GCSEs: Hard work has paid off at Blatchington Mill, says headteacher

In total, 78 per cent of students achieved the new Grade 4 in English and maths, equivalent to a C grade in the previous system, with 33 per cent achieving the EBACC measure (English, Maths, Science, a Modern Foreign Language and a Humanities subject all above a grade C).

Of the new A** (9) grades – 36 were achieved by students at Blatch - 10 in English, 18 in English Literature, and 8 in Maths. Initial indications from exam boards had been that roughly two per cent of these grades would be issued – Blatch secured double this with four per cent of grades at this new best ever standard.

Overall there was a large rise in top grades at Blatch, with 10 per cent of all grades at A**/A*. In Maths 75 students achieved grades 9, 8, or 7 (equivalent to A**/A*/A). Similarly in English 89 students achieved this same benchmark and in Science 94 students got an A*/A – a superb achievement made even more impressive by 45% of all students in Further Additional Science also achieving A*/A. In Latin 58% of all grades were A*/A, and in both Music and Drama 48% of all grades were A*/A.

Success wasn’t limited to a handful of students – in total over 160 students achieved at least one A**/A*/A grade – representing over 57 per cent of the year group. More than 720 A**/A*/A grades were awarded to Blatch students and 70 students gained at least 5 A**/A* grades each.

In over 20 different subject areas students achieved between 100% and 75% A*-C grades – including in history, PE, ethics, science, art, maths, Spanish, performing arts, English, dance and textiles all excelling, the school said.

Headteacher Ashley Harrold said: “This is a wonderful day for Blatch. The new GCSEs were a good change; they have given students another grade to aim for at A**, and introduced more challenging content, which can only be a good thing for students in the long run.

"However, the concern was always that this group of students would be guinea pigs in the new system, and we were of course concerned about how they would cope in the first run through of the exams. To say they have excelled is an understatement – they have absolutely shone – we are so proud of them all.

"Hard work has paid off, and these students will give confidence to the younger year groups that they too can reach these standards. I’d like to thank the teachers, and other staff at school, who have educated and supported these students to this superb level.”