, due to tighter marking in core subjects, but the school still achieved a pass rate of 69 per cent including maths and English.

The school’s science and maths grades were outstanding, significantly bucking the national trend.

The number of high achievers awarded the top grades also held up well, bucking the national trend. Among them was the head boy who received 10 A* and two grade A GCSEs.

Headmaster Alastair Reid said: “Whilst undoubtedly some pupils have suffered with a tightening of grade boundaries, the majority have achieved excellent results in line with or exceeding expectations – in some cases substantially – and they are to be warmly congratulated, along with our parents and staff, for doing so well.”