GCSEs: Students at Berkhamsted School celebrate their results

Berkhamsted's students were celebrating yesterday (Thursday) as they received their GCSE grades.

Students were unable to sit their exams this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, instead their teachers predicted how they would have performed.

On Monday, August 17, the Government Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) announced new plans for determining the 2020 exams results.

GCSE students have received results based on their centre assessed performance, rather than being subjected to the controversial Ofqual standardisation model as originally planned.

Schools were asked to submit their assessment of each student earlier this summer in place of the cancelled 2020 exams.

The results reflect student’s performances in mock exams and other related assessments.

Nearly 98% of the students at Berkhamsted School received grades 9-5 in their GCSEs - 489 achieved a 9 (26.2%), 414 achieved a 8 (22.2%) 445 achieved a 7 (23.8%), 335 achieved a 6 (17.9%) and 140 achieved a 5 (7.5%).

Richard Backhouse, Berkhamsted Schools Group Principal said: “It has come with a sense of relief, that students can finally be safe in the knowledge that their GCSE results will reflect their hard work and academic performance.

"These results testify to the ability and application of this cohort. We are hopeful that today’s results will see the end of the recent turmoil.

"With the Government and Ofqual caused uncertainty behind them, students should now be able to make firm plans for the next academic year.

"The new term is now only a short time away. Throughout the summer our staff have been creating a safe environment as we enter this post-pandemic era.

"For the time being there will be a sense of a ‘new normal’ relating to Covid-19, but the sense of community will remain as strong as ever."

While the school community was distant physically, the sense of togetherness remained.

Liz Richardson, headteacher of Berkhamsted Girls said: “A combined effort of students, staff and parents ensured a seamless transformation into a digital only school in March with the outbreak of the pandemic.

"Our support of Year 11 meant that we helped to develop a programme which would ensure their study leave was put to good use and prepared them for their transition to Sixth Form."

Mary-Clare Startin, headteacher of Berkhamsted Boys added: “The programme helped the students to remain focussed on their studies and to take advantage of this time to gain some of the insights and skills they require to transition from GCSE to their A Level courses in the hope of turning this challenging situation into a positive step ahead.”

Both Headteachers added how proud they were of this year group and the commitment they have shown to their academic studies.