University Technical College Portsmouth principal 'really pleased' with GCSE results
UNIVERSITY Technical College Portsmouth principal, James Doherty, is ‘really pleased’ with students’ results after submitting what he described as conservative estimates.
In total, 75 per cent of pupils were awarded a grade 5 (high old grade C) or above in maths and English with 55 per cent of students scoring a grade of 7 (old grade A) or above in triple science and 45 per cent achieving a grade of 7 or above in maths.
Mr Doherty said: 'We are really pleased with the results the students have achieved as we submitted conservative estimates.’
The college had been concerned that as a new institute with a limited attainment history, it could be penalised under the calculated grade system which placed a heavy weighting on the past academic performance of a school.
Mr Doherty added: ‘I was pleased with the last minute change to go with teacher-estimated grades as under the circumstances I think this was the fairest thing to do.
‘As a new school we were worried about being penalised with the algorithm of the calculated grade. I understand Penny Mordaunt MP spoke directly to the education secretary about the concerns of new schools such as ourselves.'
One student who performed better than her original target grades was Amee Fowler,16, who was awarded one grade 8, three grade 7s, two grade 6s, one grade 5 and a grade 4.
Amee said: 'I’m really relieved and pleased with my results. I stayed behind every Wednesday after school and this just shows that my hard work has paid off.'
Mr Doherty added: 'Amee has worked really hard to end up with higher grades than what she was originally targeting.'
Another student who performed particularly well was Caitlin Marshall, 16, who scored a 7 in maths and an 8 in English Language and Literature. In total she achieved three grade 8s, three grade 7s and two grade 6s.
Caitlin said: 'I'm really pleased with my results - it was higher than expected. In the end I think using teacher predictions was the fairest thing to do. They are the ones who know us best.'
One of the schools highest attaining students was Oliver Knight, 16, who while pleased with his grades said the experience was ‘strange’ having not physically sat his exams.
Oliver, who achieved seven grade 9s, one grade 8 and one grade 7, said: 'With all that has gone on I’m happy with my results - there has been a lot of confusion and so it’s a relief to have this piece of paper.
‘It does feel a little strange though. Not like I didn't earn my grades but just different to if I'd sat the exams.'
