Baughurst pupils celebrate GCSE success

48 per cent achieve A grades a year early

PUPILS and staff at a Baughurst secondary school have been celebrating, after a high percentage achieved top grades in English, after sitting the exam a year early.

A total of 44 per cent of Year 11 pupils at The Hurst Community College, Brimpton Road, have already achieved GCSE A or A* grades in English language.

The entire cohort of 167 pupils sat their English language qualification last November in order to spread examination pressure over this, their final year.

When the results came through last month, the school was thrilled to discover that 48 pupils had been awarded A grades, while 25 had achieved the A* grade, leaving pupils, parents and teachers ecstatic.

Headgirl Elise England, aged 16, one of the pupils to gain a coveted A* grade, said, “I was really pleased and surprised when I got my result.

“Thanks must go to the great English teachers who have supported and helped us all the way.”

Headboy Tom Williams, aged 16, another pupil awarded an A* grade, said: “I’m extremely happy and proud of both myself and my fellow pupils.”

Head of English, Laura Groom, said the results proved a just reward for pupils’ efforts.

“Not only did pupils give 100 per cent in lessons, but huge numbers also came back after school and during the holidays for extra revision sessions.”

“I’m delighted that their hard graft has really paid off.”

Roger Jones, who took over as headteacher last September, said the pupils “fully embodied our new school motto of ambition, commitment, excellence”.

“Although examination outcomes are only part of what we value here at The Hurst, I do believe these exceptional results reflect the extremely high quality of teaching that we offer,” said Mr Jones.

“We are well on track for another year of strong GCSE results all around.”

In total, 87 per cent of pupils achieved the benchmark of a C grade or above, with this figure set to rise further after some pupils resit the examination in May.

Last year, based on their best exam entries, 69 per cent of Year 11 pupils attained the Government standard of five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C including English and mathematics.