Record GCSE Results for Local Schools in Challenging Circumstances
Grade averages increase during overall decline nationally
Left to right: Flora Davies, Elizabeth O’Brien and Isabella Stumpfle who received all 8s and 9s at Notting Hill and Ealing High School
GCSE students at schools across the Ealing area are celebrating some outstanding results in a year when the overall average grade was down across the country.
The good performance by local schools, with many reporting their best ever, was mirrored throughout London with 32.6% were marked at grades 7/A and above widening the gap with most other parts of the UK.
The pass rate nationally, although down this year, is above the levels seen before the Covid-19 pandemic. It is the first year that normal exams were set since 2019.
Year 11 students at Notting Hill & Ealing High School were celebrating excellent GCSE results in the rain this Thursday morning (25 August). 92% of all exams were awarded grades 9-7 (the equivalent of an A* or A grade), and 77% grades 9 or 8 (equivalent to an A*).
8 students were awarded all 9s, with 28 (almost ⅓ of the year group) awarded all 9 or 8s (equivalent to A*).
Commenting on the results, Matthew Shoults, Headmaster at Notting Hill & Ealing High School said, “I am very pleased for our students for gaining such excellent results for themselves. Despite the challenges of Covid 19, they have shown real tenacity in making their way through the last two years. I am most grateful to all our teachers for their dedication and enthusiasm, in supporting the Year 11 cohort.”
At St Benedict’s School in Ealing 69.1% of all the exams taken have been graded 9-7 (A*/A), with 47.6% awarded grades 9-8 (A*). This is the highest proportion of top grades ever achieved at the school in a year when examinations were taken.
Thirteen students achieved straight 9-8 (A*) grades. Zach Khan and Benjy Thornton achieved grade 9 in all subjects. GCSE results were strong across in all subjects and were exceptionally good in History, Chemistry, Physics and Classical Civilisation.
The Headmaster, Andrew Johnson, said, “I am delighted that St Benedict’s GCSE students have been so successful. They have worked hard, in another challenging year, to achieve these outstanding results and are a credit to their families, and to their teachers, who have given their dedicated support throughout. Academic performance at St Benedict’s continues its strong upward trajectory; like the A Level results last week, these are the best ever achieved in a year when examinations were taken under normal conditions.”
GCSE students at St Benedict's with the Headmaster, Andrew Johnson. Picture: St. Benedict's, Ealing
Greenford High School described its results as ‘brilliant’ with 84% of grades awarded at the equivalent of A*- C while over two thirds of students achieved Grades 5+ in both English and Maths. In total, 83% achieved Grades 4+ in both English and Maths.
Headteacher Mia Pye said, “I am immensely proud of all of our students, as well as our outstanding, expert staff who have supported them so well. To have achieved such excellent results after such a difficult few years is nothing short of fantastic. Congratulations to all of our students and staff who have worked so hard to achieve these amazing grades.
“Greenford High School’s results have been consistently in the top 5% nationally for more than 10 years, and we are delighted that once again our students have achieved so superbly, particularly against a background of huge challenges due to Covid.”
In terms of the new GCSE specifications, Greenford achieved its best ever results, improving on 2019 in the key measures despite the challenges of the last three years. The Progress 8 score, which measures how much progress students make across eight subjects, is 0.86 when measured in line with previous years. This means students are achieving almost a grade higher than expected in their qualifications.
Highlights include:
• 37% of grades were awarded grades 9-7 (equivalent to A*/A) - 6% higher than the 2019 set of results.
• 11 students achieved grades 9-8 across all of their subjects
• 27 students achieved grades 9-7 across all of their subjects
• 57 students achieved grades 9-7 in at least 7 of their subjects.
The school’s top performer is Lauren-Ava Carey who achieved grade 9s in all ten of her subjects, while Jenisha Bajrchraya and Aroosha Sheikh achieved the top grade in 9 of their subjects. Kristine Alvarado, Karan Brar, Tejuspreet Kaur and Bavneet Sehra all achieved eight grade 9s and two grade 8s.
Lauren-Ava Carey was Greenford School's top performer
Following on from the successes of A Level results last week, GCSE students at Ealing Independent College secured a range of outstanding grades.
Over 70% of students obtaining 5 or more grades of 4-9, including English and Mathematics and many will now move on to A Levels at the College.
The college says that Noor has stood out as a driven, erudite and passionate student from the day she walked first walked through its doors. Having taken her own path through GCSEs, sitting exams at the end of each of her years 9, 10 and 11, she now has six GCSEs at Grade 9, two at grade 8 and one grade and her mission to become a doctor remains on track.
Archie came to the College at the start of year 11, and has managed to get one grade 9, two grade 8s, a 7 and two 6s, he has given himself many options for A Level study. The College says he is a thoughtful, reflective and popular student, who has an extremely bright future before him.
