Resilient King’s Ely pupils achieve excellent GCSE results

Determination and an enthusiasm for learning has resulted in GCSE students at King’s Ely achieving a brilliant set of grades.

Following what has certainly been a unique and challenging 18 months, King’s Ely is delighted to report that 94% of results this year are Grades 9-5, 65% are Grades 9-7 (the old A*-A) and 39% are Grades 9-8. 19% of results this year are Grade 9, which is the highest possible.

Ten students achieved at least ten Grades 8-9 – congratulations to Ben Collier, Alice Wallace, Joseph Coppin, Nia Baird, Malak Nasir, Ben Kittoe, Connor Marshall, Isabel Mitchell, Jonathan Iles and Alice O'Callaghan.

Three students achieved Grade 9’s in all eleven of their subjects – congratulations to Ayala Gate, Freddie Hills and Daniel Millard.

Jonathan Shaw, Head of King’s Ely Senior, said: “We are delighted to be celebrating with our Year 11 students, who have coped admirably with the numerous challenges of the last 18 months. Whilst not sitting the traditional exams, the assessment process was equally rigorous, and they certainly deserve their excellent grades. We are extremely proud of them.”

Ben Collier joined King’s Ely Acremont Nursery as a toddler and, like the majority of this year’s Year 11 cohort, he is staying at King’s Ely for Sixth Form. He achieved ten Grade 9s and one Grade 8, and is studying Chemistry, Biology and Further Mathematics at A Level. Ben said: “I’m so pleased with my results. It’s been a tough couple of years, but these grades make all the hard work, and the ups and downs feel worthwhile. Our teachers are so supportive – even during lockdowns, they all went to such great efforts that it didn’t feel too dissimilar to being in the classroom with them to be honest. I’m looking forward to studying my A Level subjects, my aim is to study Medicine at University.”

Alice Wallace has also been a student at King’s Ely since joining King’s Ely Acremont Nursery. Alice achieved nine Grade 9s and two Grade 8s, and will be studying English Literature, History and Religious Studies at A Level. Alice said: “I was pressing the refresh button on my laptop constantly from 8.30am onwards and was so chuffed when I finally saw my results. I put a lot of work in to achieve these grades. I’m excited for Sixth Form now. I have such a good relationship with my teachers and enjoy all the co-curricular activities on offer here at King’s, so I certainly couldn’t imagine going anywhere else for Sixth Form.”

Joseph Coppin achieved eight Grade 9s and three Grade 8s. He is studying Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics and Further Mathematics at A Level, with the view to pursuing a degree and career in Computing or Engineering. Joseph, who joined King’s Ely Junior in Year 8, said: “I feel my grades are the result of a lot of hard work and effort from me, and good teaching and guidance from everyone at King’s. I’m looking forward to Sixth Form here – the greater independence, the small class sizes and being able to study subjects I really enjoy on a deeper level.”

John Attwater, Principal of King’s Ely, said: “This year’s system of teacher assessed grades has demanded real maturity, flexibility and resilience from our students and exceptional dedication and hard work from teachers. Our students have accepted this rigorous process with good grace and enthusiasm to do their best in genuine partnership with staff, and it has been great to see their confidence that their teachers know them as individuals really well so that their grades are the right ones for them.

“Some people are writing about “spikes” in grades this year because of the lack of exams and teacher assessment replacing it. However, today’s grades have been painstakingly and professionally established to gauge students’ level of readiness for further study in each subject, probably more accurately and consistently for each student this year than ever before, which would suggest that it is the normal process of sitting traditional exams which disadvantage some students every year instead. I am delighted for our students and look forward to working with them in the Sixth Form at King’s in September.”

Twenty-nine students of more than a dozen different nationalities studying the intensive one-year IGCSE programme at King’s Ely also obtained their results. The 25-week intensive course sees students studying in their non-native speaking language, and the average number of subjects taken is 5.7. Congratulations to every single student, many of whom spent several months in isolation in boarding houses or abroad. Special mention must go to Yi Du (Judy), who achieved Grades 9-8 for all six of her subjects, and Piao Piao Li, who achieved Grades 9-7 in all eight of her subjects. Ziyuan Zheng (Bob) must also be recognised for passing all six of his subjects with Grades 9-7.

Matthew Norbury, Director for International Students at King’s Ely, said: “In a school where international students make up over 15% of the entire student community, I am immensely proud of not just the one-year IGCSE results but also the achievements of our international students taking mainstream GCSEs and indeed A Levels. Each year, students whose first language is not English and who have often been in the UK for only one or two years are able to demonstrate superb effort and determination and match this to high aspirations. King’s Ely is immensely proud of everything they achieve and the excellent global and UK University programmes they go on to follow.”

To discover more about opportunities at King’s Ely, please visit: www.kingsely.org