GCSE PUPILS ARE SUCH A CLASS ACT
PUPILS across Bridgend county celebrated their GCSE results on Thursday.
The county borough’s schools saw a 1.5% rise in performance at A*-C grades, with 63.8% of pupils achieving those grades.
Across the borough, the performance at A*-G grades has increased by 1.2%, with 19% of entries resulting in A*-A grades.
This year, Wales as a whole recorded improved GCSE A*-C grades but a slight fall in the top grades A*-A.
At the same time there was a drop in results in core subjects – English and Welsh language and maths at lower grades.
This is the last year that schools will be ranked on the number of their five A*-C grades.
From September, the Welsh Government will instead replace that traditional measure with a points score – known as the Capped 9 Points Score.
Here is how all of the schools in Bridgend performed in 2019: ■ Bridgend College This year the college has seen a 31% of students achieving A-C grades in GCSE mathematics, which is a 10% increase from the 2017-18 results.
Some 33% achieved an A*-C grade in GCSE English, also a significant increase since the last academic year.
Simon Pirotte, CEO and principal of Bridgend College, said: “We are really pleased with the achievements of all our students today, many of whom we hope to see enrolling into courses with us this September.”
■ Brynteg Comprehensive School
Forty-six pupils achieved at least five A*-A grades at Brynteg Comprehensive School and the following all achieved a superb 10 or more A*/A grades: Ben Evans, Sadie Hennessy, Ella Jones, Molly-May McAndrew, Ryan Neagle, Molly Ridge and Kate Zielinski.
Headteacher Ryan Davies said: “Pupils and staff should be congratulated for their hard work in achieving these results.
“We look forward to finding out about their success in the future, whether it be in education, an apprenticeship or employment.”
■ Bryntirion Comprehensive School
Nearly a third of all pupils achieved five or more A*-A grades in GCSEs and other qualifications at Bryntirion Comprehensive School. Every pupil also achieved at least five GCSEs (or equivalent).
In a statement, the school said: “It was lovely to see so many happy young people receiving their GCSE results at Bryntirion this morning.
“Congratulations to everyone on achieving so well in such a wide range of qualifications, with pupils of all abilities and interests excelling this year.
“As always, success in school is as a result of the partnership between pupils, teachers and parents, so our congratulations and thanks extend to everyone.”
■ Cynffig Comprehensive School
All Cynffig Comprehensive pupils achieved the level one threshold, with many pupils gaining at least five GCSEs graded at A*-C.
Headteacher Hannah Castle said: “We are delighted with the performance of our Year 11 pupils.
“Results this year are the product of a strong purposeful collaboration between pupils, staff and families.
“Whilst we are proud of all of our pupils’ efforts, a particular mention must be made to Joseph Powell, who secured A* grades in every GCSE subject he studied.
“Also congratulations to Mark Underhill, Alex Underhill, Chad Evans, Orla Kruk and Tegan Walker for securing eight or more A*-A grades.
“Congratulations, Year 11.”
■ Coleg Cymunedol Y Dderwen
A total of 194 pupils in Year 11 received their results in both GCSE and vocational subjects at Coleg Cymunedol Y Dderwen.
In a statement, the school said: “It is difficult to make year-on-year annual results comparisons due to the new interim measures from Welsh Government.
“We are very pleased to report that CCYD’S results were in line with our hopes for this year group.
“We improved in the most important measure of the Capped 9 points score and there was a tremendous improvement in the scores of our disadvantaged learners which will put us above the Welsh average.”
There were some exceptional individual performances. These include: Grace Lewis – 8A*, 3A, 2B, 1C; James Griffiths – 6A*, 6A, 2B; Gethin Page – 5A*, 6A, 2B; Ryan Jones – 4A*, 8A, 5B; Caitlyn Ralph – 3A*, 10A, 1B; Iestyn Davies – 3A*, 7A, 4B; and Molly Turner – 2A*, 10A, 2B.
Headteacher Tracey Wellington said: “These are stunning results and they reflect the hard work of all the learners, teachers, governors and supportive parents.
“Our school is going from strength to strength and it was a privilege to be amongst so many happy young people this morning.”
■ Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd
A total of 26.7% achieved the highest grades of A*-A. More than 78% achieved a C grade or above in language and, in mathematics/ numeracy, more than 72% achieved a C grade or above.
In a statement, the school said: “We are committed to the Skills Challenge Certificate and continue to see the benefits this qualification offers all learners.
“This year all learners achieved an A*-C grade and 47% achieved A*-A grades. As part of the new national measure, the Capped 9, the school achieved 397.1.”
