A huge 20 per cent rise in Spalding Academy pupils achieving five A* to C grade GCSEs signals a “new era for secondary education in Spalding,” says headteacher Laurence Reilly.
Teachers and pupils were jubilant this morning in the hall.
While pupils opened their results envelopes, Spalding Academy Deputy Headteacher Karen Joel said:
“We’re so, so excited. It’s all down to the students. A 20 per cent rise is incredible. I can’t imagine many people are celebrating like we are today.”
The dramatic rise in results is likely to put the school high in national achievements.
“We’re hoping it’ll make us one of the most improved schools in the country,” said Mrs Joel.
Nationally, the GCSE pass rate has fallen 0.6 per cent.
Headteacher Mr Reilly said: “The school’s been a very low achieving school. From when [South Lincolnshire Academies Trust] took it over last year we’ve gone from 31 per cent five A-stars-to-C in maths and English, up to 51 per cent.”
“A lot of kids have done a lot better than expected,” Mr Reilly said of the results that contrast with the “high predictions and low achievements for the last two years”.
“I am confident that this is the start of a new era in secondary education in Spalding which, due to the fact that the school is non-selective, now provides a high quality education for all families in the town and surrounding areas,” said Mr Reilly.
Pupil Erikas Laucius, who started at Spalding Academy in September, achieved 11 A*-C grades. “That’s amazing!” Erikas said when he opened his results. He plans to go into programming.
Wiktoria Smok achieved 13 A*-C grade GCSEs and is going on to study A Levels in maths, computer science and engineering.
Spalding High School also saw an increase in successful results. While the new graded scoring (1-9) for maths and English isn’t directly comparable, grade 4 is considered a pass equivalent to a C.
99 per cent of Spalding High School students achieved grade 4 (standard pass) or above in English, an increase on last year. 94 per cent of students achieved Grade 4 in both English and Maths.
Spalding High School student Anna Wilks achieved two grade 8 and three A* grades, earning 12 A*-B grades overall. She will stay on to the sixth form and study A levels in maths, biology, chemistry and English Literature.
See the next issue of the paper for full coverage of South Holland and more photos.
