Students celebrate GCSE exam success
Friday, 25 August 2023
Thursday 24 August 2023, students at schools across Central Bedfordshire have been discovering their GCSE results.
This summer, there has been a return to pre-pandemic grading in England, with protection in place to recognise the disruption that students have faced.
The government has advised that is more meaningful to compare this year’s results with those of 2019, the last summer exam series before the pandemic.
Headline information on DfE’s provisional Key Stage 4 data for Central Bedfordshire shows:
- The overall Attainment 8 score is 45.7, which is a 0.9 point increase on 2019
- 66 per cent of students achieved Grade 4 or above in English and mathematics, which is a 2 percentage point increase from 2019
- 44 per cent of students achieved Grade 5 or above in English and mathematics, which is a 3 percentage point increase from 2019
- The average English Baccalaureate point score is 4.08, which is a 0.29-point increase from 2019
Councillor Hayley Whitaker, our Executive Member for Families, Education and Children, said:
I am delighted that so many students across Central Bedfordshire have done so well. The results are a testament not only to their hard work and dedication but also that of their parents and carers. I hope this allows young people to realise their aspirations and I wish everyone the very best in deciding upon their next steps.
And there have been plenty of individual success stories too, here are just a few examples:
Etonbury Academy
The top three performing students at Etonbury Academy in Arlesey who achieved the very highest grades (9-7) are; Alfie N, Rebecca C and Jack G and students who achieved the highest progress score, while reaching, on average, 2 grades above target were; Mihaela C, Molly M, Lucas M and Rebecca C.
Principal Joanne Young said:
Congratulations to every student who collected results today. They have been a phenomenal cohort of students throughout their time at the school and have embraced the academic challenge that GCSE presents. They have been determined to always aim high and be the best they can be.
For the first time in the history of the school, Etonbury Academy will offer sixth form provision from September, so many of their students will continue their studies there.
Priory Academy
Josh Cronin, Assistant Headteacher at Priory Academy in Dunstable, said:
Priory Academy is delighted to announce another successful year of GCSE results. The students have worked so hard over the last few years and the staff are extremely proud of them and their accomplishments.
We'd like to take the opportunity to single out three students who have made the most progress in their time at Priory Academy; Siyabonga Mthethwa, Victoria Mallawa and Eleanor Rawlings. Their enthusiasm and dedication is inspirational and their achievements are thoroughly deserved.
Redborne Upper School
The Headteacher at Ampthill’s Redborne Upper, Olly Button, said:
Congratulations to all our talented Year 11 students for an excellent set of GCSE results despite the challenging circumstances of the last few years. We look forward to welcoming most of them back into our Sixth Form and wish them all the very best for the next stage of their educational journey, whatever that may be.
Samuel Whitbread Academy
This year there were a number of individual success stories at the academy in Shefford, with numerous grade 9s from students including Nadia Ahmed, Daniel Batchelet, Nathan Cant, Jack Sharp and Andy Zheng who, between them, managed to gain 40 grade 9s, a Distinction Star in BTEC media, as well as four grade As and a B in further maths.
There was a similar strong performance from the students studying BTEC awards this year, with 20 students achieving a Distinction Star in engineering, enterprise, ICT, media, sport or health and social care.
Samuel Whitbread Academy Principal Nick Martin said:
I am really proud of this year group; they have been through a lot over the last few years and they have come out the other side with a great set of results, through a lot of hard work and determination.
They have also taken part in numerous school productions and performed at a national level in several different sports.mWhether they are staying on in the Sixth Form, going to college or starting an apprenticeship – I wish them all the luck in the world.
Stratton Upper School
The Biggleswade school saw record outcomes in art and design, physical education and additional mathematics, including Marta Saltini, who achieved 8+ in 10 subjects, and Alex Watters - 8+ in 9 subjects and an additional mathematics FSMQ grade A.
Sam Farmer, Principal at Stratton Upper School said:
We are incredibly proud of the achievements of our Year 11 students. As with the Year 13 results earlier in the month, we have seen the national picture of results move back to the pre-pandemic grade boundaries and we are pleased that our results are broadly in line with the 2019 values, given the incredibly challenging time in education students across the country have faced.
These results are a testament to the remarkable progress our students have made through their educational journey, guided by the values of responsibility and pride that we promote at Stratton Upper School.
Vandyke Upper School
At Vandyke Upper School in Leighton Buzzard, 76 per cent of students met the benchmark for both English and maths, which is above the national picture, while 81 students have gained at least five top grades.
Among those, achievers was Evie Williams who gained 11 GCSEs at grade 9. The former Fulbrook student said:
I did work hard and did a lot of revision but I couldn’t have done it without my amazing teachers. I was anxious waiting for results day but can now go on to study maths, biology, chemistry and psychology in the Sixth Form.
Ben Douglass achieved ten at grade 9 and one at grade 8 and will be studying biology, chemistry, physics and maths in the Sixth Form with the aspiration to study medicine at university and become a surgeon.
Headteacher Tim Carroll said:
This is a delightful group of young people it has been a pleasure to have in school. They have worked really hard and come through difficult times so it is lovely to come together this morning to celebrate their achievements.
Another exceptional set of GCSE results is testimony to the commitment of students but also the support of parents and carers and the work and dedication of staff.
Today is also the culmination of 11 years of schooling and these impressive results are the product not just of students’ time at Vandyke but their learning while in their lower and middle schools.