New record at Queen Elizabeth’s School as nearly two-thirds of GCSEs gain top A* grade

The percentage of A* grades at GCSE has set a new record at Queen Elizabeth’s School for the second year in a row.

Among the Year 11 pupils, 64.9% of examinations taken were awarded A*. This represents a further improvement on last year’s 63.9%, which was itself a substantial jump over the 2011 figure of 55.3%.

A total of 92.1% of GCSEs were awarded either A* or A grades (90.1% in 2012) and nearly every boy (98.8%) gained more than five A* or A grades, up from 95.5% last year.

All 179 boys achieved the English Baccalaureate (EBac) performance measure – a significant increase on last year’s 96%. Introduced by the Department for Education in 2010, EBac recognises the success of pupils who attain GCSEs or IGCSEs at grades A*-C across a core of academic subjects – English, Mathematics, History or Geography, the sciences and a language.

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “These are surpassingly good results. I am delighted – and a little surprised given our strong performance last year – that we have not only matched the 2012 total of A* grades, but have exceeded it by a full percentage point, thereby setting a new record.

“Queen Elizabeth’s School is proud to be a meritocracy, where bright boys can compete to achieve at the highest level, regardless of their social or ethnic background. We encourage intellectual curiosity among our pupils, as well as fostering their participation in a wide range of activities, including sport, music and drama.”

The GCSE results follow an equally strong performance at A-level last week, which saw the school topping national newspapers’ state school league tables.

While applauding strong GCSE performances across the board, Mr Enright singled out some departments.

In science, pupils this year took International GCSE (IGCSE) qualifications for the first time. All boys achieved either A* or A in the three sciences and there was only one A grade in Physics, two in Chemistry and three in Biology – with all the rest being awarded A*.
All boys took GCSE Mathematics. Twelve gained A grades and all 167 remaining boys were awarded an A*. The school’s 144 GCSE geographers amassed 117 A* grades between them.

“Next year, we will be adding IGCSEs in Mathematics and Geography as well,” Mr Enright added.

Other aspects of this year’s results include:

• All boys achieved the Government benchmark of five A*-C passes, including English and Mathematics
• An average points score per pupil of 626.85 (620.99 in 2012)
• 99.0% of examinations were awarded A*-B grades, up from 98.1% last year.

Top Boys' State School – The Telegraph, Friday 23 August 2013

Top Boys' State School – The Times, Friday 23 August 2013

Pupils around the country received their GCSE results yesterday including (top) those at Queen Elizabeth’s grammar school in Barnet, north London – The Guardian, Friday 23 August 2013

Queen Elizabeth's Boys' School students in High Barnet set more records with impressive GCSE results – The Barnet & Potters Bar Times, Thursday 22 August 2013