SEPTEMBER 2017 ISSUE 032
www.winchestertoday.co.uk
GCSE TRIUMPH FOR HAMPSHIRE SCHOOLS St Swithun’s report “best top results in five years”
Flood defences welcomed
By News Editor KEVIN GOVER THE new-style GCSE regime hasn’t seemed to affect St Swithun’s school, who’ve reported their top GCSE results as being the highest for five years. 56% of all entries were awarded an A* (the highest since 2012) and 85% of all entries awarded an A* or A. These results come against the backdrop of a decline in GCSE grades nationally and in the first year of a numerical grading system for some subjects. Over two thirds of entries were awarded the top grade in nine subjects including all three sciences (biology, chemistry and physics) as well as English language, French, German, Greek, Latin and Spanish. Nine girls achieved A* in all of their subjects, and over half of St Swithun’s pupils were awarded all A* or A grades. Overall, 97% of results were A* to B. Headmistress Jane Gandee told Winchester Today she’s delighted. “They have excelled academically whilst still enjoying notable successes outside the classroom. “This year group can boast national level sporting representation, county champions and outstanding performance in academic competitions. They have also excelled in supporting each other and have made us all laugh with their light-hearted approach. We are looking forward to seeing them flourish in the sixth form.” Hampshire’s Education boss, Peter Edgar, congratulated GCSE pupils across the county: “Even with the more rigorous new standards, our indications are that young people in Hampshire have achieved good GCSE results and the vast majority will be going on to further study or training with a good set of the core qualifications under their belts. “The Government’s new GCSE curriculum and radical change in grading has set the bar far higher for maths and English. It would be inaccurate to try and compare this year’s results in those subjects with performance in previous years, and wholly unfair on the students
page 3
They have excelled academically whilst still enjoying notable successes outside the classroom
Stomp returns in triumph page 5 to do so. With two systems temporarily running in parallel for different subjects, it is also a challenge to summarise the performance of schools. That said, early indications from schools would indicate that the underlying trend in outcomes is an improvement on previous years in Hampshire. “Hampshire’s pupils, their families, and schools can be very proud of this year’s results. The high calibre of teaching staff in our county is a big factor in the good GCSE results we see each year. I know that the announcement of GCSE results can be an equally rewarding moment for a great many teachers who are passionate about their work, and committed to doing all they can to help students to achieve. They should feel justly proud of having prepared young people so well, for the next stage of their lives.”
Meanwhile, over at Perins School in Alresford, Mia Cave and Vita Bush celebrate their results too. more details on page 6 ➜
Steve Brine opens play area page 8