LEADERS at Winterbourne Academy have hailed the “fantastic set of GCSE results” achieved by students this summer.
The school said 28% of grades were at grade 7 or above, the equivalent of an A or A* under the old grading system – well above the national average of 21.8%.
More than half of pupils (52%) achieved a grade 5 or above in both English and maths, and 74% achieved a grade 4 or above in both subjects, considered a ‘standard’ pass. Individually, more than 80% of results in English and maths were above grade 4.
Subjects with particularly strong performance included drama, where 89% of candidates achieved grade 7-9, and physics, where 57% of grades were 7-9. Half (50%) of chemistry candidates achieved grades 7-9 and the top three grades were also achieved by 44% of music candidates and 46% of Spanish students.
In vocational BTEC exams, grades of Distinction or Distinction* were achieved by 41% of sport and 44% of media students.
The overall exam pass rate was 99%.
Head teacher Jenny Cartwright said: “We are very proud of this Year 11 cohort, who have performed so well in their exams and who have also contributed so positively to the school during their time here.
“Students of all abilities, with a variety of circumstances and needs, have achieved their best and should feel proud of what they have done.
“Their teachers have offered great support, which I know so many students are very grateful for, and students have dedicated themselves to achieving their best.”
Among the individual achievers highlighted by the school were:
Aisha Shah, of Downend, who achieved eight top grade 9s and three grade 8s;
George Turner, of Frenchay, who achieved eight 9s, one 8 and two 7s;
Micaiah Scott, of Emersons Green, who achieved four 9s, one 8, two 7s, three 6s and a Distinction;
Phoebe Turner, of Emersons Green, who achieved six 9s, three 8s and two 7s;
Jonas Zhang, of Emersons Green, who achieved seven 9s, one 8, two 7s and a Distinction*.
Assistant head teacher Sarah Barker, who leads the school’s Key Stage 4 years, said: “I’m so proud of every one of our Year 11 students.
“These results reflect a huge amount of hard work, determination and resilience, and they should all take a moment to celebrate what they have achieved.
“It’s been a privilege to watch them grow over the last few years, and we’re excited to see where their next steps take them.
“Congratulations to all our students, and thank you to our staff and families for the support they’ve given along the way.”
Many of the students will move on to the school’s sixth form, while others will head off to colleges, apprenticeships and training.
