Collegiate students reap rewards of hard work

AT independent Collegiate School, staff said Year 11 pupils had achieved excellent results, despite “doom and gloom” predictions of a fall in top grades nationally.

A spokesperson for the school in Stapleton said staff were aware this year’s candidates would be measured against their pre-pandemic predecessors, and students had responded by “getting their heads down and working really hard” to prepare for their GCSEs.

The spokesperson added: “They have reaped the rewards for that hard work!”

The school reported 58% of all grades at 7 to 9, equivalent to A or A* under the previous marking system, with 17% of grades at 9 and one in five students achieving all their grades at 7 or above.

One student achieved nine grade 9 GCSEs, and returned to the school in September to study A-levels in maths, further maths, music and drama.

Collegiate head teacher Jeremy McCullough said: “While it is important to remember that our students always learn far more than simply what is required to pass exams, it is certainly very rewarding to see them achieve such good examination results.

“We know that these brilliant young people have also excelled in sport, music, drama and other areas too.

“In addition, their holistic education will have helped them develop a great many other personal qualities, such as resilience and determination, that will stand them in good stead for the future.

“Congratulations to all the Year 11s for achieving their best.

“We welcomed the majority of students back in September to begin their sixth form journey with us, and we are excited to be joined by a strong cohort of candidates from other schools.”

A week before GCSE results, Collegiate, formerly known as Colston’s School, reported that 73% of its students’ A-level grades were awarded at A* to B, with 42% either A* or A.

Among the technical exams sat, 54% of CTEC and BTEC grades were either distinction* or distinction – the equivalent of A* or A at A-level.