Bristol Grammar School is delighted to celebrate the brilliant results of our Year 11 pupils in this year’s GCSE examinations. Their outstanding grades were the highest any of our cohorts have achieved – a remarkable achievement given BGS’s long history of academic excellence and in contrast to the national outlook where grades have reportedly dropped for the third year running. An incredible third of exams were awarded the top grade of 9, and more than half of results (55%) are at grade 8 or 9 (with a grade 8 approximately equivalent to the previous A* grade and a 9 even higher still).
Six pupils achieved a clean sweep of grade 9 grades (with five of those taking 11 GCSEs), including Suki who thanked her teachers for the extra support outside lessons: “I’ve felt so supported during my time at BGS, even during Covid our teachers ensured the pandemic didn’t impact on our learning. I’ve really seen the benefit of extra sessions and essay support reflected in my grades.”
Some 88 pupils secured eight or more grades of 7 or above (equivalent to grade A or above in the previous grading system) and the average GCSE points score of 7.4 was also the highest ever (excluding those years when grading was nationally inflated by the pandemic). This impressive outcome is testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire year group, and the support of our dedicated teaching staff – an achievement made all the more remarkable by the fact that Covid disrupted the first two years of this cohort’s secondary education.
Reuben, who is due to compete in a national triathlon competition next week, puts his exam success down to a fine balance between studying and sport. “The teachers gave their absolute best during Covid, so I don’t feel it it affected our learning at all. My focus has been on getting the balance right between my sport and study, particularly over the summer in peak training time, and I’m so pleased with my grades.”
As well as achieving academically, this cohort have particularly benefited from the range of co-curricular options at BGS. “Sport has been such a great way of connecting with friends” says Khandi, “It’s enabled me to bond with friends across all year groups and I’ve loved the competitive matches.” Her experience beyond the classroom has certainly shaped her future pathway as Khandi looks ahead to BGS Sixth Form to study Art, Psychology, Design Technology, and the Sports Leadership elective.
“Opportunities outside the classroom have really built my confidence,” shared Lottie, who will be staying on at BGS to study Maths, Physics and Music at A level. “From leading an assembly to presenting a campaign during a teacher INSET day, the community at BGS is so encouraging and the timetable has meant I've been able to enjoy everything from music and sport to MUN and campaigning alongside my studies.
Head of BGS Jaideep Barot said: “I’m delighted at incredible success, both at top end, and for those who have done better than they may have thought possible across the grading range. I have immense pride in all of these pupils, who together are a hard-working, kind and wonderful year group and I am in awe – quite apart from their obvious academic success – when I think of everything else they have done in their time so far with us. I hope they are looking forward to their Sixth Form studies with us – together with dozens of new friends from across Bristol who are joining us – as much as we are. We can’t wait to get started – but let’s let them enjoy this wonderful and momentous day first!”