NEWSLETTER: 2019 Exam Special
Schools’ delight at exam results THE young people of Gosport showed that hard work and determination pay off after scoring top grades in their GCSE and A-Level exams. Working together across the Gosport and Fareham Multi-Academy Trust, both Brune Park Community School and Bay House School and Sixth Form students produced stunning summer results. Half the students celebrating their A-Level results at Bay House School will be the first in their family to go to university. Happy: Bay House pupils open results These include former Brune Park students such as India Joly, who achieved an A* in And students paid tribute to the staff at both economics and A’s in English literature and schools with many describing the support English language. She is heading to Warwick received as crucial to their success. to study English literature. Ian Potter, chief executive of Outstanding GCSE Many will be leaving for the the GFM, said: “The purpose of results at Bay House top universities in the country, establishing the GFM is this. It’s School and Sixth Form: about every youngster having the including Oxford, Exeter and Pass grades 9-4 University College London, to opportunity to succeed regardless 79% English study for top careers including of the school in Gosport that they 74% Maths law and medicine. attend. 84 % Biology At GCSE, Bay House School “Gosport has not always seen 75 % Chemistry and Sixth Form celebrated its itself as a place where youngsters 80 % Physics best-ever GCSE exam results can do as well as, actually, they 70 % Geography since the introduction of the can. Today is about celebrating 70 % French reformed qualifications. the achievements of those and I’m 69 % History At Brune Park, results saw an proud that the GFM is enabling improvement with Headteacher a Gosport-wide approach to Kirstie Andrew-Power confident the school supporting youngsters achieve their potential is going from strength to strength under the and overcome any challenges that they face Gosport and Fareham MAT. along the way.”
BBC focused on Brune Park’s day STUDENTS at Brune Park got the chance to showcase their fantastic GCSE results to a film crew from the BBC. BBC South reporters were in attendance at the school as the students’ anxious wait over the summer to discover their exam results came to an end. Speaking Top tweet to the BBC (above), Headteacher Kirstie AndrewPower said: “Seeing young people overcome challenges and come into school to work really hard is amazing. We have youngsters who have struggled to get to exams, with staff going out in cars to pick them up. “We provide breakfast and these are the sort of things schools like this do really, really well. We have a strong trajectory of improvement over the last two years but there is still a long way to go. This is start of the next stage of our journey.”
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University the next step as students celebrate HALF the students celebrating their A-Level results at Bay House School will be the first in their family to go to university. The school has seen its bestever results this year with 90 per cent of students achieving A*-C grades, and 70 per cent getting A*-B. On top of that, the number of students getting A*-A grades has increased to 38 per cent, which is a five per cent hike from last year. It means that 90 per cent of students have got places at their first-choice university. Head of Sixth Form Richard Dadd said: “We have been really consistent for the last two years. “It’s really exceptional to think that we have managed to kick on from that and produce higher results. “The students have put in a huge amount of work over the
last two years. We are fortunate to have some really dedicated staff that have supported them throughout. “Our students are really ambitious. Lots of them have got places at Russell Group universities and lots will be the first in their family to go to
Exam joy: Bay House Students on results day
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university. “We have maintained the ethos of the sixth form. We have challenged our students to achieve grades that at the start of their A-Levels they might not have thought they could achieve. “Our staff have worked really hard to challenge these students and motivate them to achieve these grades.” Sixth Form Manager Melanie
Jones added: ‘Around 50 per cent of our students will be the first in their family to go to university – a statistic that we are especially proud of.
“Additionally, students who joined us with relatively modest GCSE results have achieved some absolutely outstanding A-Level results.”
Ashlyn prepares to study for a medicine career FORMER Brune Park student Ashlyn Collins is one step closer to fulfilling her dream of becoming a doctor after securing a place at university to study medicine. Following two years at Bay House, Ashlyn (left) got three A’s in biology, chemistry and psychology in her A-Levels and will now study at Brighton and Sussex Medical School. And Ashlyn said she couldn’t have done it without the support of the staff at both Brune Park and Bay House. She said: “I needed two A’s and a B to get in so it was more than I needed. It’s a bit surreal. I don’t think it’s sunk in that I have got in.
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“It’s been such a long time coming. I have been waiting for this since I knew what medicine was. “I have wanted this since I was in junior school. I always knew I would want to be a doctor. “Throughout school I was doing as much as I could to help me get there. The A-Levels were that final push.” “Both schools have been amazing. The support at Brune Park for my GCSEs and now at Bay House for A-Levels, it’s second to none.” “For the application process there was so much support – I don’t believe I would have got a place if I hadn’t come here.”
Spread the word: First call is to home after collecting GCSE results at Brune Park
High flier Rory sets sights on a future in law BUDDING lawyer Rory Norris is heading to Russell Group university Exeter after scoring top grades in his A-Levels. An A* in history, an A in ancient history and an A in English literature was enough to secure his place at the university ranked in the top 200 in the world. He said: “I didn’t think I would do this well. I am very pleased. I don’t think I could have worked any harder than I did. “I am excited now. I have got three older siblings who have been to university and they have all said how amazing it is. I am very excited to get started.” Rory, who has been at Bay House for seven years, has praised the staff at the school. “It’s been the hub of my education for a long time. I couldn’t have asked for more in terms of the support from them. I am very grateful to everyone.”
