GCSE success for pupils
STUDENTS across the Cynon Valley have celebrated their GCSE results after a challenging year due to the pandemic.
Record-breaking provisional results show more than one in four have achieved the top A* and A grades.
STUDENTS across the Cynon Valley have celebrated their GCSE results after a challenging year due to the pandemic.
Record-breaking provisional GCSE results for the whole of Wales published last Thursday show more than one in four have achieved the top A* and A grades from teacher assessments and more than 99% have passed.
Ministers have already apologised to anyone affected by Wales’ controversial grading system, which saw Wales follow Scotland, Northern Ireland and England and scrap the moderated “standardisation”, brought in after this year’s exams were ditched due to the coronavirus crisis.
Pupils have since been awarded results based on teacher assessments following an outcry from students, teachers, unions and politicians.
Results show that using the grades recommended by teachers has seen a huge leap in top grades compared to previous years. Some 25.9% of students received A* or A grades, up from 18.4% in 2019.
And Cynon Valley’s class of 2020 have been among those celebrating since the grades were revealed last week.
Pupils at St John Baptist Church in Wales High School in Aberdare were praised by their headteacher for all their hard work throughout the past few months. Following the results, headteacher Sue Mitchell said: “Pupils at St John’s attained outstanding results for yet another year. This has been a very difficult year for pupils and it was nice to see them attain so much success.
“The results at the school are excellent and reflect the hard work and commitment of our pupils. They are well deserved. Pupils have been ably supported by the dedicated and talented team of staff at the school.
“Very many congratulations to all. We look forward to welcoming our pupils back into our sixth form or wish them best wishes in the next stage of their lives.”
St John’s students who attained the highest grades included Manon, who achieved 13 A*s, and Trinity, who achieved 12 A*s.
Other pupils who received particularly high grades according to the school were Seren, who was awarded 11A*s and one A, and Nia and Emmy, who both achieved 10 A*s and two As.
In Penywaun, Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun gave the following message to their students after picking up results: “It has been a lovely day at Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Rhydywaun as our Year 11 pupils collected their GCSE results.
“Huge congratulations to you all on your welldeserved success. A massive thank you to all the teachers and staff for their excellent support and also to all of your parents.”
Speaking before students picked up their results last Thursday, Member of the Senedd for Cynon Valley Vikki Howells MS said: “Congratulations to all receiving GCSE results this morning.
“Though you haven’t been able to sit your exams no one should doubt your efforts over the past two years. I wish you all the very best for the future.”
Given the decision to cancel examinations this summer as a result of the pandemic, exam board WJEC developed a process which allowed grades to be based on Centre Assessment Grades (CAGs) and Rank Orders which were submitted by teachers and lecturers.
On August 17, Education Minister Kirsty Williams confirmed GCSE grades in Wales would be awarded on the basis of CAGs. It was also announced that an independent review of events following the cancellation of exams will be undertaken.
Ms Williams has said she is “truly... unreservedly sorry” for the initial decision to use an algorithm to standardise GCSE and A-level results, which was abandoned after the unfairness to individual pupils became apparent.