Students on the Isle of Wight are finding out what GCSE results they have been given today (Thursday).
It is just days after the Government did a u-turn on how students would be graded, they will be handed results as predicted by their teachers instead of a controversial algorithm.
Changes to the marking system has prompted BTEC results to be delayed though. The exam board behind the vocational courses are re-grading the results saying that otherwise - compared with GCSEs and A-Levels - students would be disadvantaged.
Earlier this morning it was revealed GCSE students in England have achieved a record-breaking set of results, with a surge in the number of top marks. There has been a 40% increase in grade nines, equivalent to A-star under the old system.
What about the Isle of Wight?
The Isle of Wight Council is congratulating young people who have worked hard to achieve their GCSE results, overcoming the difficulties posed in completing their courses as a result of the coronavirus (Covid-19) lockdown.
The council has also welcomed the announcement that this year's results will be largely based on teacher assessment and that plans to override this using a mathematical algorithm have been scrapped.
With schools finishing suddenly this year and exams not taking place due to Covid-19, Councillor Paul Brading, Cabinet member for children's services, education and skills, said it had been an uncertain and worrying time for many Island students and their families.
He said:
"I’d really like to congratulate them on how well they have done in the face of the Covid-19 adversity.
"This year, perhaps more than any year in the past, GCSE grades have been based on the consistent hard work of pupils over time and the support that they have received from their parents.
"In the absence of pupils taking examinations, teachers are best placed to use their professional judgement to ensure young people are awarded grades that most accurately represent their achievements.”
Councillor Brading said he had been impressed with how schools and young people had coped and "gone above and beyond to maintain such high standards."
He added:
"A huge ‘well done’ to pupils, parents and teachers alike. And, I’m extremely pleased that, generally, colleges have said they will honour places that they offered to this group of 16-year-olds prior to lockdown.”
Any young person who needs help or advice about their next options, having received their results, can speak to their school’s careers adviser or contact Island Futures – the council’s careers advice service for young people – email [email protected].
Further advice is available on the new 'Flying Start IOW' website to help young people in Year 11 plan and prepare for life, study and work after school.
Students who may be feeling uncertain, anxious or stressed about the future as they move on to college, employment or training can also seek support from Young Minds who will help to encourage them to look after their mental health and identify when to ask for help.
Christ The King College
Many students were celebrating today as they received their GCSE results at Christ the King College. Like those at A-Level, outcomes for students demonstrate improvement from the previous year.
Executive Headteacher, Mr. Matthew Quinn, said,
“The improvement journey of Christ the King College has been well documented. Today with the publication of the GCSE results of our 2020 cohort, I am proud to congratulate our students, families and staff who have worked so hard to achieve some exceptional results during this time of unprecedented challenge and change. It is clear that Christ the King College is a place where students can excel.”
One of Christ the King’s students, Mabel Lewis, had much to celebrate:
“I was relieved and happy to have gotten the grades I worked so hard for, although I would have liked the opportunity to take my exams. I will be continuing at the Sixth Form at Christ the King College.”
Olivia Pattimore added, “Thank you to all the teachers for the support they have given to enable me to achieve outstanding grades.”
In the key performance measure of a pass in both English and Maths, 77% of students achieved a grade 4 or better, an improvement on last year’s results. Science passes were similarly strong. Two students at Christ the King earned 10 or more grade 9 results at GCSE level.
Like all secondary schools, Christ the King’s results come amidst further changes and delays to the awarding of BTECs, following the government U-turn and announcement that students in England will receive centre assessed grades for GCSE and A level results this summer.
Luke Chessell, year 11 student said:
“I was feeling very nervous but I am really happy with my results, as I gained 7 GCSEs. I am looking forward to going on to study engineering.”
Mrs. Nora Ward, Head of School, said:
“I continue to be very proud of students at Christ the King. During this time of school closure, they have demonstrated resilience, independence, creativity and positivity. I have always believed that GCSE results are important because a strong set of results provide the key to open many doors in the future. While I am disappointed in the delay of BTEC results today, I am confident that those will also be strong when we are able to share them with our students, and know that we will be able to enrol our students on appropriate Sixth Form courses despite this delay.
I would like to thank in particular senior staff in the school and our exams officer, who have responded to the changes in arrangements with professionalism and thoughtfulness. My hope for our students and their families is that they can step away from the noise and controversy of this exam season, and that they can appreciate that the results they have achieved are a demonstration of the potential success ahead for each of them. All the staff at Christ the King are grateful that we have had the gift of working with our students during their GCSE journey. We look forward to welcoming most of our students back in September to continue their studies with us. Christ the King is somewhere where there are no barriers to students fulfilling their potential.”