Dylan has overcome many struggles to get to where he is now. When he first came to Ealing, he found attending to be a huge challenge. Nevertheless, he has scored a range of results which have left his teachers incredibly proud. Five grade 7s, a grade 6 and two 5s constitute an significant turnaround in fortunes since the start of Year 10.
Louie moved to the College part way through Year 10 having undergone a challenging time at his previous school. Embracing the transition, whilst becoming one of the most respected and well-liked students at EIC, he attained three grade 6s, two grade 5s and two grade 4s.
Hannan took largely pass grades, alongside some which fell below that mark, to the highest grades available. She took an English Language grade of 4 up to an 8, Mathematics from a 4 to a 7, and Combined Science grades of 3-4 up to Triple Science grades of 9-8-7. The College says she has turned her life around here, and now has a great deal of options which she never before could even comprehend.
Soultan battled ill health during the pandemic, but was able to attain three grade 9s, two grade 8s and three grade 6s, some results having come in subjects for which he received no tuition.
Zara took advantage of the small class teaching and regular feedback provided at the College. Having come to Ealing with a range of 3s, 4s and 5s from a local state school, she pushed her grades up to two 8s, two 7s and a 6 - and will now move forward to A Level study with renewed levels of confidence.
Following the excellent A Level results at St Augustine’s Priory last week, the GCSE results achieved by the pupils at this Ealing Catholic independent school for girls, maintained the high standard.
The overall GCSE results were as follows:
· 69% of all results were Grade 7 or above,
· 20% of all grades were Grade 9, and
· 42% of all grades were 8/9.
Headteacher Mrs Raffray commented: ‘We are delighted to share our excellent individual and subject successes for our GCSE candidates. We are back in the land of working with exam boards and we know that this year group of GCSE students can be especially proud of their dedication and pursuit of knowledge for its own sake.
‘Overall, 21% of our students gained all Grade 7 and above, a huge achievement and we congratulate all our Year 11 students on their success’.
She concluded, ‘The national and world stage remains extremely troubling and the more I witness the more convinced I am of the profound worth of what we are doing here at St Augustine's Priory. Our GCSE students today have modelled that for us - they have been an utter joy to work with and our relationships with them are incredibly strong.’
St. Augustine's Girls celebrate their results
Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic affecting two years of their studies, Year 11 students at the Ofsted ‘outstanding’ Villiers High School in Southall have achieved the best-ever GCSE results in the school’s history; even surpassing the top 1% in England outcome from the previous exams in 2019.
Headteacher, Ms Aruna Sharma said, “we are absolutely delighted with the results our students have achieved. They have shown great character, determination and total commitment to achieving their best, and we are excited about what the future holds for them. I would like to thank staff for their exceptional effort, and parents and carers for working in close partnership with us to ensure the pandemic does not act as a barrier to students achieving their future goals.”
Amongst the highest achievers were Alessia, who was “ecstatic” and gained grades 9-8 including maths and science. Jibril Elmi also gained all grade 9-8 and intends to study computer science to become a software engineer. Jibril will be completing A levels at Villiers High School sixth form and stated, “I am speechless, very happy with how I have done.”
Musa Kamara also attained Grades 9-8 in all subjects and will study A levels in maths, biology, chemistry to pursue a degree in Medicine.
Musa Kamara got the grades he needed for his amibition to go to medical school despite a two hour daily commute
Musa Kamara faced a two-hour daily commute of three buses and a train to study at Villiers High School, despite his parents’ wishes to move him to a school closer to home. The arduous commute paid off as Musa gained five 9 grades (equivalent to an A**) and five 8 grades (equivalent to an A*) to secure a place at St Thomas the Apostle College, rated ‘School of the Year’ by TES.
“I moved around a lot during primary school - six times - and so when we moved at the end of Year 8 I knew I wanted to stay,” Musa said. “The teaching was the best I’d ever had and everyone was so friendly. I told my parents that I would take the buses to get here and I’m glad I did. I’m ecstatic with my result and I owe it to Villiers High School who have set me on my path for the future.”
Villiers students who attained Grades 8-9 with Headteacher, Ms Aruna Sharma (middle), Head of Upper School, Dr Parimal Bhatt (left), Senior Assistant Headteacher, Ms Gopali Nagi (right), and Head of Year, Mr Rhys Jones (right)
Another high achiever is Jai Bhandari from Southall, who gained a 9 grade (A**) and eight 8 grades (A*) and hopes to become an aerospace engineer. “I’ve been at Villiers since I was 11 because it’s near to me, but I would come here wherever I lived,” he said. “The teachers here really are incredible and I couldn’t be prouder of my results.”
This year’s cohort is projected to have amongst the highest GCSE outcomes in the country when national rankings are published by the Department for Education in the spring.
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August 25, 2022