Catholic schools in the UK are among those celebrating excellent GCSE results, despite a significant drop in the number of A*-C grades on a national level.
Across the country, the proportion of A*-C grades has dropped by 2.1 percentage points – the steepest drop since GCSE examinations were introduced in 1988. However, a number of Catholic schools reported an increase in A*-C grades. Bishop Challoner Girls’ School in Tower Hamlets, London, was celebrating a 70 per cent A*-C rate, up from last year; its brother school, Bishop Challoner Boys’, achieved a 66 per cent A*-C rate.
Bishop Challoner was particularly proud of its English results, with 80 per cent of pupils at both schools achieving A*-C grades. Nationally, only 60.2 per cent of candidates achieved a C or above – a dramatic drop from 65.4 per cent last year.
Our Lady’s Convent School in Loughborough also saw an increase in A*-C grades, from 92 per cent last year to 93 per cent this year, and did particularly well in English, Religious Studies and Biology. This year has been a particularly good year for religious studies in the UK, with the highest number of entries since 2002.
Although the Oratory School in Reading saw a slight dip in A*-C grades, this year it celebrated the largest number of top grades since 2010, with 41% of entries awarded A* and A grades.
The Government is continuing to make changes to the GCSE system. This is the last year of the A*-C gradings; next year, papers will be awarded grades from 1 to 9. Grade 5, equivalent to a low B or high C, will be the new benchmark for a ‘good pass’ in league tables; currently the benchmark is a C.
Meanwhile, the publication of GCSE results this morning confirmed a remarkable double for two sisters from St Augustine's Priory in Ealing. Manisha Thukral, 16, was celebrating gaining 10 perfect A* grades in her GCSEs just a week after her sister Ridhi Thukral, 18, achieved 4 A* grades in her A levels.
SUCCESS STORIES
Bishop Challoner, Tower Hamlets
70 per cent and 66 per cent A*-C rate for girls and boys respectively, up from last year
80 per cent A*-C grades at both schools for English, History, Art and Science
Mayfield School, East Sussex
100 per cent A*/A in Chemistry, Further Maths, Sport and Classical Greek
Over a quarter of girls achieving more than 10 A* or A grades
The Oratory School, near Reading
41 per cent of entries awarded A* and A grades – best since 2010
Top performer Luke Thomson achieved 10 A*s and an A – including full marks in Classical Greek
Our Lady’s Convent School, Loughborough
Increase in A*-C grades from 92 to 93 per cent
59 per cent of English entries achieving A* or A
Particularly proud of the “outstanding” results of Olivia Sherwood, who has battled serious illness this year
Ratcliffe College, Leicester
87 per cent of entries awarded A*-C
23 per cent of Further Maths entries achieving A or above
Top student Philip Gyesi-Appiah awarded 11A*s, including A* with Distinction in Further Maths
Prior Park College, Bath
All students achieving at least five GCSEs at A*-C, including in English and Maths
26 per cent of entries graded A*
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