GCSE

NEWBURY NEWS GCSE RESULTS

Thursday, August 29, 2019 17

Newbury Weekly News

KENNET Kennet School celebrates after a near 100 per cent pass rate Report by JOHN HERRING email john.herring@newburynews.co.uk twitter johnh_nwn Aimann achieves 14 grades at 9-7

Aimann Harba

“Let’s make sure you do the best you can.” When asked if she was expect- ing her results, Esme said: “In my dreams. “I just went away to the corner by myself and wanted to get it over with.” Esme, who opened 10 grades at 9-7, said she had found science particularly hard, but her teach- ers had helped her and checked with her and her parents that she was coping. The English pass rate was 74 per cent and 71 per cent for math- ematics. An impressive 468 individual grades were in the top bracket of 9- 7, meaning Kennet will be placed above the national average again. Geology and statistics recorded a 100 per cent pass rate (grades 9- 4). Drama and biology recorded 94 per cent, music 93, chemistry 92, physics 92, Executive headteacher Gemma Piper said: “I’m really pleased. “There have been some amaz- ing individual performances. “We are going to have a full sixth form for sure.” She said it was difficult to draw comparisons between the cohorts of this year and the previous year, but added: “I’m really proud of what they have achieved. “An average grade of 5 is a strong grade for this cohort.”

and they push students to their limits.” Holly said of her 11 grades at 9- 7, of which five were 9s: “I didn’t think it was possible. “I just never thought it would actually happen. “I got good results in the mocks, but thought that was luck. “I did GCSEs in Year 9 and they felt a lot easier. “It does feel harder under the new grading system. “Kennet helps if you want it to. “Kennet takes what you have and helps. I don’t think I would have been able to do it on my own.” Kian, who had 12 grades at 9-7, said: “I’m really happy with them. “Part of it was me, but part of it is Kennet pushing me to get the best I could but it was worth it in the end. “It’s positive pressure. More encouragement rather than ‘you must get this’ and ‘you can do this’. “ Kennet takes what you have and helps. I don’t think I would have been able to do it on my own

KENNET School celebrated another successful year of GCSE results with a high number of pupils achieving top grades. The school missed out on a 100 per cent pass rate by a small frac- tion, however the average grade achieved by all pupils was a 5 (between a C and a B). Among the school’s high- performing pupils this year were Aimann Harba, Katie Dobbins, Lucy O’Donoghue, James Trena- man, William Greasley, Kian Lush, Scott Wallace, Freya Burgess, Holly Polding, Kienan Ruddock, Hasan Shahzad, Isabelle Farlow, Nathan Johnson, Esme Lister and Ryan Holmes. Aimann, who achieved 14 grades at 9-7 (A**-A), including seven 9s, and is hoping to read medicine after school, said: “I’m really happy. “I wasn’t expecting this. I didn’t think I did that good on the day, but apparently I did. “I wasn’t really expecting what I got, especially English as I had been doing badly throughout the year.” When asked how much the school had helped him, he said: “I think a lot of it is Kennet. “It has really good facilities

Pupils at The Downs

THE DOWNS ‘Resilience and determination’ THE Downs School, Compton, is “delighted and proud” of its GCSE results. In total, 14 per cent of all grades were at 9/8, while 25 per cent of pupils achieved grades 9-7. The picture was similarly rosy for vocational pupils.

Esme Lister

taught and supported them and, as ever, the excellent support given by parents. “As a school community we feel a huge sense of achievement because we know that our Year 11 students now have the skills and attributes to allow them to achieve success in the next stage of their careers. “We are also delighted that the majority will remain with us in our sixth form.” Deputy headteacher Carol Butler echoed Mr Prosser’s senti- ments, saying: “I would like to pay tribute to all those staff who have worked tirelessly to give all students the best opportunity to achieve results which will enable them to take their next step forward with confidence.”

Almost 22 per cent of voca- tional pupils achieved a distinc- tion* – the highest possible grade – with 30 per cent attaining at least a distinction. In all, 81 per cent of pupils achieved at least a pass (4-9) in English and mathematics, with 56 per cent being awarded a strong pass (5-9) in the subjects. Headteacher Chris Prosser said of the results: “I am delighted and proud of our students’ achievements this year. “They have shown much resilience and determination to achieve so well in an examination systemwhich has become so chal- lenging in many respects. “Congratulations also to the teachers who have expertly

Kian Lush

Holly Polding

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