Hard work paid off for Katie STUDENT Katie Simister got three A* grades in maths, biology and chemistry and is going to study medicine at Imperial College London. She said: “It’s a lot better than I expected. I am really happy. All the hard work has paid off. “I’m quite shocked. It has been really hard work. You have to go for interviews and do admissions tests so to come out at the other end with the results makes it all worthwhile. “It’s been great here. If you needed any help, the teachers were always willing to help you.”
Straight A’s: Chloe Sanders achieved a grades in psychology, biology and maths and is now going to King’s College London to study psychology.
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Look what I got: Brune Park students Amelia Holt, Caitlin Capocci, Ellise Edmonds and Sophie Davidson celebrate their GCSE results.
India praise for help at Brune Park Former Brune Park student India Joly achieved an A* in economics and A’s in English literature and English language. Now she’s off to Warwick to study English literature. India (above) said: “I thought I was going to get a B or a C. “ I am really surprised and relieved. I have enjoyed my time here. Everyone has been really supportive. “They have been amazing. They did everything they could to give me the help that I needed. “I would not be here without the results I got at Brune Park so I am thankful to them as well.”
Paolo ready for Oxford dream HIGH achiever Paolo Sait has got the world at his feet after learning he will study at the world’s top-ranking university. His clean sweep of A* grades in maths, further maths and physics was enough to secure a place at Oxford, listed as the best in the globe by The Times last year. He said: “I am very happy. I have really enjoyed it here. It’s been a good experience. “It was hard work but it was worth it. It’s been the best that I could have hoped for. “I am nervous about university but I think it’s going to be good. “Since I was young, I have always wanted to go to Oxford. It seemed like the coolest university to go to. I am ready for it now.”
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School performing at its best level ever Bay House headteacher Dr Nigel Matthias says outstanding results in both GCSE and A Level are no accident but down to the hard work of staff and students. I’m just so delighted for the pupils and the staff who have worked so hard to achieve such a wonderful set of results. Some of the staff have given thousands of hours to this and it has made a difference, we’re over the moon. It’ll be hard to match this but we’ll try to beat it next year.
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They are phenomenal results. It’s the best that we have ever achieved. For me there’s a sense of pride in our students because I know how hard they worked. There’s also an incredible sense of pride in our staff. I know the extraordinary effort that goes above and beyond to make these results happen. It’s not an accident, it’s the result of two years of effort and support. The school is performing at the best level it ever has. This is the best result since the exams were reformed.
Frances thrived in head girl role BRUNE Park head girl Frances Weston will follow her dream of becoming a lawyer after scoring top grades in her GCSEs. She passed every subject and will now study A-Levels in law, politics and criminology at Portsmouth College. She said: “Being head girl was one of the most incredible educational experiences I have ever had. “I wanted to make sure nobody felt they couldn’t talk. “Since joining the GFM we can see the change in the school. We are a lot more of a community now – it’s changing the perception of Brune Park.”
Tegan’s top mark in art TEGAN Busch will be staying on at Bay House Sixth Form after scoring an outstanding four grade 9s in her GCSEs. She was the only student in the school to secure the top grade in art, a success she puts down to art teacher Miss Allen. Tegan achieved four 9s, one 8, two 7s, two 6s and a 5. She said: ‘I loved it here. I really liked Miss Allen for art as she’s been really supportive. It really makes the difference when you have such great teachers.”
Millie keen to dig deep into history STUDENT Millie Murtagh says she can’t wait to get to university after an anxious wait to see if she secured the grades to study ancient history at Bristol University. And it seems her hard work has paid off after achieving A’s in ancient history and psychology and a B in economics. The former Brune Park student said: “I did better than I expected. I have had amazing support both here and at Brune Park. “I am really ready for university now. I just want to get there.”
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Stepping out on journey of improvement Brune Park headteacher Kirstie AndrewPower says GCSE results day is more than just stable results but success that cannot be measured. together. We have been able to show that we believe in the Gosport kids because we can see what’s happening one mile down the road. We can see that these kids are starting to believe in themselves. They have that strength in belief. There are
the things everyone is measuring and we’re looking at the things you can’t measure. These are remarkable, disciplined, wonderful young people who have had a rough ride here and have come through. For us as a school, we are starting on our journey of improvement. This is about the Gosport community coming together. This is the way forward for Gosport – we are working together for all the youngsters of Gosport.’
