Thursday 24 August 2017

The E-ACT Burnham Park Academy students awarded more top GCSE grades than ever before

The E-ACT Burnham Park Academy istoday celebrating a hugely successful GCSE results day with students being awarded more top grades than ever before.

  • 47% of our students have achieved GCSE grades 9–4 (A-C)inclEng & Maths
  • 32% of our students achieved a grade 7 or abovewith 18% receiving 7 or above in Maths and 24% in English

HeadteacherJames Hughes on today’s results:

“It is testament to the hard work of our students and academy staff that so many leave our academy today with the results they need to either go onto further study, college or employment. The entire academy community is brimming with pride today as we celebrate this wonderful set of results.”

Executive Headteacher Matthew Flannigan on today’s results:

“This is a significant improvement for the academy on its journey to becoming an outstanding academy,and we are extremely proud of all our students.”

Notes to editors

There are two main changes to take into accountthis year:

  • The new numerical grading system
  • New and tougher GCSEs in English literature, English language and mathematics

Numerical grading

This year the new numerical grading system applies only to GCSEs in English literature, English language and mathematics.

In 2017:

  • Traditional letter grades (A*-G) have been replaced by numerical grades, where 9 is the highest mark and 1 the lowest.
  • Under this new system an A is equivalent to a 7 while a C is anchored at grade 4.
  • Note that there are now two levels of passes – a standard pass at grade 4 and a strong pass at grade 5.

New and more difficult GCSEs in English literature, English language and mathematics

This year students across the country sat tougher new GCSEs in the two core subjects of English and mathematics.The main change here is that students were tested in final exams at the end of the course instead of in modules which involved students being tested in stages at different parts of the year.

What will be happening next year?

In 2018 another 20 subjects will have numerical grading with most others following in 2019.