1st September 2010

BRIDPORT: Boys outstrip girls in excellent GCSE results

by Paul Crompton

STUDENTS in Bridport’s school were celebrating their GCSE results this week after bucking all national trends including boys out-performing girls for the first time in years.

Nationally a trend of more than two decades has seen boys lag behind girls in most subjects, but at Sir John Colfox School the boys outstripped their fellow female students, and the school’s overall results smashed the national average.

The students achieved an amazing 83 per cent 5A*-C in their GCSEs beating the national average by 14 percentage points.

Top performers included Hetty Van Hensbergen who gained 12A*’s and one A along with David Huish who achieved 7.5 A* and six A’s.

Results for the early entry year 10 were also excellent with 34 per cent of the grades being A*/A. Top students included Katherine Crabb with her three A*, one A and a B and fellow student Leah Crabtree who gained three A* and one B.

Headteacher Kay Taylor said: “I was really thrilled. Last year’s results were amazing and to do even better is wonderful. I was particularly pleased with the performance of the boys.

“We have been working to improve this for some time and this year the boys did better than the girls overall, particularly in Maths and Science. All students, right across the ability range, performed well.

“The target for the year group, based on their performance at primary school, was 68 per cent. We always knew we would add value to this but 14 per cent better is higher than we expected.”

Science results were also shown to be improving at the school thanks to its policy of different choices in science, including taking the three separate sciences. Of the science grades, 81per cent were A*-C and almost 25 per cent were A*-A.

The school also beat the national overall pass rate, which has been rising for the last 23 years, with 99.4 per cent of the students achieving 5 GCSE passes.

Mrs Taylor put the success down to hard work and really good staff as well as starting exams in year nine, which this year included Bridport’s carnival princes Lucy Paull who collected one A, a B and two Cs.

“I am really delighted for all our students and their families. They have worked hard for this and deserve the success. The school is blessed with some superb teachers who show incredible commitment to the profession and the students in their care” said Ms Taylor.

“With their guidance I am sure the school and the students will continue to deliver outstanding results in the coming years.”

PICTURE: BOYS DID WELL - A group of Sir John Colfox students celebrate their success