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I am very happy that our GCSE results have improved – they are stable, which is good. GCSE results day is about the youngsters getting their results which is the start of the next chapter for them and the end of their time here. What we have been able to do is draw expertise and capabilities from this school and from our four other schools. We have been able to share staffing across the schools. We couldn’t have done that without the strength of these five schools
Joseph broadens his horizons for studying AMBITIOUS Joseph Dawson plans to study abroad after securing the grades at Brune Park to take the next step in his education. He was ‘over the moon’ after passing all his GCSEs and after A-Levels, he plans to apply to universities in Singapore. He said: ‘English has always been something I have struggled with and I’m over the moon with my grades. It was a stressful few weeks during exams but the extended holiday meant I could relax. “I want to get a university degree or go to Singapore and study. “The Asian market is really exploding at the moment and it would be a shame to miss it.”
The sky’s the limit now for budding pilot Harry ROLE model Harry Duffield celebrated GCSE exam success with a family meal. Harry, described by Brune Park headteacher Mrs Andrew-Powell as a ‘really good peer influence’, achieved way above expectations. He will be heading off to CEMAST to study aerospace engineering. Harry, pictured here with Mrs
Andrew-Powell, said: ‘I feel more confident than I did going into Year 11. Since we have been part of the Gosport and Fareham MAT, students feel really supported. It has transformed the school.” He added: “I’ve always wanted to be a pilot, it’s just trying to work out if I want to do civil or RAF.”
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Grace overcomes sight problems to score high A DETERMINED Gosport student who scored good marks in her GCSEs despite being partially sighted has thanked her school. Grace Cane has a degenerative eye condition which means it is likely she will go blind in the next few years. But that did not stop the hard-working teen from achieving in her exam results thanks to extra support from her teachers and friends at Brune Park Community School. Staff at the school went to the extra effort of ensuring everything was printed big enough for her to be able to see. She said: “The vision has always been an issue but I have had even more problems in the last couple of years. I have a problem processing information. “It meant that I needed a big sheet because I can’t read things in a massive font. “It’s been tricky trying to work my way through this and to get the grades that I wanted. “I didn’t ask for help at first. But in the past couple of years it has got better. “There are really good teachers and friends here and they are very supportive.” And now Grace is thrilled to have come out the other side with a set of brilliant results. “I am happy and relieved,” she said. “I love this school. I am so glad that I came here. I had the chance to move and I didn’t and I don’t regret anything. I don’t know what it is about it here, but it’s a really special place.” Grace is going on to study her A-Levels at Bay House with ambitions of going on to university to train to be a teacher. At sixth form she will study English language, history, politics and fine art.
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Revision sessions paid dividends for top achiever Ryan Ryan Bloxsom was Bay House School’s highest achiever, with eight 9s and three 8s to his name. He is going to stay on at the sixth form to study maths, biology, chemistry and music. Ryan said: ‘It will take a while to sink in. I didn’t expect to do this well. “I think this school is very good. I will stay on at the sixth form, especially as it’s close to where I live. “The school has helped me by running lots of revision sessions and one-to-ones, which is much better than being in a class of 30.”
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Caring Chloe waited for exam news
BAY House student Chloe Limerick returned from aid work in Uganda to find out she passed all of her GCSEs. She travelled to the east African country as part of a charity initiative through Hampshire Scouts, helping out at a local school and hospital. Chloe said: “We camped at the school and painted 20 classrooms. We also donated books and stationery. “It was very different to schools in England. There were no computers and up
to 100 children in a class. The pupils taught us traditional dance and how to use a machete to cut wood.” During her time in Africa, Chloe chose not to find out her GCSE results. Despite struggling with dyslexia, Chloe scored grades 9 to 4 in all her subjects. “I’m pleased I waited until I got home as I was able to celebrate with my parents. It was the trip of a lifetime but the best bit is knowing we made a difference to other people’s lives,” said Chloe.
Rome trip was Owen’s reward AFTER a long anxious wait to discover his GCSE results, Owen Harper celebrated his success with a trip to Rome. He got an 8, two 7s, two 6s, four 5s and two 4s and is staying on at the sixth form to study history, politics, English language and psychology. Owen had a difficult time, having had issues in his social circle which affected his
Building a future: Barney Johnson celebrated 3 A’s in graphic design, product design and English literature and is now going to Cardiff to study architecture.
concentration. But he said: ‘I am so happy. I have always loved history, it’s my favourite subject. “I have done so much better than I thought I would. “The support I have had from my history teacher has been amazing. “He’s the best teacher I have ever had. It’s been tough but I am over the moon now.”
Samuel’s revision reminder after mocks wake-up call STUDENT Samuel Rushent has a powerful message for students studying their GCSEs next year: Don’t slack off. He says only just passing his mocks in Year 10 after not revising was the wake-up call he needed to knuckle down. Samuel is heading off to study mechanical engineering at CEMAST. He said: “I never used to revise for the first couple of mocks in Year 10 and just got
by. In Year 11 I tried really hard and it paid off. “It came from realising I can’t just glide through life, I have to try. It’s been a long journey but what I have achieved shows hard work pays off.” n YEAR 10 Honor Farley scored 9 grades in English, citizenship studies and statistics – despite taking her exams one year early.
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Next step: After scoring an A in English language, B in geography, and a distinction in health and social care (BTEC), Sian Diep is now heading to Portsmouth to study geography.