Our Fifth Form boys are today rejoicing after another record-breaking set of GCSE results. With a remarkable 47% of grades awarded 9-8 grade (the old A* grade), the class of 2019 have beaten last year’s record results by 3%.  

Following the reform of GSCE grades, a new grade 9 was introduced which is reserved for the very top achievers. Over 20% of papers were marked at the top grade 9 against a national average of 3.7% for boys (5.2% for girls). Additionally, 65% of papers were marked at 9-7 (A*-A) against a national average of 18.6% for boys (25.3% for girls).   

Typically, at Bedford School, boys take 10 GCSEs. This year no fewer than 30 boys achieved at least nine grades 9-8 (A*), with George Winder scoring ten straight 9 grades.

Bedford School Head Master, James Hodgson, said, “This is another superb set of results and underlines some of the benefits to boys of being educated in a single sex environment at this age.  These boys have worked hard, with and for each other, and thoroughly deserve their success.  Whilst we have highlighted the top end here, there were also many great individual successes away from top grades, and these are every bit as important; as of course are all the wonderful things these boys achieve outside the classroom, away from academia.  Well done to them all; and we look forward to guiding their development, in whatever individual shape that might take, in the Sixth Form.”

We spoke to some of the boys, who achieved a range of results, about what their results mean to them.

Thomas Raut was over the moon with his set of results after achieving nine subjects graded 9-7, which included three grade 9s. This means he can now go on to study Maths, Economics, Geography and Design Technology at A-Level. Thomas told us that he had to work hard to balance his GCSE revision with his fencing training (Thomas is currently ranked 10th in Great Britain for the U17 age group), and it was the structure and additional sessions provided by his teachers that enabled him to manage both his studies and fencing training schedule.

 

 

William Cliffe also achieved a great set of results and, although he was a little humble, he could not help breaking out into a big smile when he told us he had achieved a grade 9 in Maths. William cannot wait to join the Sixth Form and concentrate on the subjects he enjoys the most: Computer Science, Maths, Further Maths and Physics. William also plays the trumpet in the school’s First Orchestra and sings at Grade 7 level, and puts much of his success down to the solid environment that surrounds him at Bedford School. He says that there is always someone around to help and the support is incredible.

 

 

 

Oliver Setterfield was thrilled to have achieved three grade 9s and two grade 8s amongst his set of results to enable him to study Geography, Design Technology, Biology and Maths at A-Level. Oliver, who is on the school’s Water Polo team sees his future in the world of design and hopes to go on to do a degree in this field after A-Levels. In the meantime, after passing his lifeguard qualification this summer, he will soon take up a lifeguarding role at the local pool. His mum told us, “Bedford School has done wonders for Ollie. The teachers have helped him find his strengths and made him shine. It was like a seed was planted and has blossomed over the years.”

 

 

 

Finlay Cummings came to Bedford School on a Golf Scholarship and has had to balance hours spent on the golf course with his studies. He said the golf coaches have been incredibly supportive and have made allowances to help him juggle the demands of his revision schedule which has resulted in Fin achieving three grade 8s, three grade 7s and three grade 6s. Fin hopes to go to university in America after studying English, Design Technology, Geography and Business at A-Level.

 

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