Southwark schools have vast improvements to GCSE grades despite pandemic struggles

Against a backdrop of multiple lockdowns, remote learning and self-isolation, students across Southwark have seen vast improvements to GCSE grades.

Exams were cancelled for the second successive year but grades have been awarded to students by teachers based on their assessment of mock exams, homework, coursework or mini-exams.

Provisional results have shown that Southwark students and schools have excelled in GCSE results despite the huge disruption to learning caused by the pandemic.

Attainment eight, the measure of achievement across eight qualifications including English and maths, has gone up by 5.5 from 53.7 points in 2020 to 59.2 points this year.

Early results have shown that 84.2 per cent of Southwark students achieved a standard pass (up 8.8 percentage points from 75.4 per cent in 2020) and 64.9 per cent achieved a strong pass (up 11.5 percentage points from 2020) in both English and mathematics.

Early indications also suggest results for the English Baccalaureate have improved with 55.4 per cent of pupils achieving a standard pass (up 7.9 percentage points to 47.5 per cent in 2020) and 42.9 per cent of pupils achieving a strong pass (up 11.3 percentage points to 31.6 per cent in 2020).

Cllr Jasmine Ali, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “A huge congratulations to our GCSE students for their fantastic results.

“You have all done Southwark proud through what has been an incredibly stressful and challenging year.

“Thanks to your outstanding efforts and the incredible dedication of teachers and parents, I’m delighted we’re able to celebrate your wonderful success.

“Whether you’re going on to higher education or taking another route, we have many ways of supporting you in your next steps.

“I’d urge you to sign up to our mailing list as there’s an array of opportunities, like jobs and training, geared towards helping you achieve the future you have your sights set on.

“We continue to work closely with the fantastic staff at our schools to ensure all the wellbeing needs of our students are met, including taking our mental health service The Nest directly into classrooms across the borough.”

Young people who are thinking about their next steps in education, training or work can join Southwark Council’s mailing list to receive news on job vacancies and career information in and around Southwark.

Visit www.southwark.gov.uk/nextstepmailinglist for more information.

Pictured top: L-R: Charlotte Paresys, Finn Wharton and Jesse Ngizwenayo from the City of London School Academy Southwark all received Grade 9s across the board.