GCSE results summer 2011

One of the most important factors in any successful school is that teachers have a very clear knowledge of their students’ abilities and a good understanding of how they learn. This enables staff to predict examination results very accurately and therefore GCSE results should come as no surprise. I am delighted to tell you, that this is very definitely the case at Saint Paul’s Academy this year with 57% of the Year 11 cohort achieving 5 more A* - C grades including English and Mathematics and 79% achieving 5 or more A* - C grades. As we had expected, these results greatly exceed the targets we were set based on the levels students achieved at the end of primary school which indicated that only 50% of the cohort would achieve 5 or more A* - C including English and Mathematics.

Of course, many students had already banked a number of qualifications in Years 9 and 10 and this in itself provided a secure basis for our predictions as well as reducing the stress placed on both students and staff at the end of Year 11. Many students had very few terminal examinations which is a huge bonus not only in terms of teaching and learning but also from an organisational perspective.

One of the most notable features of this year is the number of languages taken by our students; French, Spanish, German, Russian, Portuguese, Polish and Latin were all taken at GCSE by students in Years 9 – 11. Some of these were native speakers, others were extracurricular and some were part of the curriculum but what they signify is not only the diversity of our community and the talents of our students but also, yet again the willingness of staff to give their time and their knowledge.

Last year at this time, we were a little taken aback to be asked about the English Baccalaureate, a qualification which includes A*- C in English, Mathematics, the Sciences, a Language and either History or Geography. We have doubled our success rate here with 11% in 2010 rising to 22% this year. Yet again, Saint Paul’s Academy has achieved superb results and, as I always point out, this is due to team work and community; our continued success is due to students, staff parents and carers all working together to provide the very best for our young people. Events in London and other parts of Britain this summer have emphasised the need for schools to have firm discipline as well as very high moral and academic standards; this is what we owe our students and what, at Saint Paul’s Academy, we give them.

Patrick Winston
Principal
24th August 2011

Our top 20 students

Saint Paul's students achieve outstanding results

• The average performance score for all students was 492
• 20% of entries achieved 5 or more A* and A grades
• 19% entries A*/A grades
• 79% of students achieved 5 or more A* to C grades
• 57% of students achieved 5 or more A* to C grades (including English and Mathematics
• 22% of students achieved the English Baccalaureate qualitfication
• 83% of students achieved 10 or more A* to C grades and 22 students achieved 15 or more A* to C grades
• Ten subjects achieved results significantly above the national average:
  • Design & Technology
  • Drama
  • English: Language and Literature
  • English Literature
  • History
  • Mathematics
  • Philosophy & Ethics
  • Physical Education
  • Science: Triple
  • Statistics

Results achieved by Year 11 group

• Number of students aged 15 at 31/08/2010: 170
• Number of male students aged 15 at 31/08/2010: 115
• Number of female students aged 15 at 31/08/2010: 55

Percentages of students who achieved grades A* to C

Results achieved by year 10 group

Results achieved by year 9 group

Summary of GCSE results