LIVE BLOG: GCSE Results Day
Thousands of pupils across Stratford District are finding out their GCSE results today.
Last week's A-level results were mired in controversy, but both the Government, schools and pupils will be hoping for a smoother process today.
We'll bring you all the latest GCSE news from schools across the district here:
Sibford School
Sibford School Head, Toby Spence said: “This has been an exceptionally unusual year and
today is about something much more than statistics and grades. Sibford School pupils, and
staff worked exceptionally hard both before and during lockdown to ensure that real
learning continued. Yes, grades are important but the determination, grit, resilience and
creativity of our community is what has truly shone through. For example, the manner in
which Year 11 pupils engaged with our teaching after Easter and thence our Sixth Form
preparation courses which we offered during the summer term was quite inspiring.
He added: “What is a particular pleasure are the strong set of grades across all subject
areas – from the creative arts to humanities and STEM subjects - underpinning the breadth
of talent we have across our holistic curriculum. As a community we can be proud of how
we responded to the circumstances and I am delighted by the outcomes for our pupils.”
Studley High School
Richard Eost, headteacher at Studley High School, said: "We would like to congratulate all of our pupils on their GCSE results. We are proud of the efforts and commitment that they all showed throughout their 5 years at Studley High School and it has been a delight to share their happiness and joy around GCSE outcomes.
"We wish all of them the best in and hope that, following this period of immense uncertainty and stress, they can enjoy whatever route they have chosen for their future."
Chipping Campden School
John Sanderson, principal at Chipping Campden School, said: "I’m delighted to see so many students being awarded the GCSE grades they richly deserve. They have had so much to cope with over the last few months and clearly experienced a great deal of anxiety over recent days. Both students and staff have worked extremely hard and have every reason to feel proud of their achievements this year.
"With such encouraging grades we are really looking forward to welcoming so many of our students, along with almost 70 from surrounding schools, back into our sixth form in September."
St Benedict's Catholic High School
Acting headteacher at St Benedict's, Andrew Madden, said: "At St Benedict’s we wish our year 11 students huge congratulations on a superb set of results which are reflective of their hard work and commitment.
"We know this has been an incredibly challenging time for students and we have been so impressed with their maturity and resilience. There have been some very strong results that students should quite rightly feel proud of. A significant number of students achieved strong passes in English and Maths and there were many students with 7s and
higher across the board. Despite the disruption that students have faced this year, these results will provide an excellent foundation from which to make their next steps into further education or training.
"We are especially looking forward to welcoming pupils back for our new sixth form offer of
A-levels and BTECs. Although this is a results day like no other, we hope that all our students will take a moment to stand back and reflect on their achievements. All the teachers and staff at St Benedict's are proud of them and wish them all the best for their future endeavours."
Stratford School
Stratford School headteacher, Neil Wallace, said: "We’re delighted to have been able to release the GCSE Grades to our students today, even if we have missed seeing their smiling faces in person. The uncertainty caused by government dithering and U-turns has again had an impact in delaying the release of the small number of BTEC grades that some of our students study. However, at least the GCSE grades issued have been what we feel are fair and reasonable outcomes for the Class of 2020. These grades have not been plucked out of the air, but are a robust professional view of what individuals would have achieved given the hard work put in by students and staff over the last few years.
"If we’ve learned anything from this sorry saga, it is surely that our education system has become far too obsessed with terminal examinations and league tables that are used to drive accountability measures. The sad truth is that in reality our system is configured to consign a third of young people to leaving school feeling that they have fallen short.
"Traditionally the focus on results day falls on high achieving individuals jumping for joy, rather than the ‘Forgotten Third’. Perhaps the absence of such images today, will enable us to reflect for a moment on how the system might look. In the longer term, we have to think again about our fixation on an exam-driven system. Lessons from the current fiasco must surely lead us to question whether government is making us assess learning in the most appropriate way. Having effectively eliminated coursework, there was nothing to fall back on in this crisis, unprecedented though it was. The government still doesn’t have a contingency plan in the event of disruption next year. But it goes beyond that.
"In the 21 Century, we remain wedded to a high-stakes examination system that is rooted in the 1950s. The time has come for the government to use this opportunity to revolutionise assessment in education, utilise technology and provide a variety of assessment approaches. How many jobs rely on people sitting down and providing a handwritten response for two hours based on memory? Perhaps the time has come for our political leaders to think more creatively. In the meantime, we are constrained to work within the current system.
"Nevertheless, we are grateful to families for supporting individuals throughout the uncertainty of the last few months. At least they can now look forward with confidence to the next chapter. We wish every one of our students the very best for the future and look forward to welcoming many of them back into the Sixth Form, alongside students from other local schools who have also been enrolling online today”.
