BGS GCSE students have bucked the national trend and are celebrating today as 80% of all entries were awarded grades 7–9 (equivalent to an A or above).
Across the year-group, 60% of all exams taken were awarded an 8 or 9 (equivalent to an A* or higher). The average grade was 7 or higher in 22 subjects, covering everything from Maths and English to Greek, Design Technology, Dance, Physical Education, and Religious Studies.
Over 70 BGS pupils gained 10 or more GCSEs at grades 7-9. Seven pupils achieved grade 9s across all of their GCSEs, six of who did so in twelve subjects.
Among them is Sam, who is understandably delighted with his results. He said:
“In the first year of my GCSE studies my marks were quite mixed, with several 6s and 7s. I put in a lot of effort to get my grades up so I’m really proud of my results.
“I’m going to do the IB Diploma in the Sixth Form at BGS next year – I decided in Year 10 that the IB offers me the breadth of subjects I want and the chance to develop a wide range of skills. I’ll be studying Physics, Maths and Music at Higher level and English, Spanish and History at Standard level. I know it will be hard work, but I am looking forward to the challenge.”
His friend Adiyat, who also achieved twelve 9s, commented:
“My results were a really good surprise; I doubted myself coming in this morning but I’m so pleased that my hard work paid off."
Also celebrating 12 grade 9s was Hannah, who plans to study A levels in Chemistry, Maths and English Literature in the Sixth Form. She said:
“I didn’t know how my exams had gone, and really wasn’t sure what to expect from my results. I’m so pleased, and surprised, to have done so well.”
BGS pupils are varied in their passions and interests – within and beyond school – and we are delighted with how well they have balanced their studies with their other passions. Lucy, one of our star dancers, gained 12 GCSEs, all at grades 8 or 9. She will be leaving BGS to take up a place at Tring Park, a specialist Performing Arts school, where she will complete a diploma in dance alongside studying for her A levels. She said:
“Dance is my passion; I dance for 15–20 hours a week, so managing my time was sometimes a challenge, but my teachers were all very understanding about my dance commitments.
“Going to boarding school will be a big change and it is going to be hard leaving all my friends and teachers at BGS, but the opportunity to go to Tring is too amazing to pass up.
“BGS Dance has given me so many opportunities to perform, and there is a really great sense of community among all the dancers. BGS definitely helped me on my journey to Tring.”
Her fellow Year 11 pupil, Liv, is a keen cricketer, often playing cricket six days a week and even taking part in Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation Girls’ Performance Tour to Sri Lanka over February half-term of her Year 11. She successfully balanced her cricket with her studies to gain eleven GCSEs, all of them at grade 7 or above. Reflecting on her results, Liv said:
“I’m really happy with how I did and I’m proud of my results. It was hard at times to fit in schoolwork alongside cricket, but all my teachers were very helpful, especially my form tutor, Mr Keen, who worked with me to develop a timetable.”
BGS Deputy Head (Academic), Daniel Stone commented:
“All our Year 11 pupils should be very proud of what they have achieved. While today is results day, the story of their success starts much earlier. They’ve been supported by many people along the way, not least by their families during periods of remote learning, and the teachers and support staff who have been with them every step of the way, as they dealt with the disruption and uncertainty caused by COVID. This support has been vital in enabling our pupils to achieve these remarkable results and everyone who played a part in their success should feel very proud today.
“Not only have they achieved academic success, but they have also gained important independent study skills and continued to pursue their passions and interests, involving themselves in all aspects of school life. We are looking forward to seeing them continue to grow and progress as they enter our Sixth Form – they certainly have a brilliant platform to build on.”
They will be joined in BGS Sixth Form by more than 50 new pupils from almost 40 different schools, including 18 state schools across the wider Bristol area, several supported to attend by our bursary fund. Our ambition is to continue to increase the bursary funding available, allowing more young people than ever before to benefit from the education on offer at BGS.
Full results by subject are available on our Results & reports page.