Pupils and teachers at Ackworth School, a non-selective independent school, are celebrating another year of improved GCSE results despite the difficulties posed by the reformed courses. Many excited pupils flocked to the school today to receive their results. They have all done very well!
Last year the school achieved 85.6 % A*-C. This year it has increased to 86.1%. Over 8% of all grades at the school were 9s (on the new 9-1 scale with 9 being the best), which is outstanding considering that only 0.2% of all students nationally achieved this grade. Our results include students in our International Centre who attend the school to learn English and make up about one third of the GCSE cohort.
The improvement has been achieved as a consequence of the effort of our students and the dedication of their teachers who have had to adapt to the new, more rigorous GCSEs. The overall pass rate shows a continued upward trend at Ackworth School.
Jeffrey Swales, Academic Deputy at Ackworth School, said: “100 per cent pass rates in Art, Religious Studies, Biology, Chemistry and Physics as well as outstanding results in Modern Foreign Languages show the breadth of ability as well as the range of subjects offered at the School. Given that we are not a selective school, we are rightly proud of our students’ achievements in English, Mathematics and Science, where pupils have performed beyond expectations.”
Notable performances were achieved by Henry Hackwell with 2 A*, 5 Grade 9s, two 8s, and one 7; Maddie Cusworth 1 A*, 6 Grade 9s, one 8, and two 7s. On the old system Henry’s grades equate to 9A* and 1 A and Maddie; 8 A* and 2 As.
Many of our students will return to sixth form life at the School in September, studying the full range of A Level subjects. Some, including several new students from Australia, Canada, Spain, Thailand, Slovakia and Singapore, will be a part of the school’s exciting new residential Football Academy.
A Level results at Ackworth were also very good this year, with those students staying at the school clearly benefitting from the small class sizes and an excellent rapport with their teachers.
Many of our Sixth Form students board; day scholars are encouraged to try boarding too, where they have the opportunity to become more independent, preparing them for their next step in life. It is something that sets us apart from other schools. As a boarding and day school, we open our doors at 7:30am and close at 10:00pm.