Westminster City School has celebrated its “exceptional” GCSE results, with 33 per cent of grades being above 7.
The UK has recorded a 4.6 per cent drop in top grades, but the South London comprehensive school has recorded a 5 per cent rise.
Barney W, who achieved four grade 9s, two 8s and four 7s, is looking forward to studying Maths, Economics, Politics and Further Maths at the school’s sixth form.
“I am super happy with my GCSE grades and very pleased that all the hard work over the last two years has paid off,” he said.
“I have chosen to stay at this Sixth Form primarily because I know that the standard of teaching is extremely high which will help me to excel in the Sixth Form and perform at my best, academically.”
Aspiring journalist Joel said: “I am really proud of myself and very happy with the outcome of my GCSE results.
“My next step is to study A Levels at Westminster City School Sixth Form because, over the past five years, I have witnessed first-hand the high quality of learning at the Sixth Form and the friendly atmosphere which makes it the best option for me.
“I will study English Literature, History and Spanish as these are the subjects I thoroughly enjoy and they are also linked to what I would like to do in the future.”
There were a host of impressive individual performances, including from Deron M (three 9s, one Distinction*, five 8s and one 7) and Muhammad R who achieved the same.
Students Mohammed A., Kea M., Malachi M. and Emmanuel R. achieved so highly that they were in the top 5 per cent nationally for progress since primary school.
Headteacher, Peter Broughton, said: “The GCSE Class of 2023’s overall performance is exceptional with many outstanding individual outcomes and I’m delighted to see that they have made significant progress since arriving in Year 7.”
Amongst a string of top performances, the following students excelled:
- Deron M who secured three Grade 9s, one Distinction*, five Grade 8s and one Grade 7
- Muhammad R who also secured three Grade 9s, one Distinction*, five Grade 8s and one Grade 7 Barney W achieved four Grade 9s, four Grade 8s and two Grade 7s
- Joel D achieved four Grade 9s, two Grade 8s and four Grade 7s
- Tejas N achieved two Grade 9s, seven Grade 8s and one Grade 7
- Nathanael B achieved two Grade 9s, one Distinction*, four Grade 8s and three Grade 7s
- Dagim F achieved three Grade 9s, three Grade 8s and four Grade 7s
- Kieron B achieved three Grade 9s, four Grade 8s and one Grade 7 and two Grade 6s
- Zain G achieved one Grade 9, six Grade 8s and three Grade 7s
- Demka B achieved two Grade 9s, four Grade 8s, three Grade 7s and one Grade 6.
GCSE grades explained
The number scale is not directly equivalent to the old letter scale, which changed in 2014, but this is how they roughly match up:
- The three number grades – 9, 8 and 7 – correspond to the two previous top grades of A* and A
- The bottom of grade 7 is aligned with the bottom of grade A
- The bottom of grade 4 is aligned with the bottom of grade C
- The bottom of grade 1 is aligned with the bottom of grade G
Exams watchdog Ofqual has said grade 9s “identify exceptional performance” and as such, fewer will have been awarded nationally than A*s (pre-2014).