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Sherfield School celebrates a record pass rate at GCSE this year, with 92% of candidates achieving at least five A*-C (or equivalent) including Mathematics and English and an overall 93% pass rate. This follows on from the impressive A Level achievements last week, which included Oxbridge success for our Head Boy and an outstanding 51% of A Levels being awarded A* to B grades. At GCSE 47% of all grades were rated A*/A, and 78% of grades were B or higher.
The English Department did particularly well, with a 100% pass rate in English Language under the more rigorous 9-1 grading regime, demonstrating that Sherfield pupils are well prepared for the tough changes to the GCSE landscape as other subjects follow suit next year. This is the first year of the new and more challenging GCSE English and yet every pupil taking English Language passed their GCSE. The new top grade 9 identifies the very highest performing pupils in the country, the top 2.3%. Special praise must go to Rachel Walker who secured a grade 9 in both English Language and Literature. In her literature exam she scored an outstanding 157 marks out of 160. She also achieved six A* grades and two grade As. William Sadler attained an 8 and 7 in the English exams along with six A*s and an A. Alex Baldry has grown up at Sherfield, being with us from the age of three when the school opened in 2004; he achieved ten GCSE passes with grades 9 and 7 in English Language and Literature, two A* grades, five As and one B. Six pupils also sat Additional Mathematics on top of their GCSEs; three of them scored the top grade A. Toni Shering passed all of her GCSEs with excellent grades, an A* in GCSE Maths and grade B in Additional Mathematics. Her results are even more impressive considering her time commitments when competing in global karate competitions; in her age class, she is currently third in the world.
There were strong performances in STEAM subjects. Of the forty-eight pupils taking the IGCSE Mathematics Higher Tier papers, 79% achieved A*/A. In Physics, 57% of grades were A*/A, with 64% in Biology and 54% in Chemistry at that level. In Latin, 75% of grades were A*/A and in French 67%.
Head Master, Mr Fisher, said: “These are the school’s best overall GCSE results for the last six years and they are a great tribute to the hard work of all teaching staff during this transition towards more competitive exams. Nationally, the A* to C figure was down this year, whereas we improved significantly on last year’s results. I am delighted that the pupils have risen to the challenges that these exams posed. The English department staff all became Examiners this year in order to equip pupils with the required specific skills and knowledge. It is clear that this approach has paid dividends. One of the strengths of our school is our flexibility with the curriculum. A number of staff have given up their own time to teach pupils extra subjects out of block so that pupils can pursue a personalised curriculum. I am very grateful to my staff’s dedication and the commitment of the pupils.”