GCSE success inTaunton

Congratulations again this week as Taunton secondary schools celebrated a bumper crop of GCSE results.

For one school it was particularly important, Taunton Academy were experiencing their first set of GCSEs since the merge and smashed the Goverments stringent targets for  performance based on Academy students'

attainment at the end of Primary school and their expected progress;

For 5 A*-C the Government set a target of 62% - the Academy achieved a

whopping 10% better at 72%.  For the benchmark figure of 5 A*-C

including English and Maths, the Government set a target of 41% and the

Academy achieved 49% - a huge 8% above target.

 

Principal, Mark Trusson commented: "we are all absolutely delighted with

these results.  The students and staff worked so hard to ensure we beat

the stringent targets set by the Government.  We have had a very

challenging but hugely productive first year since opening.  We all look

forward to Year 2, especially as our £11 million building project

starts this year and our new Post 16 provision opens in two weeks.  Very

well done to all our Year 11 students - good luck in your future and a

huge thanks to all the staff who worked so hard on behalf of our

students".

Heathfield Community School announced the best GCSE results in the school's history  after an impressive 97% of students gained five or more GCSE passes with over 93% achieving five or more A* -C grades (72% including English and Maths).

    Headteacher Elliott Furneaux commented:  "To be honest, these results have again far exceeded our highest expectations.  To be 22% above our highest DFE target is an extraordinary achievement.  We are particularly pleased that both our boys and girls achieved over 90% 5 A* - C grades.  We have also gained our highest ever average points score per student which shows how incredibly hardworking the year-group was, their families should be very proud of them.

"I know the students would like us to thank the extraordinary commitment of our teachers and all the staff who have worked with them at primary and secondary level over the last eleven years."

Amongst the academic highflyers were another record number of 43 students who achieved the equivalent of at least seven A*/A grades, exactly divided between boys and girls: Rosie Barnes,Lee Boyland,Richard Braisby,Isabella Brown,Saskia Burbach,Sam Burgess,Michael Capstick,Peter Carpenter,Michael Cole,Dan Cooper,Dan Crowther,Ria Dinsdale,James Frounks,Alex Goodsir,Jack Halstead,Amy Hands,Johanna Hotham,Rebecca Howe,Sarah James,Holly Jolliffe,Charlotte Kotvics,Rob Lawrence,Billy Moorcroft,Hannah Nash,Sarah Ovens,Emily Palmer,Michael Parish,Tom Perry,Sam Puddy,Harriet Roberts,Michael Rogers,Helen Routley,Jess Salisbury,Ellie Sargent,Amelia Saunders,Dan Slater,Sam Stevenson,Natasha Stone,Hannah Sydenham,Chloe Thrussell,Jade Trott,Molly White,Ashley Wright

Stand out individual performances were by Michael Parish (10A*/4A) and Charlotte Kotvics (9A*/4A).

 Bishop Fox's School has also set a new record for its examination results again this year with over 87% of students achieving the gold standard 5 + A* – C grades at GCSE whilst the figure including English and Mathematics came in close to 60%.

 Headteacher, Paul Scutt offered his congratulations to both staff and students adding  that: "Results for the school continue to improve year on year,once again the school has posted its best ever examination results.

" I am delighted for the very many students and staff who worked so hard to achieve impressive grades.  These results follow on behind a very successful Ofsted inspection at the end of the previous academic year where the school was judged to be 'Good to Outstanding'.

"We have been on a journey of continuous school improvement for some time now and I am enormously proud of the fact that our school continues to march forward and offers a genuine culture of achievement in a framework where every child is special and is expected to achieve. "It is always difficult to make reference to individual achievements but it would be remiss of me not to make special mention of a number of high achieving students including Hannah Jeanes who swept the board with 12 A*  grades in every one of the subjects she studied!

" Other individuals achieving a minimum of 10 A* and A grades included Emma Bell ( 11), Adam Gamble ( 10), Ben Leach ( 12), Amberley Leyton (12), Alice Shipley ( 10), Chris Speed  (14) and Gabriel Dinnes ( 10)

"We wish every one of our students every success in their future career paths.  They really were a delightful year group who were well supported by the staff at school and their families at home."

 Following on from last week's superb A level results,Taunton School were also on a high today after 54% of GCSE results awarded to Taunton School pupils were graded at A or A*. This is the highest performance to date after another record breaking year last year.

Headmaster Dr John Newton said: "These pupils have put in a hard working year both in and outside the classroom. They have shown great character, and I am delighted that well over 50% of grades are so high. With 80% of grades at B or better, we look forward to some very good achievements by these pupils in our Sixth Form at A level or IB."

Well done to all the young people in Taunton who have worked so hard,those who didn't quite get what they wanted or needed should not despair, there is always a way forward if it is really what you want.

We all continue learning throughout life and as long as you have done your personal best in whatever you do, you have done a good job.