St Mary’s College celebrates excellent GCSE results in a year of disruption

Students and staff at St Mary’s College in Crosby are celebrating an excellent set of GCSE results this summer, despite the widespread disruption to the education sector caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Almost two thirds (61 per cent) of all GCSE grades at the school were at the highest 9-7/A*-A grades, and more than half of candidates (52 per cent) achieved seven or more passes at these top levels.

Just under a quarter (24 per cent) of pupils recorded ten or more 9-7/A*-A grades, and of these, eight candidates achieved 11 or more top grades.

Overall 88 per cent of students recorded ten or more GCSE passes, with many achieving 11 GCSEs.

Staff believe these results reflect the broad and balanced curriculum at St Mary’s, and the fact that the school does not restrict the number of GCSE subjects students can choose to take.

In terms of individual achievement this summer the two star performers were 16-year-old Evie Clark from Crosby and 15-year-old Jack Miller from Formby, both of whom recorded the highest possible ‘9’ grade in all 11 of their GCSE subjects.

Before joining the senior school Evie and Jack both attended St Mary’s Prep, where Jack was moved up a year, which means he has taken his GCSEs a year early.

Evie achieved ‘9’ grades in biology, chemistry, physics, English language, English literature, mathematics, further mathematics, German, music, art and design and religious studies.

Evie said: “I am absolutely ecstatic about my GCSE results and really appreciate the immense support I have had from my teachers throughout my time at St Mary’s.

“I am looking forward to continuing my studies in the Sixth Form, where I will be studying maths, further maths, physics and chemistry.”

Jack achieved ‘9’ grades in biology, chemistry, physics, English language, English literature, mathematics, further mathematics, German, history, ICT and religious studies.

He is also joining the Sixth Form at St Mary’s and plans to study mathematics, further mathematics, history and physics or English literature at A-level.

Jack said: “I am delighted with my results and glad all my hard work has paid off. I am really grateful to everyone at St Mary’s and looking forward to doing my A-levels here.

“I would like to say a big ‘well done’ to everyone else in my year. We have all worked really hard to achieve these results.”

St Mary’s principal, Mike Kennedy, said he was very pleased with the results, but criticised the lateness of the Government’s U-turn on using teacher-assessed grades, which had caused unnecessary anxiety to both A-level and GCSE candidates.

He said: “These results, which are well earned, are based on our teachers’ in-depth knowledge of their pupils, and the progress they have made, rather than the probably flawed way an algorithm had been programmed.

“They also reflect the commitment and hard work of our students who responded brilliantly to the challenges of studying at home during lockdown, and were determined to ensure that their learning continued.”

Mr Kennedy also pointed out that GCSE results are an important milestone in a student’s educational journey, saying: “Achieving excellent grades in their GCSEs is a firm foundation on which young people can build future success at A-level, at university and in their chosen careers.

“All our students and their families should be very proud of what they have achieved, and they should celebrate these achievements in the days ahead, as much as social distancing will allow of course.”