Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Pupils’ anxious wait is finally over…
Schools across Canterbury had cause for celebration despite a national dip in top GCSE grades.
A new grading system, scoring pupils numerically from 9 to 0 in maths and English, has made it harder to achieve the highest grade, with just 3% nationally scoring a 9 but there were still smiles all around as youngsters collected their results.
All but 3% of pupils at Barton Court Grammar School achieved five grades at A* to C, including both maths and English at grade 4 or higher.
An impressive 47% of all grades were at A or A* – a 5% increase on last year’s results.
Head of school Ian Macaulay said: “I am really delighted for all our students who have worked so hard to achieve these outstanding results.
“Pupils had to cope with demands of new tougher GCSES in English and mathematics and the majority of our pupils also gained the demanding English baccalaureate.
“Despite this, they have excelled and should be justly proud.
“It was fantastic to see so many pleased and excited young faces collect their results this morning.”
Pupil Carys Gilson, who secured one A and six Bs, said: “I did a lot better than I expected to. I’m really pleased with these results.”
Barton Court also saw 19 pupils achieve the equivalent of 10 or more straight As, while more than half of pupils achieved at least five.
At Canterbury High more than 50% of pupils achieved five or more grades at A to C, including maths and English.
The school’s executive principle designate, Jon Watson, who takes over from outgoing head Phil Karnavas at the end of the year, said: “We are celebrating after another good set of results in what has been a very confus- ing year for our students with changes to the education system.
“Two thirds attained the new standard in maths and English. There has also been a welcome improvement across the other subjects, especially history and languages.”
Jamie Watson, who got two As and three Bs, said: “I’m shocked, just really happy. I worked really hard for it.”
Ellie Watson secured three A*s, one A and four Bs. She said: “I had convinced myself that I had not done that well. I started revising at Christmas and really put a lot of effort in.”
Kent College said a “personalised approach” helped it achieve a 100% pass rate, with 70% of grades at B or above
Executive head master Dr David Lamper added: “The pupils have achieved an excellent set of results in spite of the changes to courses and assessments, and so have secured sound foundations for the next stage in their educational career.
“On top of wonderful A-level and IB results, our students can be very proud of their achievements.
“Congratulations to them and to all of my colleagues for the hard work which makes excellent results like these possible.”
St Edmund’s in Canterbury is celebrating its best GCSE results in six years, with 41% of grades at A or A*.
School head Louise MoelwynHughes said: “I am immensely proud of the achievements of our pupils, and equally appreciative of the excellence of the support which they have received from their highly committed and able teachers. This cohort proves an exciting prospect for A-level.”
St Anselm’s head Mike Walters was equally enthusiastic with his school’s performance.
“The school is forecasting a positive Progress 8 score based on the results that pupils have achieved,” he said.
“The vast majority of pupils will be staying on in our sixth form.
“We are very pleased that the hard work of the students has paid off and they can be proud of their efforts. These GCSE results, allied to very pleasing AS and A-level results last week, are an illustration of the continued success of pupils at the school.”