Beacon 'Bounce' for GCSE results

Beacon School headteacher Keith Batchelor praised students and staff after a bounce in GCSE results this year.

The increase in pupils passing English and Maths, in particular, has been significant - maths results increased by 16 per cent English by 10 per cent and there was a 74 per cent pass rate for each of these subjects.

The percentage of students who achieved both English and maths, a national measure, went up by a strong 15 per cent to 67 per cent. There was a bounce, too, in the top grades with 18 results at grade 9 and 56 at grade 8.
 

Keith Batchelor, headteacher at the school, a member of the multi-academy GLF Trust, said: “Year 11s and all the staff have done the school proud this year.

“They have not only risen to the challenge of tougher GCSEs but gone beyond our expectations in their collective attainment. The rise in results is a real boost to the school.  We will see many more join us for Year 12 and wish the others on to successful futures elsewhere.”

There were particular success stories for individual students: Michael Hutton: 4 x 9, 1 x A,  2 x 7, 2 x 6, 1 x B; Will Cottrell:  1 x 9,  5 x 8, 1 x A*, 2 x 7; Megan Adams:  1 x 9, 3 x 8, 2 x 7, 1 x 6, 2 x 5, 1 x B; Zoe Annetts: 5 x 8, 2 x 7, 2 x 5, 1 x B and Sean Bonney: 3 x 8, 2 x 7, 2 x 6, 2 x 5, 1 x B

Across the full range of subjects, there were some very strong grades, with students showing high commitment to achieving well in the many new and challenging specifications.

It means the numbers to the school’s Sixth Form are up - as more and more students want to continue to A Levels and higher-award BTECs.

Michael Hutton, whose four 9s came in maths, biology, chemistry and physics, said: “I didn’t expect to do this well in the sciences. All the teachers are very supportive here. They’re always eager to offer help however I needed it.”

Zoe Annetts, too, stressed the help given to her by staff. She added: “They were so good to me. I had people after school with me helping me revise, even teachers I didn’t usually have.

“I was scared of opening the envelope in front of everyone so I went out into the car and gave it to my mum to open! I’m just glad I also passed physics and further maths.”

Dave Harris, head of year 11, said: “I’ve never been involved with a staff body that’s given the sort of time and help that they’ve given to these pupils.

“I’ve been really impressed with the work and attitude of the students. After Christmas, the turnaround was really fantastic to see. You had kids coming in early, going home late. Their dedication has been fantastic.

“We told them, wait until August, you’ll be so pleased. It’s a really poignant moment to see all the smiles and happy faces.”