Headteacher Meurig Jones said: “I am extremely proud of the hard work and dedication shown by our learners and staff in ensuring that YGG Llangynwyd has improved on last year’s good results.”
Exceptional individual performances included Lleucu Jones (Bridgend) – 13A*, 1A; Joseph BaileyWood (Bridgend) – 9A*, 5A; Katie Williams (Bridgend) – 3A*, 11A, 1B; Kai Mulcock (Bridgend) – 7A*, 6A, 2B; and Summer Thompson (Maesteg) – 4A*, 7A, 3B. ■ Maesteg School The average capped points score for the school’s pupils was 350 points, which matched the score last year.
A total of 61% of pupils at Maesteg School achieved five A*-C grades and 21 pupils achieved at least five A*-A grades - an improvement on last year.
Headteacher Helen Jones said: “This has been a challenging year for all schools with this new ‘high stakes’ exam culture where the first entry is the only grade that schools are measured by.
“Our Year 11 pupils worked hard to get themselves exam-ready and were determined to do well.”
There were some outstanding individual performances, including Shana-Marie Jones – 6A*, 4A, 3B, 1C; Cameron Coombs – 4A*, 6A*, 4B; and Lauren Buchanan – 4A*, 7A, 4B.
■ Archbishop McGrath Catholic High School
More pupils than ever before achieved five top grades at the school, with more than 50% achieving at least one A grade or above and with one in 10 pupils achieving at least 10 grades at A or A*.
A total of 88% of pupils achieved at least 10 C grades or above.
Headteacher Angela Keller said: “Once again the pupils and their teachers have put an enormous amount of effort and hard work into these results.
“We asked more of the pupils and they achieved more than ever.
“Pupils are achieving more qualifications than ever before and the results have shown that it is right to ensure pupils get more than one opportunity to sit their examinations.
“We are proud of all our pupils and there are superb success stories to celebrate.”
The following pupils achieved particularly outstanding results: Zara Bashir – 15A*/A, Allysa Del Rosario – 15A*/A, Aliza Sorongon – 15A*/A, Isabelle Clegg – 14A*/A, Gabbie Bassett – 13A*/A and Caitlin Williams – 13A*/A.
■ Pencoed Comprehensive School
At Pencoed Comprehensive 57.7% of mainstream pupils gained five or more GCSE passes at A*-C including maths or maths numeracy and English language/literature.
The school says 55.1% of the whole Year 11 cohort, including pupils from the school’s resource base for pupils with moderate learning difficulties, achieved five passes at A*-C including English and maths.
For mainstream pupils,
the Capped 9 points score was 371.6.
Noteworthy results were: Ffion Bradshaw – nine As; Gary Chen – eight A*s and two As, including a grade 9 in Chinese under England’s number graded exam; Megan Cotterell – three A*s and six As; Chris Davies – five A*s and five As; Ffion Jenkins – three A*s and eight As; Fiona Lord – four A*s and seven As; Jessica Morgan gained three A*s and six As; and Ben Salkeld five A*s and four As.
■ Porthcawl Comprehensive School
The percentage of pupils achieving five A*-C (Level 2) at Porthcawl Comprehensive School was 83% this year. The percentage of those who achieved their five A*-C (which includes English and maths) remains above 70%. Those who gained five A*-A improved to 40%.
Forty-nine pupils gained eight or more A*/A grades, while the number who achieved 10 or more A*/A was 39.
Highest achievers included Rachel Appleton – 12A*, 2A; Noah Henderson – 12A*, 3A; Scarlett Jenkins – 12A*, 2A; Katie Liu – 12A*, 1A, 1B; Jonathan Munro – 12A*, 2A; Rhys Nicholas – 13A*, 1A; and Isabel Parselle – 12A*, 1A. ■ St Clare’s School A total of 91.2% of grades achieved at St Clare’s School in Porthcawl were 4+ (A*-C) while 43.5% of grades awarded were 7+ (A*/A).
Results in specific subject areas were particularly good. In biology 47% of grades were grade 7+ (A) and, in maths, 90% of grades were grade 4+ (C).
In English literature, 11% of grades were 9 (A**) and in English language 5.5% at grade 9 (A**). In art 37.5% of grades were 9 (A**).
A number of individual pupils excelled including Lucy Baynham and Theo Quantick. Lucy’s grades included six 9s, three 8s, one 7, and an A in further maths, while Theo’s included five grade 9s, two 8s, two 7s and a 6.
Headteacher Helen Hier said: “It is a pleasure to celebrate with our staff and students who have worked so hard to achieve these results. My congratulations go to all of our GCSE students and I wish them every success as they take their next steps into A-levels and beyond.”