Students at Cardinal Newman Catholic School have achieved the school’s best ever GCSE results despite reforms being brought in this year.
The school said that 77 per cent of students achieved at least five GCSEs including English and mathematics at grade 4 – equivalent to a C – or above.
The new GCSEs in maths and English were graded from 1 to 9 with the top grade – 9 – being described as an A**.
The school said: “A fantastic 81 per cent of students passed mathematics and English at grade 4 or above (84 per cent of students gained a grade 4 or above for mathematics and 86 per cent of students gained a grade 4 or above for English language).
“The new government accountability measures showed that Cardinal Newman Catholic School had a great Attainment 8 score of +52.22.”
For more details about Attainment 8 and another measure of performance, Progress 8, see below.
The school said: “Particular congratulations to Alfie Smith who achieved nine A* grades and three grade 9s and Charis Marshall who achieved eight A*/A grades and three grade 9s.”
Other students singled out for congratulations included
- James Booth, who achieved eight A*/A grades, one at grade 9 and two at grade 8.
- Nina Heywood, who achieved eight A*/A grades, two at grade 9 and one at grade 8.
- Connie Petronzio, who achieved eight A*/A grades, one at grade 7, one at grade 8 and one at grade 9.
- Eimear Day, who achieved seven A*/A grades, two at grade 9, one at grade 8 and one distinction.
- William Howes, who achieved nine A*/A grades, one B grade, one at grade 9, one at grade 8 and one at grade 7.
Cardinal Newman head James Kilmartin said: “We are delighted with these results which reflect the hard work and determination of both students and staff.
“They have been achieved against a background of volatility and change resulting from the GCSE reforms.”
Dr Kilmartin added: “Our Year 11 students and their teachers have been true pioneers demonstrating great resilience and resourcefulness in responding to this challenge.
“We look forward to welcoming many of our Year 11 students back to Newman College, our Sixth Form, at the beginning of next term and to the opportunity to celebrate these wonderful results.”
The Department for Education website includes an explanation of the new GCSE grading system and a visual guide.
It also includes details about the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 measures here and here.
