Newsletter
EXAMS SPECIAL 2018
Being successful and feeling successful
New culture of high expectations pays off STUDENTS at Eastlea Community School scored some of the highest grades in the country as the school celebrated a successful GCSE results day. Many students exceeded expectations despite the new tougher numerical grading system, introduced across a range of subjects this year. Headteacher Stephen Gillatt said new systems put in place and a culture of high expectations had helped students to score highly. He added that he was pleased with results in core subjects such as English but said there was still further work to be done. Mr Gillatt said: “It was a very exciting day. This is my first year as a headteacher at the school. I came in last year as a new head and implemented lots of systems and have raised expectations. “The results our students have achieved is a testament to how hard everyone has worked. “We are still on that journey to turn Eastlea into an outstanding
school. This will not happen overnight but today we have seen some very encouraging signs.
“There are some outstanding student results and many of our students have put the effort in and really exceeded expectations.” Mr Gillatt (left) added:
“Next year is a hugely critical year for our school. We have to build on the progress we have already made and make sure we do even better. I am very excited for that challenge.”
Tasnim in top two per cent STUDENT Tasnim Bidisha has been hailed for scoring the very top grade in English literature and language – despite not being able to speak English when she arrived five years ago. Tasnim (left) moved from Bangladesh to the UK when she was 11 but struggled with the language when she first started school. However, thanks to dedicated support from teachers and her own hard work and commitment, she has scored a 9 in both English exams. Her results are all the more remarkable considering grade 9 was only achieved by two per cent of pupils in the country. She
said: “If you had said five years ago I would get the top grade in English I never would have believed you. “Considering how much I struggled with the language when I first arrived, it is almost a miracle how well I have done. “A lot of that is down to the excellent teachers at this school who have worked with me every day. “I have to also give myself some credit because I did work really, really hard on my revision before exams.” The grades mean she can now study A-Levels at the London Academy of Excellence.
n Eastlea Community School newsletter Exams Special 2018