Bristol pupils celebrate GCSE results
Main image: Students from Bridge Learning Campus with their results. Left to right: Emily Nicholson, Lillie Setter and Lacey Tucker. Image Bridge Learning Campus.
With school closures and exam cancellations due to the Coronavirus pandemic – thousands of year 11s in Bristol received their GCSE grades today (20 August) without having to sit the subjects.
Following last week’s A-level results and claims of unfairness – the Government abandoned the awarding of A-level and GCSE results in England based on computer modelling, in favour of teacher-assessed grades.
This is the second year running that grades are based on the numerical 9-1 rather than A to G – with 9 being the top grade and slightly better than the former A*.
With the change to the system, many schools in Bristol have chosen not to publish results but to focus on particular students – with some congratulations on social media.
Bedminster Down School
At Bedminster Down, teachers and careers specialists were in school today to help students.
They will continue to do so during the next few weeks to support their choices and aid pupils who need extra help due to the months they have spent out of school.
Some stand-out results from individuals included Katy Parmenter who achieved 10 grade 7 or above grades and Luca Jakab who arrived in Year 7 from Hungary without being able to speak English achieving 6 grade 9s and 3 grade 8s.
Headteacher Debbie Gibbs said: “We are so pleased that all our students are receiving the grades that truly reflect their hard work and achievements. At Bedminster Down school we took extreme care and consideration applying a rigorous approach with integrity for every single grade we submitted.
“They may not have sat an exam but they have certainly earned their results and we are so proud of each and every one of them. Although they have missed out on so much this year, they have not missed out on opportunity and it was lovely to see so many happy faces as students came to collect their results.”
Bridge Learning Campus
See main image.
Students at Bridge Learning Campus, Bristol have been encouraged to be proud of their achievements as they collected the results of their GCSE and vocational qualifications today.
Headteacher Rupert Maule said: “ This has been an incredibly difficult year for GCSE students across the country, testing their resilience and character.
“Our students should be especially proud of their results and they can be reassured that teachers and school leaders undertook a rigorous process to ensure these results are an accurate, honest and fair reflection of students’ hard work over the last few years.
“We wish all of our students every success as they move on to their Post-16 destinations and hope they will keep us updated with their future progress…”
Teachers and careers specialists were at Bridge Learning Campus today to continue to work with the young people and their families, ensuring that all students have places to move onto for further study or apprenticeships.
Merchants’ Academy
The academy in Withywood has announced the school continues its upward trend to “improve student outcomes”.
This year 54 per cent of all Year 11 students achieved grades 4-9 in both English and maths, up from 37 per cent in 2019.
Of those, 38 per cent are grade 5 or above, up from 17 per cent last year. The average attainment score is also a significant improvement at 41, against 34 in 2019.
Headteacher Samantha Williamson said: “We are extremely proud of this cohort of students, many of whom joined the Academy with well below average starting points.
“Through hard work and dedication of their teachers, they are celebrating a well-deserved set of results today that will allow them to move forward with promising futures…”
Pupil Ishi was recognised for her “inspirational results” in difficult circumstances. Ishi had been in care and had the additional challenge of changing family placements during her final year – but was the highest-achieving pupil at the school this year.
Oasis Academy Brislington
Two star pupils appeared on Twitter – being congratulated by the school for their exceptional results:
“A huge well done to Max from @OABrislington! What a fantastic set of results, and something to be very proud of. Best of luck next year! #gcseresults2020#OCLResults“
“A huge well done to Daniel from @OABrislington! What a fantastic set of results, and something to be very proud of. Best of luck next year! #gcseresults2020#OCLResults“
Oasis Academy John Williams
The school in Hengrove published photos of happy students on results day and tweeted: “A lovely morning spent with our Year 11s…we’ve so missed their wee faces ?
#GCSEResultsDay2020″
