SCHOOLS across the borough bucked the national trend as pupils got their GCSE results.
This year’s results nationally showed the biggest ever year-on-year decline – down to the lowest level since 2008.
The overall proportion of entries achieving A* to C fell just over two per cent to 66.9 per cent. Top A* grades also slipped slightly to 6.5 per cent. Part of the blame for this has been put on more pupils in England being required to resit English and maths.
But a number of borough schools reported recorded results or improvements on the previous year.
LAWRENCE SHERIFF SCHOOL saw 100 per cent of students achieve five or more A* to C grades in English and Maths, while 62 per cent of pupils graded A to A*. The school also saw more than 70 per cent gain A* to A grades in computing, biology, chemistry and physics.
The school’s highest performing department was maths – which saw 90 per cent of students earning A and A* grades. In total, the school had 36 students earning ten or more A grades and above.
Headteacher Dr Peter Kent said: “Over recent years GCSE results at the school have been among the best in the country and I would like to congratulate this year’s group of students on maintaining these very high standards. Results such as these are only achieved through a lot of hard work on the part of students and staff.
“It is also important to remember how much parents do to support their children during this challenging period.”
RUGBY HIGH SCHOOL celebrated record breaking results, with 80 per cent of pupils achieving A to A* grades, while a near perfect 99 per cent of students obtained five A*-C grades including English and Maths.
Headteacher Charlotte Marten said: “I am so pleased that students’ hard work has been rewarded with these excellent outcomes. Our students enjoy academic study and they also enjoy a lot of other enriching activities and that is part of the reason for their success.”
THE AVON VALLEY SCHOOL saw 57 per cent of pupils achieve A* to C grades in English and maths – a significant increase on the previous year.
Shannon Mahal, Roanna Pedley, Weronika Kowalczuk, Spondan Biswas and Santa Svike all achieved A* grades in one or more of their exams.
Headteacher Alison Davies said: “Our students have produced a fantastic set of results this year and I am delighted that their hard work and commitment has been so richly rewarded.
“As always staff have worked extremely hard and, with the support of parents and carers, students have earned grades that will move them smoothly forward into the next stage of their education.”
BILTON SCHOOL saw an improvement in results from the previous year.
Headteacher Patsy Weighill said: “Congratulations to our students and staff for the huge improvement in results this year. We are so proud of our students’ achievements and confident that the upward trajectory demonstrated this year will continue, particularly in light of the links we will be developing with Southam College from next term.
PRINCETHORPE COLLEGE saw 40 per cent of GCSE grades at A* and A, and more than two thirds above a grade B. A fifth of pupils achieved at least nine A grades or higher.
Pupils Isabel Meade and Anna Harper-Lawrence achieved 11 A* grades.
Headmaster Ed Hester said: “It is marvellous to be able to celebrate such success and all credit goes to the pupils and staff for their hard work.
“I am delighted that the vast majority of this cohort will continue into our wonderful sixth form and have the opportunity to complete our innovative Princethorpe Sixth Form Diploma, which is so highly rated by universities and employers.”
THE SIR FRANK WHITTLE STUDIO SCHOOL – which opened in 2014 – saw pupils exceed target grades across a range of subjects. A number of the pupils will be staying on to study at the school’s own sixth form.
Headteacher Paul Hostead said: “I am delighted for our students and staff and all of the hard work they have put in to achieve these results.
“It is particularly pleasing to see that on the whole students have exceeded their target grades and gained results that will really enable them to succeed in the next stage of their lives.”
