Shepherd's Bush Students Celebrate Great GCSE Results

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Including a number who have achieved the new 9 'super grade'

According to provisional figures for 2017 from schools across the borough, the total this year was 68%, up 4% on last year.

This year the new numbered grades - from a low Grade 1, to a high Grade 9 - were introduced for English and mathematics only.

Grade 4 is the standard pass, and Grade 5 a strong pass.

Grade 7 is an old-style A, Grade 8 and A*, and Grade 9 pushes the bar even higher with the equivalent of an A** - a 'super grade' achieved

Other subjects were marked on the old system for the last time this year, before switching to numbered grades next summer.

A number of pupils at Phoenix Academy achieved the top grade of 9, in the reformed English and maths system set to be rolled out to other subjects across the country over the next couple of years.

Success stories included Tamara Obeng-Dominguez, picture above with another top student Rostom A-Zoubi. She gained a 'super grade' 9 in English literature, a 7 in English language and an 8 in maths. A 9 is the equivalent of A**, while an 8 is like an A*, and a 7 is an old-style A.

The 16 year-old also received an A* in Spanish and in computing, plus three As in triple sciences and an A in history.

Abdulmalik Mohammed, 16, also gained nine GCSEs overall and a 9 in English literature. His other results included an 8 in maths, a 7 in English language, an A* and two As in triple science and a B in geography.

Abesa Bela got 7s in English language, English literature and maths; two As and an A* in triple science; an A in computing, and a B in geography.

Zakariyah Farah’s results comprised an 8 in English literature, a 6 in English language, a 7 in maths, As in triple science (which counts as three GCSEs), computing and geography.

163 of the 950 students at Phoenix took GCSEs this year - the first batch to do so since the school became an academy last September.

Headteacher Michael Taylor pointed out the school’s particularly strong showings in English, science, religious education, PE and psychology.

"Our students have worked hard this year to achieve these results and we congratulate them on their achievements," he said. "They are well prepared for the next two years in the sixth form or at college.

"We are pleased and proud that they have done so well. I would also like to express my gratitude to our staff – teaching, support and administration – for their unstinting hard work and dedication to the students."

Burlington Danes Academy’s English results were well above the national average, with 81% of students receiving at least a 4, the new pass mark.

Burlington enjoyed a 100% pass rate in Latin, while the school’s religious eductions results also stood out.

Riannah Ahdain, 16, passed in all 11 subjects she took. She said she was 'really pleased' with her results, which included: a 9 in English literature; an 8 in English language; ans As in sociology, geography, chemistry and French. She plans to take French, biology and psychology next year.

Lujayn Nour also excelled in core subjects, picking up a 9 in English literature, a 7 in English language and an 8 in maths.

An 8 is equivalent to an A*, while a 9 is even higher. Other subjects are expected to start using the new grading system within the next two years.

Lujayn also got A*s in religious education, geography and Arabic, and As in economics, sociology, chemistry, physics and biology. The 16-year-old’s results were higher than she expected and enable her to stay on at Burlington to study maths, economics and psychology in the sixth form.

Fellow 16-year-old Alfie Harris was another to shine. He received an 8s in maths and English literature, a 6 in English language, and an A* in RE.

He wants to become a tailor after he completes A-levels in philosophy & ethics, art and maths.

Brittany Archibald, 16, also passed in all 10 of her subjects, her results including a 7 in English language with a distinction in speaking and listening.

While Abubakar Baldo, also 16, obtained an 8 in both maths and English literature, an A* in chemistry, As in French and geography.

"I’m very pleased with our results," said headteacher Michael Ribton."Our English results are very strong, and I’m delighted for students carrying on with English into the sixth form.

"It’s the first year of the reformed GCSEs in English and maths. Undoubtedly, students need to work harder, learn more, study more content and write much more in the exam, and that’s a shift, not just for students but for staff as well.

"I’m really proud of the way students and staff have stepped up."

In the new school year, Burlington Danes has offered places to a number of students whose schools were affected by the Grenfell Tower fire.

At Hammersmith Academy, 75% of students achieved five GCSEs at A*-C equivalent and 65% achieved five A*-C including English and Maths. Across all students there were 100 A*s or equivalent - double last year’s total of 50 - and 166 A grades.

Among the top performers were Natalie Brindle, who achieved the "super grade" grade 9 in English language and 8s in both English literature and maths, bolstered by six As, two Bs, a C and a distinction in BTEC ICT.

Natalie will head to University College School in Hampstead and hopes to go on a study law and politics.

Youssef Awadalla scored five As, four Bs, a 9 in maths, 8 in English literature and 7 in English language and Jamel Lawrence was "ecstatic" with his five A*s, five As and a B, including an A* in a particularly tough French aural exam.

Headteacher Gary Kynaston said: "It’s been stunning. The students have done really well.

"We’re really pleased with the set of results, especially the new specification English and maths so I’m really proud of how the teachers have prepared the students to do the more tough GCSEs."

West London Free School is celebrating excellent grades in its second set of GCSE results. In particular, pupil achievement in English, Mathematics, Science, Latin, Music and Religious Education are exceptional. 36% of all the GCSEs were graded A*/A (including 7-9 in English and Mathematics, which is equivalent to A*/A in the old system).

80% of pupils achieved a 4 or above in English and Mathematics (equivalent to a C or above) while ten pupils achieved the very highest grade. In addition, 100% of pupils who took Religious Education achieved A*-C, with 74% of these getting A*/A.

Hywel Jones, the Headteacher said:" I am very proud of our pupils. This year group has worked very hard and successfully met the challenge of the more rigorous GCSEs in Mathematics and English. The results are a testament to those efforts, our exceptional teaching staff and the support from parents and carers. They are particularly impressive, given that all our pupils have taken the most rigorous, academic GCSEs, with none doing BTECs or any other equivalents."

"To see such great results in such a challenging year, is beyond heartening," said Cllr Sue Macmillan, H&F Cabinet Member for Children and Education.

"Many of our students have been personally affected by the Grenfell Tower disaster; but also there has been a restructuring of the grading system that has provided a new challenge for students and staff alike.”

"Great teaching continues to bring great results in the borough,” said Cllr Macmillan. “The challenge now is to show these young people a pathway to the next stage in their life: be that in education, employment or training."

 

August 30, 2017