Staff and students at Birkenhead School are once again celebrating excellent GCSE results. In a year that marks the almost complete move to the 9-1 grading system, the results reaffirm the school’s leading position within the region and its role in adding value to all students, supporting them to achieve the highest grades.
41% of all grades were awarded at the highest grades of 8 and 9, with grade 9 (more exclusive than the previously awarded A*) the most commonly achieved grade – 22% of all grades awarded, compared to a national figure of 4%.
Today’s results continue the School’s tradition of delivering strong performances for girls and boys across a highly academic curriculum. Only 732 students nationally have achieved a clean sweep of grade 9’s. Birkenhead School is proud that three of its students achieved this very special feat – 1st X1 cricket captain, Toby Brown, Rebecca Nicolson and Shivank Sharma. Seven other students achieved grades 7, 8 and 9 in all their exams and will move into the School’s Sixth Form where the majority will study 4 A Levels in preparation for taking up places at leading Russell Group Universities.
Headmaster, Paul Vicars comments: “This year sees continued turbulence surrounding national exam results with the move to the 9-1 grading system. However, the basics remain the same that if you set out to do your best by each individual student, and surround hard working young men and women with the appropriate academic and pastoral support, they will achieve great results. I have been delighted by the aptitude and resilience of all our students during this time of change, and I must further congratulate this year’s cohort of girls, for whom over half the grades awarded were grade 8 and 9.
At Birkenhead School, we pride ourselves on our community and the majority of our students will use their GCSE grades as a stepping stone to our Sixth Form where the small class sizes and tutorial style teaching will add great value to their learning over the next two years. Our Sixth Form also places great emphasis on preparing students for life after school, and our weekly Nicholls Lecture Series and industry specific careers conferences (Engineering & Technology and Media & Arts this coming year) provide guidance and links with our thriving and extensive alumni network. As the new academic year begins, we look forward to working with our Sixth Form to lead the whole School community through another successful year.’
Please also visit the Birkenhead School Facebook page for photos from the GCSE Results day.