It is not often that pupils surpass the most ambitious GCSE targets set them, but this year our pupils did it in style. 87% of pupils were awarded at least five A*-C grades. 79% pupils gained at least five GCSE grades A*-C including English and Maths. Nearly 35% of all entries were awarded A* or A grades. Almost every pupil gained at least five GCSE grades including English and Maths. The results beat our targets and exceeded Value Added estimates.

These are outstanding results. Pupils deserve to be absolutely delighted with how they have done. Right across the ability range pupils have proved to themselves what they can do. I am delighted that more than a third of all entries gained the top grades, but I am also proud of those pupils who are not academic high-fliers and yet still achieved impressive results. Behind the headline figures are many stories of young people who have come through difficult times. The fact that almost no pupil left school without at least five GCSE grades including English and Maths is a tribute to their determination and that of their teachers.

Resilient
As I mentioned at our Achievement Evening in May, our young people are endlessly resourceful in the breadth and variety of their interests and activities. They have learnt to be resilient when facing setbacks and they are also able to reflect honestly on their own abilities. Above all, they have grown into genuinely likeable and impressive young men and women who respect each other and themselves. They can look forward to the next step with enormous confidence.

I am immensely proud of our teaching staff and all those who work at Bishop Luffa for their excellent teaching and their unconditional support for our young people.

First results for an innovative curriculum
This year group have been the first pupils to try out the school’s plan to make the curriculum more flexible. Most pupils took the ICT short course (worth half a GCSE) two years ago when they were in Year 9, and many went on to take further ICT courses including the AS course last year. One class also took RE a year early in order to take AS Theology in Year 11. The new Science curriculum also allowed pupils greater choice between applied and academic routes. Mr Colin Lankester, Deputy Headteacher, commented, “Our pupils have benefited from this increased flexibility and it is likely that more pupils in the future will take GCSE early in some subjects to allow them to pursue their wider academic interests.”

“One rarely-mentioned by-product of this successful partnership is enjoyment. This year group has been great fun to teach – and their results suggest that they enjoyed learning too.”

Twenty-nine following pupils achieved exceptionally well with at least ten grades at A* or A in their GCSE exams (including RE and ICT short courses, which are awarded a half-grade):

George Barratt, Romy Clay, Joshua Cole, Henry Course, Megan Davies, Thomas Dempster, Ed Donnely, Matthew Ellis, Alex Fuller, Thomas Galloway, Anna Gerard, Jessica Harrison, Claire Hubert, Natasha Kalbfell, Chantel Kennaugh, Naomi Long, Cleo Pearson, Edward Richardson, Charlie Roe, Samuel Roe, Alice Sawers, Paul Smale, Ryan Smale, Harriet Stewart, Mia Tamlyn, Holly Tucker, Ollie White, Matthew Wong and Alexandra Woodcock.

GCSE 2008 Summary for Bishop Luffa School

Number in Year 11: 219

No. Pupils attaining 5+ A*-C grades: 191
No. Pupils attaining 5+ A*-C incl. English & Maths: 173
No. Pupils attaining 5+ A*-G incl. English & Maths: 217

% Pupils with 5+ A*-C grades 87.2%
% Pupils with 5+ A*-C incl. English & Maths: 79.0%
% Pupils with 5+ A*-G incl. English & Maths: 99.1%

% entries graded A* or A: 34.9%

Average capped points score per pupil (best 8 subjects): 364
Average points per pupil: 461
Average GCSE points per subject entry: 45

Points score for each grade

GCSE
58 52 46 40 34 28 22 16
A* A B C D E F G

Short Course GCSE:
29 26 23 20 17 14 11 8
A* A B C D E F G

Thus an average capped points score per pupil of 364 equates to an average per pupil of 7 GCSEs at grade B and 1 at grade C.