Top set of results for students at the Stephen Perse Foundation

Students in the Senior School at the Stephen Perse Foundation have achieved an excellent set of GCSE results.

A total 49 per cent of entries graded 9, the highest grade possible, to continue a trend of academic achievement at Stephen Perse despite the challenging and uncertain circumstances and lack of formal examinations.

• 49 per cent of GCSEs graded the top score of 9

• 73 per cent of GCSEs graded 8 or 9

• 89 per cent of GCSEs graded 7, 8 or 9

• One fifth of the student cohort achieved at least 10 GCSEs at grade 9

van, Principal and Head of Senior School said: “We welcome the government’s change of direction, allowing our assessment of student ability and attainment to stand, though we recognise that the process leading to that decision has been confusing and unsettling for students, parents and staff. We congratulate all of our students on the results of their hard work over an extraordinarily challenging year. The whole foundation community is incredibly proud of them.”

Dr Andy Kemp, Head of the Senior School, added: "I am so incredibly proud of this exceptional group of students. They have taken everything in their stride across the course of this strange year. These results are a fitting reflection of their outstanding approach to their studies, and school life in general. I wish them all the best as they move on to the next stage of their academic adventures.”

Following the cancellation of formal exams by the Secretary of State for Education back in April to help fight the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), students at both GCSE and A level have received a centre assessment grade for each of their subjects.

This is the grade they would be most likely to have achieved if they had sat their exams in the normal way and completed any non-exam assessment based on classwork, non-exam assessment the results of assignments or mock exams and previous examination results. Awarding bodies then put the grades through a moderation and standardisation process. On 18 August, the exams regulator, Ofqual and the DfE announced that students would receive either their CAG or, if it was higher, the post-moderation grade, whichever was highest, as their final grade.

This approach has been mirrored by those other GCSE awarding bodies not regulated by Ofqual.