Surge in top GCSE grades leads to new record at QE

A record percentage of A* grades at GCSE has been recorded at Queen Elizabeth’s School. This year, the A* grade was awarded in 63.3% of examinations taken – an 8% increase on 2011. A* or A grades were given for 90% of GCSEs at the School.

The average point score per pupil also increased, reaching 620.16, against 596.53 last year.

Congratulating the boys on their achievement, Headmaster Neil Enright said: “These figures represent a dramatic jump in attainment at the top end. Taken overall, our GCSE results reflect the relentless pursuit of improvements in teaching & learning at the School. They are also the just reward for a great deal of hard work by the boys, backed by support from parents and others who are friends to the School.”

“Only last week, we announced our A-level results, which appear to be the best of any state school in the country. Our summer examination results at both GCSE and A-level thus form an exciting springboard from which we will shortly launch our new School Development Plan.”

Twenty-three boys achieved straight A*s, typically in ten GCSE subjects. In Mathematics, which was taken by all boys, 158 (90%) gained an A*. Similarly, in English Literature, another compulsory subject, 128 boys (73%) achieved A*, which is significantly higher than in 2011.

Of the 176 boys in Year 11, 96% were awarded five or more A*s or As, and the entire year group achieved the Government’s benchmark of five or more A*-C grades including English, Mathematics and Science.

The proportion of boys achieving the English Baccalaureate (EBac) performance measure is 96%. Introduced into league tables 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.