HOLSWORTHY Community College has seen a new range of key performance measures this year, and students have been commended for their hard work and achievements.

The only measure bearing any resemblance to previous years is the number of pupils achieving a C grade or over in English and maths. After last year’s best ever figure of 66% gaining five or more A*-C grades, including English Language and maths, in at least five subjects, this year’s provisional figure before appeals is a commendable 61.2%, including re-take figures.

This is only the third time this key figure has broken the 60% barrier at Holsworthy College.

Under the new performance measures, which count a higher level pass in either English Language or English Literature, 65% of pupils have achieved a pass in the basics of English and maths.

The college again entered pupils for the government’s preferred GCSE English Language exam, rather than the international GCSE. The latter includes speaking and listening components, whereas the new GCSE English Language does not.

All but three English Language grades were at A*-E, rewarding the hard work over five years to improve basic literacy standards.

The English A*-C figure was 71.5% with girls outperforming boys. The maths A*-C figure on best entry, including re-takes, was 73.3% A*-C. This figure was the same for both boys and girls, eradicating the gender gap and narrowly missing last year’s best ever set of results for the maths department. 71 % of pupils made expected progress in English and 64% in maths from their starting point at the end of primary school.

Highest performing girl was Hannah Presswell with eight grades at A* or A, as well as a higher grade in GCSE Further Maths taken after school. Emily Shepherd and Lacey Gray earned seven grades at A* or A. Gaining six grades at A* or A were Jess Page, Emily Brookes (plus a GCSE in Further Maths), Erin Martyn and Olivia Byers. Olivia also achieved higher grades in GCSE Further Maths as well as GCSE Statistics.

Top amongst the boys were Albert Shepherd with nine grades at A* or A and Jed Baker with six. Both boys also achieved a higher level pass in GCSE Further Maths. Over 20% of pupils gained at least three or more A* or As.

76% of the entire cohort achieved at least A*-C in two or more sciences, and for the first time all pupils, rather than the traditional three quarters, were entered for at least two science qualifications. A* or A pass rates were well over last year’s national figures in all sciences, including Computer Science, as well as in Languages and Art.

The majority of pupils were also entered for GCSE Sports Studies, with 72% achieving a higher level pass.

All pupils had to take at least one of History and/or Geography GCSE and each subject achieved just over 70% A*-C.

After the long term absence of two staff out of three in the Modern Foreign Languages department it was very pleasing in the end to see 100% A*-C in German GCSE and 85% in French. A modern foreign language was an option for this year group and 20% of pupils achieved the government measure of a combination of subjects, including a modern foreign language meeting the English Baccalaureate requirement at higher level grades.

A spokesperson for Holsworthy College said: “We wish all of our students the very best of success as they start their post-16 studies.

“We hope to see them at GCSE Certificate Presentation Evening on Thursday, November 17.

“The vast majority will be at Further Education Colleges with lengthy travel to learn distances, some at school sixth forms and some starting apprenticeships.

“Next year looks likely to be similarly successful as 68.5% of Year 10 pupils entered have already achieved A*-C in their first science exam.”