Hammersmith Schools Celebrate Great GCSE Grades

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Councillor says it is 'heartening to see great results in such a challenging year'

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.

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."

At Latymer Upper School over half of the year group achieving at least 8 A* grades and over 70% of grades were at A* with 90% of grades at A*/A.

Fencing champion and member of Team GB Josh Willcox who, having spent a busy year competing on the prestigious European Cadet Fencing Circuit now adds 10A*s to his sporting achievements. Maddie Lloyd, 10A*s, and Georgina Seal, 9A*s and 1A, have reason to celebrate in a year that has seen them both chosen for the GB rowing squad. Twins Felix and Cecile Ramin, pictured below, are celebrating their joint success, gaining 20A*s between them – 10A*s and 1A each.

Latymer Upper Head, David Goodhew said: "Congratulations to all our GCSE pupils who have had such fantastic results today - their hard work has really paid off. They bear the Latymer hallmark of being well-rounded individuals who, as well as achieving academically, pursue many of the co-curricular options on offer at Latymer.

"Having joined the School on the same day in 2012 as this talented Y11 cohort, I very much look forward to following their progress in the sixth form."

A 16 year-old who survived the Grenfell Tower fire was among many girls at Sacred Heart High School to receive excellent GCSE results.

56% of grades at the school on Hammersmith Road were A*, A or equivalent - an impressive feat.

Grenfell survivor Ines Alves, 16, got a 9 in maths, the very top grade in the new core subjects format, and an A* in Spanish.

Remarkably, she also got an A in a chemistry exam she sat just hours after fleeing her 13th floor home.

In total, 93% of Sacred Heart pupils passed in five or more subjects, including Isabelle Ferreira Xavier, 16, who picked up a 9 in Maths, an 8 in English language and in English literature, and A*s in biology, chemistry, history, physics, French, Portuguese, computing and religious education.

Isabelle and Norma with their results

Her friend Norma Maher, also 16, said she had thought she might fail English literature but ended up with a 9, the highest grade possible.

Norma gained an A* in three modern languages – French, Spanish and Italian – plus an 8 in maths and As in religious education, history and additional science

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."

"To see such great results in such a challenging year, is beyond heartening," says 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. 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