Borough's GCSE Students Exceed National Average Again
Strong set of results despite new tougher standards this year
GCSE students from Brentford School for Girls celebrate with Councillor Tom Bruce
Schools across the borough of Hounslow have been celebrating this week after GCSE results once again exceeded national averages.
Pupils adapted well to a higher standard in the new tougher English and Maths GCSEs now graded from 9 (higher than A*) to 1. In English, 84 per cent of students achieved a Grade 4 (‘a standard pass’ - broadly equivalent to grade C) or better. 70 per cent achieved the more challenging grade 5 (a ‘strong pass’) in this core subject. There was more good news in Mathematics, with 76 per cent of students gaining a GCSE Grade 4. This is a massive 16 percentage points cent better than other pupils in England (60 per cent). More than half (55 per cent) achieved the ‘strong pass’ at Grade 5.
Hounslow’s schools have also maintained a very strong position in the number of pupils gaining the English Baccalaureate [EBacc], with 31 per cent of Hounslow pupils succeeding at this measure. The EBacc shows the percentage of pupils who achieve grades 9-5 in English and Maths along with A*-C in science, a language and a humanities subject. An excellent result given that, unlike last year, this is only awarded to those who gain a ‘strong pass’ in both their English and Maths. It is six per cent better than the National EBacc average last year (25 per cent) when it was easier for students to achieve.
Councillor Tom Bruce, Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Services and Youth Services, Hounslow Council, said: “Congratulations to all our students who have done fantastically well in their GCSEs again this year, particularly given the more challenging exams that the government has introduced.
“It is a testament to the skill and commitment of all our teachers, support staff, governors and parents and the hard work of our young people that means they continue to outperform their peers nationally.”
Outside the borough Notting Hill & Ealing High School achieved another record year of GCSE results. 66% of entries were graded at A*, equalling their all-time high, with 89% graded A*/A and 100% A*-C. 12 girls gained A*s in all their subjects and 47 girls (over half the year) gained 7 or more A*s.
Head, Matthew Shoults said “These are excellent results, reflecting the energy and effort which the girls have put into their studies, and the staff have put into supporting them. Every single girl has worked with great determination to achieve her best and should rightly be proud of herself. Our heartfelt congratulations go to them all.”
Notting Hill and Ealing girls celebrate great results
A Latymer Upper School over half of the year group achieving at least 8 A* grades and over 70% of grades were at A* with 90% of grades at A*/A
Fencing champion and member of Team GB Josh Willcox who, having spent a busy year competing on the prestigious European Cadet Fencing Circuit now adds 10A*s to his sporting achievements. Maddie Lloyd, 10A*s, and Georgina Seal, 9A*s and 1A, have reason to celebrate in a year that has seen them both chosen for the GB rowing squad. Twins Felix and Cecile Ramin celebrate their joint success, gaining 20A*s between them – 10A*s and 1A each.
Twins at Latymer enjoy joint success
Latymer Upper Head, David Goodhew commented, "Congratulations to all our GCSE pupils who have had such fantastic results today - their hard work has really paid off. They bear the Latymer hallmark of being well-rounded individuals who, as well as achieving academically, pursue many of the co-curricular options on offer at Latymer. Having joined the School on the same day in 2012 as this talented Y11 cohort, I very much look forward to following their progress in the sixth form.”
At St Augustine’s Priory, Ealing Catholic independent day school for girls, 82% of grades were A* - B or equivalent (9 – 6). There was a clean sweep of A*s in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, 100% passes in English Literature and Mathematics and 83% of Modern Language grades at A* or A. Over half of all pupils obtained at least 5 A* or A grades or equivalent (new grades 9/8/7) between them. 54% of the grades achieved in Mathematics, English and English Literature combined were 9, 8 or 7 (A* - A). 95% of all pupils achieved at least 1 grade A*/A or equivalent. This follows last week’s news that 100% of the Year 11 Additional Mathematics students achieved the top grade, A.
Smiles all round at St Augustine's Priory
Interim Headteacher, Mrs Marie-Helene Collins, commented, ‘Across the full range of our curriculum, our girls have performed brilliantly and we congratulate them on their outstanding results today. Among many highlights, our excellent separate science performance and fantastic results in the new English and Mathematics courses are a particular source of confidence. Another strong year of results yet again confirms our expertise in teaching girls in our wonderful setting, supported by our dedicated staff and with a Catholic ethos’.
Pupils at La Petite École d’Ealing, a French language school based at St Augustine’s Priory achieved a clean sweep of A*s and As in their French GCSEs. St Augustine’s Priory works with La Petite École as part of a bilingual hub promoting and supporting the teaching of French in Ealing.
For those students who, having got their results, are now unsure about what to do next, the Hounslow 14-19 Connexions Team are available to provide free impartial advice and guidance on the range of options available.
Students can drop in without an appointment at the times below.
Hounslow Connexions Service
Hounslow Library
Civic Centre
Lampton Road
TW3 4DN
Monday*/ Wednesday/Thursday every week from 2pm-5pm
[Closed on Bank Holiday Monday 28 August – Open Tuesday 29 August instead]
More information is available online or by calling 020 8583 5151.
August 25, 2017