"There were some standout individual performances from many students with the highest attainers being Eliza Everard, Lily Turley, George Truslove, Matthew Chong Ping, James Moore, Eva Eeleckyte, Holly Binks, Jasmine Ashfield, Saskia Hiipwell and Rosie McCormack.
"However, as a comprehensive school it is important that students make good progress from their respective starting points, regardless of their ability on intake and it is lovely to see so many students achieving grades to be proud of. Jasmine Ashfield, Amalia Popescu, Jessica Clack, Sophie Paige, Edward Greenslade, Pembe Eskier, Liv Turley, and Emily Harrison made the most progress from KS2-4 and should be particularly congratulated on their achievements."
Henley-in-Arden School
Steven Jefferies, headteacher at Henley-in-Arden School, said: "We're delighted that our pupils have gained a good set of results that reflect their hard work. The use of grades based on teacher assessments is positive, teachers have an in-depth knowledge of the work the students have put in and the resilience they have shown, the grades are a better reflection of them personally. Using the algorithm was never going to reward students personally."
Alcester Academy
Alcester Academy headteacher, Sarah Mellors, said: "We've had a really good year and we're very pleased that the Government U-turned on the grading, though we're disappointed that the B Tec results have not been released.
"We're pleased that we have maintained high standards at Alcester Academy and it just goes to show the resilience of our pupils during what has been a very difficult year. The success is down to the fantastic partnership we have between the children, parents and teachers."
Kineton High School
Helen Bridge, headteacher at Kineton High School, said: "Congratulations to all the students at Kineton High School who have received their results today.
"They absolutely deserve every success after what has been a tumultuous lead up to the results day. We have been so proud of the year group; they had been working so hard this year prior to school closure, on making the most of the lead up to exams. This set of results gives them the recognition they deserve.
"Many thanks to all the staff and parents who’ve supported them on the way. We look forward to seeing many of them back in our Sixth Form in September."
The Kingsley School
Mrs Christina McCullough, deputy head, said: “We are full of pride for all of our students and the exemplary way in which they have dealt with this very difficult year. These excellent results reflect the hard work of the students and the strong partnership between themselves, staff and parents.
"We are extremely proud of the well-rounded individuals they have become. They have conducted themselves with grace and courage and we look forward to seeing them continue to flourish in the future.”
The school said that of all grades, 27% were awarded at level 9-8 (A* equivalent), 51% at level 9-7 (A* - A equivalent) and 99.2% at level 9-4 (A* - C equivalent).
King Edward VI School
Bennet Carr, Headmaster at King Edward VI School, said: "Although denied the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities in public examinations, the excellent results received by our students are well-deserved and testament to the wonderful commitment they have shown to their studies.
"They have once again demonstrated that co-curricular and academic involvement and success are mutually supportive and they can be rightly proud of their many and varied achievements. These results give our students an excellent foundation on which to build success at A Level and I look forward to following their progress alongside those who join us in the Sixth Form."
Alcester Grammar School
"In the light of all that has gone on over the past week, I would simply like to congratulate our year 11 students on completing their first five years at AGS. The results process this year has given them an excellent set of grades that are fully merited. This year group was the first cohort of 150 to join us, and it has been great to give them the opportunity to enjoy the full breadth of the AGS curriculum and experience.
"The majority will now be joining our sixth form along with many other high achievers from our superb local feeder schools. We are looking forward to having them in school and I am sure they are equally enthusiastic."
Stratford Girls Grammar School
Jacqui Cornell, headteacher at Stratford Girls Grammar School, said: “Our Year 11s have received grades that reflect the amazing hard work they have put in, they have done exceptionally well right across the board.
“We’re absolutely thrilled for them and we’re really looking forward to them joining our Sixth Form. We’ve had all of our Year 11s in today, we staggered them coming in by house, it’s been lovely to see them, today is all about the school offering support to the girls face to face.
“There were a lot of smiles today, lots of happy faces.”
Shipston School
Gavin Saunders, headteacher at Shipston High School, said: "Shipston High School congratulates our year 11 students on the fantastic GCSE results achieved this year. Students in year 11 have had an extremely challenging time since the cancellation of the usual examinations. These grades represent the hard work across the duration of their courses, and their commitment has been rewarded with impressive individual performances and strong results across the school. All students should be very proud.
"These results show the results of sustained hard work and the excellent progress students make at the school. After such a disrupted year, I am delighted that these results empower students to go on to fulfill their ambitions in education, training and employment.
"The school has a strong and consistent record of academic achievement. The school’s focus on quality education, and our work preparing students for adult life, will enable students to move onto a wide range of fulfilling careers. 2020 results demonstrate the strong academic focus of Shipston High School as these grades have been earned through sustained effort across five years in the school.
"This is also a day to remember the community spirit that has supported our young people through the most unusual of circumstances; students are encouraged and supported by their families, friends and school staff.
"All students should be congratulated. Well done to everyone, and very best wishes for your future endeavours."
