St Simon Stock Students Sustain Excellent Progress & Attainment in GCSEs

Headline information:

• For the third consecutive year, our students have made excellent progress in the new reformed GCSEs, with fifty-five students achieving on average more than one grade higher than government expectations across all their subjects
• Our students achieved a total of 250 top grades (grades 9-7, equivalent to the old A, A* and higher), which is approximately one in five of all the grades that were awarded
• Nine out of every ten students achieved grade 4 or higher in English, with more than eight out of every ten students achieving grade 4 or higher in Maths
• Science results were truly exceptional, with students achieving on average one whole grade higher than national expectations. In Religious Studies, which all students study to GCSE in our school, progress was one-third of a grade higher than national expectations.
• Progress in all four core subjects (English, Maths, Science and Religious Studies) was well abovenational expectations
• Over half of the grades awarded in English, Maths, the Sciences (including Computer Science) and the Humanities (History, Geography and RE) were strong passes (grade 5 or above)

---

Students:

• Eighteen of our students achieved an average of grade 7 or higher in all their subjects. Special congratulations for exceptional attainment go to: Sabe Santhosh (six grade 9s, three grade 8s and one grade 7), Miriam Darby (six grade 9s and three grade 8s), Laura Buchan (five grade 9s, four grade 8s, one grade 7 and a grade A in AS-level Art), Harry Williams (three grade 9s, four grade 8s and three grade 7s), Isabella Parker (one grade 9 and six grade 8s)
• Also deserving special mention are Alec Holmes, Jerald Barrion and Mollie-Marie Clegg who each achieved on average three or more grades higher than government expectations across all their GCSEs
• Ten further students achieved an average of two or more grades higher than expectations across all their GCSEs – Dominika Maruszczak, Laura Prendergast, Alexander Elliott, Achera Booth, Ethan Whittell, Hannah Bealey, William Heathcote, Eilish Randall, Beth Proctor and Jasmine Gardiner

---

Comment by Jon Malone (Academy Principal):

On behalf of our staff, I congratulate our students for their exceptionally strong results at GCSE this year. Allof our students will be celebrating today, and deservedly so because most have exceeded their personal targets based on national expectations, in many cases significantly so. On average our students have once again achieved more than half a grade higher than expectations, with a third achieving more than a full grade higher. This is an achievement which in the past has been matched by just 15% of students across the country and so we are delighted with these results.

I also commend our students for the key message about their character that underpins their results. GCSEs are academically demanding qualifications, requiring deep knowledge and understanding in order to achieve strong passes. Success cannot be secured through superficial last-minute revision in Year 11. To achieve highly, students need to work hard over many years, mastering the curriculum through sheer effort, good organisationand much deliberate practice. Our students’ shining academic ability, which is reflected by these excellent results, is a product of their grit, determination, years of hard work and a ‘can do’ mindset.

I would also like to thank our teachers and support staff who have worked tirelessly over many years, teaching, guiding and supporting our students, and whose contribution towards today’s exceptional results cannot be overstated. I know that our students and their parents and carers will today have expressed their appreciation to our staff. Thank you also to our parents and carers for your support from home for our values and messages. Our common purpose and team effort makes a real difference. I wish our students the best for the next stage of their education and I know they will continue to excel.

Press Release 22nd August 2019