Cowes Enterprise College
Staff and students joined together to celebrate the many achievements at the end of what has been an unprecedented end to the academic year for all schools across the country, in light of COVID-19 and the cancellation of exams this summer.
Amongst some of the individual successes this year were:
- Beth Cobden achieved an incredible 6 grade 9s, 1 grade 8 and 3 grade 7s
- Hans Kulla achieved 4 grade 9s, 1 grade 8 and 3 grade 7s
- Brooke Morey achieved 4 grade 9s and 5 grade 8s
Rachel Kitley, Principal at Cowes Enterprise College, said:
“Our GCSE students have really led by example this year, and they should all be very proud of themselves and their achievements. They have continued to look forwards and stayed dedicated to their work and their goals, and I know they have been a real inspiration to both students and staff at Cowes, as well as to their families. The whole community at Cowes is here to support them as they get ready for their exciting next steps.”
Despite an unprecedented few months, everyone at Cowes Enterprise College has made a stellar effort to support each other and continue to find creative ways to connect remotely during lockdown.
An online creative showcase demonstrated all the different ways they have stayed busy over the last term, from drawing projects to dramatic monologues and instrumental recitals.
Ryde School
Headteacher of Ryde School, Mark Waldron, says he is "delighted" with this year's GCSE results after the "complete nightmare" of A-Level Results Day last week.
He said:
"What's good about the result is that we've got now is that they [the students] are going out there with the real results that they deserved not the mess that the Government gave us last week."
Among the high achievers at the school were:
- Twins Ella and Campbell Laird; Campbell got a 9 in History, 8 in PE and 7 in Geography, among others.
- In the subjects Ella is going on to study, she got a 9 in English Literature, 9 in English Language and 8 in History.
- Tiya Ramdany is celebrating five eights and four nines.
- Whereas Alex Wilson said he was "surprised" after rounding off his GCSEs with "quite a few 9s".
- Elsa Wester achieved 10 nine grades.
Ryde Academy
GCSE results at Ryde Academy are up by 10% compared to last year. But headteacher Joy Ballard says staff will not be completely satisfied until every child in the school gets that "magical 4", particularly in their English and Maths.
She said:
"We've still got work to do, we're celebrating another improvement this year but again look forward to next year really and making further gains."
Among Ryde Academy's high achievers are:
- Christie Bufton got a 6 for English Language, 6 for Citizenship, 6 for Photography, 5 for English Literature, 4 for History and a 5 for Maths.
- Kelsey Critchley is also celebrating after securing a 3 in Citizenship, 4 in English, 4 in English Literature, a Level 2 pass in Health and Social, among other grades. She is still waiting for one of her BTEC grades.
- Grady Henley got six 9s and a series of 8s.
- Dan Williams secured a combination of 9s and 8s and will be staying at Ryde Academy's Sixth Form.
Overall, the Academy has seen an improvement in standards in their English and mathematics combined GCSE results of 68% at Grade 9-4. In History and Computer Science students did particularly well, with 61% and 77% respectively achieving Grade 4 and above.
Isle of Wight Education Federation
Statement from The Isle of Wight Education Federation:
“The Governors, Leadership and staff would like to commend the Year 11 students from both Carisbrooke College and Medina College for their resilience and understanding over what has been an unusual and uncertain end to the final year of this stage of their education. The students may not have taken exams, but we all recognise and celebrate their hard work and commitment over a period of years which has attributed to the grades that they have received today.
“We know that a large amount of students will be continuing their studies with us at The Island VI Form and very much look forward to working with them to further their education in a more independent way. Any student from across the Island who is still undecided on their next step but would be interested in joining The Island VI Form can complete an application form which can be found on our website. Being the only VI Form on the Island with a dedicated site just for our VI Form students does make us unique.“
Matthew Parr-Burman, Executive Headteacher for the Isle of Wight Education Federation said:
“I am extremely proud of the students from both schools and wish them every success in the next stage of their lives. I would also like to acknowledge the immense amount of hard work and integrity that the staff have displayed during this challenging time. I am confident that the Centre Assessed Grades are an accurate reflection of what the students would have achieved under normal circumstances.”
Confused about the grading system?
Here is a graph to make things easier.
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