High percentage of students achieve top grades in first year of new grading system across all subjects

Saughn, Tabitha, Charlie and Ellie achieved 39 ‘9/8/7’ grades between them at Latymer Upper

Local and nearby schools attended by Chiswick students celebrated excellent GCSE results this year in the first year of a new grading system for all subjects.

Nationally top GCSE grades are on the rise in 2019 despite the new "tougher" exams. This year, across the country, 20.7 per cent of all exams were given grades 7, 8 or 9, which is equivalent to A or A*, making it the highest proportion since 2015.

Hounslow Council said that GCSE results were even better than last year’s and had outperformed the national average. Performance in English and Maths GCSE improved again this year, with 71.5 per cent of pupils achieving grade 4+ in both subjects, which is almost 3 percentage points better than last year.

Over half (51.2 per cent ) the students achieved the more challenging grade 5+ In both English and Maths, which is a 2 percentage point improvement compared to last year.

Chiswick School is celebrating a significant increase in its top grades. A total of 99 students achieved a Grade 9-the highest grading -nearly double that of last year (52). Overall there were 223 students achieving grades 8 and 9 in the school.

Headteacher Laura Ellener said: "The number of top grades awarded to Chiswick School is reflection of the excellent teaching and it has been wonderful celebrating with students and staff. Chiswick School is on an upwards trajectory and we still have much to do, but reward the hard work and dedication of teachers and students. We are determined to put Chiswick School on the map and there is a real sense of energy and purpose in the school."

Luca Sahota (pictured below) joined in Year 7 and received Grade 9 in English Literature, English Language, History, Geography, Religious Studies, and Grade 8 in Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. He will study Philosphy, English, and Politics at A Level in Chiswick School.

Chiswick School headteacher Laura Ellener with Luca Sahota

It was all smiles at Latymer Upper School with outstanding GCSE results, and sixteen students achieved a clean sweep of a 9 grade in all subjects.

Nearly half of the results were at the highest possible score of a 9 grade.Saughn, Tabitha, Charlie and Ellie achieved 39 ‘9/8/7’ grades between them

Some families had double reason to celebrate with older siblings having received A level results last week.

Latymer Upper results showed: 92% of grades at 9/8/7

· 78% of grades at 9/8

· 47% of results were the highest possible score at a 9 grade

· 16 pupils achieved a clean sweep of 9 grades in all their exams

· 105 pupils (64%) achieved a 9/8/7 in all of their exams

· 73 pupils (44%) achieved a 9 grade in Mathematics

· 97 pupils (59%) achieved a 9 grade in English Literature

Bursary pupils achieved fantastic results, with eleven pupils achieving 9/8/7 grades including Hadeel Al Hasani who scored eleven 9 grades and whose brother Aos, also a Latymerian, is studying medicine at Imperial.

St Benedict's, Ealing

Students at St Benedict's, Ealing, are once again celebrating excellent GCSE results, with 58% of all exams awarded grades 9 to 7, the equivalent of A*-A, and 37% at grades 9-8.

Nine pupils achieved all grade 8s and 9s (straight A*) - James Bignell, Ned Gatacre, Aran Husni, Oscar Jones, Stephanie Maalouf, Milly McCosker, Louis Pyne, Emily Rawlings and Zoe Ziprin. Almost a quarter of the year group achieved straight 9 - 7 grades, or A*-A.

A number of academic departments at St Benedict's have seen outstanding GCSE results this year: top grades of 9 -7 were awarded to 91% of candidates in French, 83% in History, 69% in Computer Science and 67% in Art and Design.

The Headmaster, Andrew Johnson, said: "I am delighted that our students have once again achieved such excellent results. Congratulations to them and to their teachers, who have supported them so well.

ArtsEd Chiswick

ArtsEd’s Day School GCSE results had every student securing at least six GCSEs and many students achieving eight, nine, and even ten.

With the new top grade of ‘9’ now being in full operation (equivalent to A**), ArtsEd had a third of students achieve this new grade in one or more subjects, and every student achieving a top grade of 7, 8, or 9 in at least one subject – over 40% of all the GCSE Results were in this top band.

Adrian Blake, ArtsEd’s Day School and Sixth Form Headteacher said; “We are thrilled that our Year 11 students have done so well in their exams especially with the changing landscape of GCSEs. To achieve so many top grades just shows how multi-talented our students really are, and I am enormously proud of each and every one of them”.

Year 11 Pupil, Abbie Punton has thoroughly enjoyed her time at ArtsEd, and is excited for the future. “I’m really, really happy! I know that without the hard work and dedication of the teachers and the overall support I received here, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve what I have! I’m so grateful for all they’ve done for me. I’m really excited to start at Laine next year to study the Level 6 Diploma in Musical Theatre!”

