Blatchington Mill School reported a big jump in the proportion of students gaining good GCSE results.
Seventy per cent of students achieved the government’s benchmark of five GCSEs, including maths and English, with grades of A* to C.
The school said that this was a rise of 10 percentage points on last year and “ fantastic set of results”.
The school also said: “Eighty per cent of all grades were a C or better, with 79 per cent of students achieving at least five grades higher than a C, which is a 6 per cent increase on 2014.
“There was also an improvement on students being awarded the very top grades – 33 per cent of entries were awarded A* or A grades and 30 per cent of students achieved over five A*/A each.
“High-quality teaching ensured that students made fantastic progress with a positive ‘valued added’ measure – meaning students made more progress at Blatch than others did nationally.
“Students from disadvantaged backgrounds made better progress than ever – with a higher ‘value added’ score than other students – with Blatch promoting social mobility and high aspirations for all.
“Students and staff have worked incredibly hard and have been rewarded with many success stories.”
The school said that the highlights included
- Excellence for all: 61 per cent of students achieved at least one A or A* grade
- No child left behind: All students awarded at least one qualification
- Aiming beyond the minimum: The average student grade was above a C and the average grade in English and maths was a B
- Closing the gap: Students from disadvantaged backgrounds have made more progress than ever before, narrowing the gap in English by 9 per cent and maths by 7 per cent
- Above national performance: All students made better progress from their relative starting points than national figures
- Best of the best: 32 students gained 10 or 11 straight A*/A grades.
Retiring head teacher Janet Felkin said: “Our students have worked so hard throughout their two years of GCSE and have been rewarded with an excellent set of results.
“This is also due to a combination of commitment to excellence and high aspirations shared by staff, students and their families.
“We are so pleased with this significant increase and recognise that working in partnership with all learners across the city has had mutual benefits.
“Well done class of 2015! We wish you well for your very bright futures.”
Incoming head Ashley Harrold was delighted for the staff and students and keen to build on these results over the coming year.
He said: “These are results that the school community can be proud of in so many ways.
“Closing the gap for disadvantaged students is incredibly satisfying and important, as is the rise of 10 per cent in the students achieving the benchmark five good grades with English and maths.
“Education is about opportunity. These results open doors for our students and that is fantastic.
“The achievements of some students are humbling – for over 30 students to get straight A*/A grades shows exceptional determination to succeed.
“What is so pleasing about these results is that they go to an exceptional group of young people who have so much to offer the world as they move into the next stage of their education.
“They finish this chapter of their education well qualified but also erudite, compassionate, kind and with an excellent work ethic.
“We wish success to those leaving us and to the many that stay into sixth form. The learning continues apace from September.”
