GSCE pupils celebrate fantastic results

Published: 27 August, 2010
by JAMIE WELHAM

WHO said a brown envelope has to spell bad news? Hundreds of students celebrated record results in their GCSEs this week.

Westminster education chiefs are heralding this year’s crop of record-breaking youngsters as proof that Prime Minister David Cameron was wrong to say he was “terrified” of sending his children to his local school.

Overall, 63 per cent of pupils in the borough achieved five or more A* to C grades including English and maths – a 10 per cent rise from last year – putting the authority on track to achieve its target of 75 per cent by 2012.

And almost every school performed better than last year, with Paddington Academy recording a phenomenal increase of 26 per cent.

At Pimlico Academy, the number of pupils achieving five or more A* to C grades including English and maths rose by 17 per cent while the number gaining five GCSEs increased from 68 to 78 per cent.

Headteacher Jerry Collins said: “This is a huge jump and we are thrilled that all the hard work by students and staff in the last two years has paid substantial dividends.”

Other schools within striking distance of Downing Street also fared well. More than 90 per cent of pupils at the Grey Coat Hospital achieved the benchmark A* to C grade including English and maths and at nearby Westminster City School the figure was close to 60 per cent – up 15 per cent from last year.

There were whoops of joy in the north of the borough, where Paddington Academy boasted its best ever GCSE results.

The number of students attaining five A* to C grades including English and maths jumped a massive 28 per cent to 62 per cent. results.”

Down the Harrow Road, they were celebrating at Westminster Academy.

Just under half of pupils picked up five A* to C grades including English and maths, up from just 17 per cent two years ago. Head Smita Bora said:

“When I joined Westminster Academy, I knew we would be one of the most improved schools in the country after four years.

“The staff and students have achieved this aim today and I congratulate them for all their hard work and dedication.”

Cllr Nickie Aiken, Westminster’s cabinet member for children and young people, said: “If the Prime Minister still has remaining concerns over the performance of Westminster’s schools these results should help put his mind at rest.”