GCSE

NEWBURY NEWS GCSE RESULTS

Thursday, August 29, 2019 16

Newbury Weekly News

ST BART’S ‘We ’re like a second family for them, which is what we like ’ Report by LIAMHEADD email liam.headd@newburynews.co.uk twitter @liamh_nwn ‘It has been an exceptional year’

getting results they need, many will be returning,” she said, “There is a huge percentage of our students that will be progressing on to our sixth form and we’ll also welcome other people from others too. “We’re like a second family for them, which is what we like and I am really pleased.” Siena Hickmore is one pupil who will be staying on at St Bartholomew’s sixth form and is excited about the next challenge. She said: “I am staying at sixth form and will be doing mathemat- ics, physics, English literature and history and the grades I got in those subjects were really good. “I am absolutely over the moon because I tried so hard and revised an awful lot.” Siena admitted that she was worried as soon as the exams were over, but that soon turned to joy when she got her results at the school “After I had finished my exams I was panicking, but now it’s over and I have got my results I am so happy. “It was hard looking at the grade boundaries and seeing them being so high, but I am happy because I have done so well.”

MORE than 85 per cent of all GCSE grades were at 4 or higher at St Bartholomew’s School in Newbury. As well as this record-breaking figure, almost a third of all grades were at 7 or higher as the school celebrated another fantastic set of results. A total of 42 pupils achieved at least eight GCSEs at grade 7 or higher, with twins Harry and Jack Clarkson, Sanskriti Sahoo, Alex Jordan and Will Freer achieving an extraordinary total of 38 grade 9s between them. Headteacher Julia Mortimore expressed her delight at the school’s results, saying that progress has been made. “It has been an exceptional year and the students have made fantastic progress with over 84 per cent of them passing English and mathematics,” she said. “Over a third of the grades were 7 or higher, so there are some fantastic results and it’s down to their hard work and I am very proud.” And with the grades achieved, Ms Mortimore is happy to be welcoming many of her current pupils back to the school for sixth form. “With a number of students

It was a record-breaking set of results at St Bartholomew ’s Sch ol

Ref: 35-0319A

George and Catriona Ainsworth

Ref: 35-0319C

VanyaKnyazev andJoe Cowleywere off to celebrate at Reading Festival

Harry andJackClarkson

Ref: 35-0319A

SienaHickmore

Ref: 35-0319F

Ref: 35-0319H

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE Whose story will you inspire?

Thinking about Training to Teach? Why not find out more?

4. Inspire someone’s story You may remember a truly bril- liant teacher from school who made a real difference to your life. Trainees come from a wide variety of backgrounds, but they all have one aim – to make a difference in young people’s lives and to give something back. 5. A passion for your subject You can utilise your enthusiasm and passion to spark a love for your own subject. And you’ll have the reward of making a difference in your community. The programmes are designed to be highly professional, of consis- tent high quality and personal to you. Mentoring is by an outstanding teacher and/or specialist leader of education, as well as support from a tutor from Oxford Brookes University. Is there any financial support while I train? Depending on the subject you want to teach, financial support is available during your teacher training – you could also access tuition fee and maintenance loans from Student Finance to help support you. Teaching is a career that can offer great benefits and you’ll develop a wide range of transfer- able skills for yourself in the process. For more information search Get into Teaching and The Downland Alliance. Contact Mandy Alexander at itt@downlandalliance.org.uk

TRAIN to Teach with The Downland Alliance. If you are thinking about choosing a career in teaching and would like your training to be based in a school, learning from experienced teachers right from the start, then the school direct training route could be for you. The Downland Alliance offers a unique opportunity to train with the highly-successful group of schools that make up the partnership. The course leads to QTS and PGCE – both professional qualifications are awarded by Oxford Brookes University so you get the best of both worlds – high-quality school-led training linked to a renowned higher education institution. A wide spectrum of high- achieving schools ensures a range of opportunities including a primary/secondary placement and sixth form experience for secondary trainees. The secondary in-school training is organised jointly by The Downs School, Compton, St Bartholomew’s School, Newbury, and Kennet School, Thatcham. Our primary training is organised jointly by our primary partners comprising a wide variety of schools from across West Berkshire. School-led teacher training courses have high rates of employment and, above all, of trainee satisfaction. Every part of our programme is aimed at preparing you to be the

The Downland Alliance school direct training programmes lead to QTS and PGCE professional qualificaƟons. Are you interested in becoming a secondary or primary school teacher? You can inspire young people to fulfil their potenƟal. Come along to one of our Career InformaƟon Evenings The Downs School – Wednesday 6th November 2019 St Bartholomew’s School – Monday 13th January 2020 Kennet School – Tuesday 10th March 2020 Get some School Experience School experience days are available in a number of our schools. Specific dates are published on the DFE school experience website or you can contact us directly for more informaƟon. Contact us Mandy Alexander – iƩ@downlandalliance.org.uk Register to aƩend through our website.

best teacher possible. Immersion into the life of the teacher and daily exposure to outstanding practice and teachers ensures you have the best possible opportunity. Five reasons why you should train to teach 1. Every lesson shapes a life As a teacher, you know that you’ll make your skills and knowledge really count by help- ing students to unlock their potential, develop their talents and open their eyes to the values around them. 2. A job that is varied As most teachers will tell you, there’s no such thing as a ‘typi- cal’ day at work. That’s because no two days are the same – you’re unlikely ever to be bored by a lack of variety or sitting at a computer all day. 3. Teaching is fun In addition to planning and teaching a range of engaging lessons, you can indulge in your hobbies and interests as part of your work by getting involved in after-school clubs, school trips or sporting events.

The Downland Teaching School Alliance www.downlandalliance.org.uk Telephone: 01635 270096