Following on from last week’s superb Post-16 results, QEGS staff and students are celebrating another week of success, with 2022 proving to be a huge success for Yr11 exam results too!

42% of all QEGS students were able to achieve one or more of the new ‘top grades’ compared to 35% in 2019. A phenomenal achievement for the school to build on the success of 2019 and for more of our students to achieve these top grades.

Our results continue to reflect our commitment to a broad and balanced curriculum with another superb year for vocational pathways, the arts and the technologies. Fantastic results in Agricultural Engineering, Art and Art Textiles, Drama, Construction, Childcare, and Food Preparation and Nutrition.

Other subjects whose Yr11 examination results are particularly worthy of note are Business Studies, Spanish and Science – they exceeded expectations and these students have performed brilliantly.

Results in core subjects are also strong and despite this year’s tougher grade boundaries, they are equal to or better than in 2019. 76% of QEGS students attained a grade 4 or above in both English and maths (72% 2019) and 54% of QEGS students attained a grade 5 or above in both English and maths (54% 2019).

There were also some amazing individual student performances. Students who made the most progress compared to national expectations included Jay Wilcox-Jones, Sebastian Craven and James Murphy.

Students who deserve an accolade for the highest number of top grades at GCSE include: Annie Whitehouse – 9 grade 9s!  Others with a clutch of grade 9s were Grace Kirk, Louis de Sousa, Daisy Jasper, Katie Hancock, Sophie Jones, Iona Pell, Alasdair Cresswell, Molly Busfield, Elliot Holbrook and Hannah Wright.

All of this despite the endless Covid challenges, the periods of online learning, the government changes to course specifications, DfE changes to grade boundaries and disruption to the two years of Key Stage 4 education overall. These students have plenty to celebrate.

Whilst we celebrate our students’ examination successes, we also acknowledge their contributions and achievements in all aspects of their time at QEGS. Such as in the school shows, music concerts, charity and fundraising events, student leadership, sports teams, art exhibitions, math’s challenges, Duke of Edinburgh, observatory club and many other wonderful co-curricular activities at QEGS. To be the best you can possibly be, takes more than just academic success.

Each year, we strive to improve elements of our provision and this year was no different with a focus on student mental health and wellbeing. Fine tuning how we support and prepare students for their assessments and exams was essential with so much disruption. This ‘little and often’ approach has enabled our students to succeed and progress to sixth form, college or apprenticeships.

The impact of these strategies is evident in our 2022 results but also in the opportunities our students now have ahead of them. With lots of interest, we are likely to see one of our biggest ever sixth form admissions for Yr12, with 161 students looking to join QEGS Sixth Form. Mrs Allen and her sixth form team are on hand at school today to offer advice and support, Mrs Morgan and Mrs Bowbanks are also available to advise on college, apprenticeships and other post-16 routes.

Well done to all our students on being rewarded for your hard work, many thanks to all staff and parents for your continued support, we could not do it without you.

Following such a successful set of exam results, we look forward to welcoming our new Year 7 cohort in September and existing students and staff back to school.  For prospective students of all ages (and parents), we will be holding the 2022 QEGS Open Evening on Wednesday 28th September between 4.30pm and 6.30pm. Everyone is welcome, please come and find out about QEGS and see if this is the school for you and your family.