Another year 11 Pupil, Charlotte Sparks is delighted with her maths result and eager to continue her journey at ArtsEd. “In January I was told that it was unlikely that I would pass maths – but I’m so happy that I passed! It’s all thanks to the teachers at ArtsEd – I’m so grateful. I’m excited to continue my studies at ArtsEd Sixth Form where I will be taking BTEC Acting and Drama A level.”

St Augustine's Priory

Outstanding results have been achieved in this year’s GCSE results with 100% of pupils achieving at least one grade 9, 8 or 7 and 21% of all grades were the top grade, 9.

The GCSE results from St Augustine’s Priory, the Ealing Catholic independent day school for girls, saw 100% of pupils achieving at least one grade 9, 8 or 7 and 21% of all grades were the top grade, 9.

The school said that at a time when the emphasis is on STEM subjects, results from St Augustine’s Priory show that their results are excellent across the board with 98% of Triple Science results (Biology, Chemistry & Physics IGCSE) grades at 9, 8 or 7, while 93% of Modern Languages (French, Russian & Spanish) grades were 9, 8 or 7 and 83% of all entries in Art, Drama and Music were grades 9, 8 or 7.

Coupled with this, 83% of Religious Studies grades were 9, 8 or 7. This rigorous examination tests academic acumen and develops sophisticated qualities of ethical debate. The world is crying out for young people with these skills. In all, 86% of pupils achieved at least one grade 9 or 8 and 22% of the year group scored grades 9, 8 or 7 in all their subjects.

Isleworth & Syon Boys School

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Picture features (L-R): Philip Lisiewicz, Lars-Leander Volle, Josiah Wilson Kepple, Morgan Lawrence, Joseph Whittaker, Jack Shiels and Jakub Poskrop.

This year’s individual results were 'outstanding' with a number of noteworthy successes to celebrate. The top-performing student was Josiah Wilson Kepple; twelve months ago, he sat English language a year early and earned a top grade 9, and now he has added 7 more 9s along with an 8 and a 7. A former national champion athlete, Josiah decided to focus on his
studies this academic year and has reaped the rewards; he will now look to push to Sixth Form this September.

Joining him will be Jack Shiels, who will take three A levels having earned 3 9s, 6 8s and 1 7. Outside of school, Jack is an international trampolinist, a talent which the school has supported and encouraged . Completing the top three is Hussain Qurashi, who earned 9 grades at 9-7 (A*-A equivalent), including a stunning 6 9s!

In PE, Isleworth & Syon boys continue to excel. Joseph Whittaker earned full marks in his rugby practical on his way to 1 9, 5 8s, 3 7s and a 6, while Morgan Lawrence only dropped two practical marks (out of 75). Overall, Morgan earned 3 9s, 1 8 and 5 7s.

It was not just sport where students earned full marks. In the drama group, 12 students earned either 100% or one mark away from full marks – a testament to the brilliant work being done by subject specialist staff. This year another two students gained places in the prestigious National Youth Theatre, making it nine students in five years!

On the musical side, Thomas Skinner earned full marks on his piano practical, on his way to 1 9, 4 8s, 3 7s and 2 6s overall. Faced with a national picture which marginalises creative subjects, the school took the decision to maintain a breadth of curriculum, and we are thrilled with those results.
Other top performers included Ranveer Padda with 3 9s, 2 8s and 3 7s, as well as Lars-Leander Volle, who achieved 10 grades at A*-A equivalent (3 9s, 2 8s, 3 7s, 1 6). Other students achieving multiple 9s were Philip Lisiewicz and Jakub Poskrop, with two and three respectively, as well as a string of other top grades. Joining them in the top performers roster is Ahmed Kalair, who will join Year 12 after achieving 9 grades at A*-A equivalent, including 6 8s! I

Headteacher Euan Ferguson commented, “While students across the country struggle with
demanding specifications, our boys continue to perform at the highest level."

Hounslow Council has congratulated schools across the borough as students celebrated receiving excellent GCSE results which were even better than last year’s.

Performance in English and Maths GCSE improved again this year, with 71.5 per cent of pupils achieving grade 4+ in both subjects, which is almost 3 percentage points better than last year.

Over half (51.2 per cent ) the students achieved the more challenging grade 5+ In both English and Maths, which is a 2 percentage point improvement compared to last year.

Pupils across the borough also performed well in their other GCSEs, with provisional information indicating that they have out-performed pupils nationally across their best 8 GCSEs. Performance in the English Baccalaureate (comprising 5 subjects including English, Maths, Science, a language and a humanities subject) were also better than last year.

Councillor Tom Bruce, Cabinet Member for Education and Children and Youth Services at Hounslow Council, said: “Well done to everyone who received their GCSE results yesterday. It is a testament to the skill and commitment of all our teachers, support staff, governors and parents and the hard work of our young people that means they continue to achieve at the highest standard.

August 23, 2019