Best ever GCSE results for College

Frome College has once again achieved its best ever GCSE results showing continuous improvement in the last four years.

Just under 70% of students achieved A*-C grades in mathematics and in English – the highest ever figure for Frome College when taking both crucial core subjects together. This is above the national average for these subjects.

The same percentage of students achieved a higher GCSE grade in a humanities subject, again above the national average and also now a compulsory part of the curriculum. 125 students took geography with 80% achieving A*-C.

Sciences continued their improvement too, with particularly high performance in triple science. 50% of the grades in physics were A*/A with biology and chemistry very close behind. 66% of the year group achieved an A*-C in a science.

In modern foreign languages, French achieved 80% A*-C grades with a cohort of 81 students, once again, results above the national average.

These subjects represent the key traditional curriculum elements of what the government measure schools against and in which the College is showing tremendous success. These same subjects also scored highly at A level earlier this month with record results.

The College has breadth in its subject options, valuing all components of the curriculum. 33 students took music GCSE with 85% achieving A*-C with a third of students achieving an A*/A. 68 students took photography GCSE with 93% achieving A*-C GCSE grades. 71 students took religion & philosophy full GCSE with 86% of students achieving A*-C with over 50% achieving an A*/A.

BTEC subjects continued to add tremendous value and achieve high grades including business studies with 100% pass rate and 37% of students achieving Distinction*/Distinction (A*/A).

Principal Gavin Ball said, “This year saw an increase in the ‘average point score per student’. This means that more students are achieving more GCSEs and at a higher level than ever before at Frome College: this figure is also above the national average. This is testament to our offer of four option subjects taken over three years for all students.

“Overall just under 60% of students achieved five A*-C GCSE grades with English and maths included – our highest percentage yet. However, the most important news is the value-added measure of ‘Progress 8’. This judges the performance for each student across eight subjects using their KS2 scores as a ‘baseline’; a ‘zero’ score represents break even progress. The College achieved an average Progress 8 score of +0.15 for all students in Year 11. Yet again the College is delighted to achieve this very positive figure which shows we are on the road to becoming an outstanding school.

“We are proud of each and every one of our students but there were some exceptional performances. Jacob Lee and Susie Williams both achieved 13 A*/A grade GCSEs comprising of 11 A*s and two As whilst Eve Anderson also achieved 13 A*/A grades comprising ten A*s and three As.

There were a host of other high performing students achieving the top grades of A*/A grades. Chloe Morris also achieved 13 A*/A grades; Catherine Foreman achieved 12 A*/As, Tom Dunn and Emily Gulbis 11 A*/As; Elizabeth Allen, Luna Brudenell, Mathew Cook, Kieren Grist, Laura James, Dodi Swan-Capper, Dolly Swann, Soloman Warsop, Christian Sandoval achieved 10 A*/As; Chloe Eacott, Hannah Roberts, Tyger Teeranggoon achieved 9 A*/As; Cassey Gilroy, Kelsey Palmer, Finlay Peet, Holly Scott, Tabitha Tarbrooke achieved 8 A*/As. This is the largest number of outstanding performing students that the College has seen.

“There were lots of students who also gained high grades in their GCSEs, well above the targets set for them. Our congratulations go to all of our students and staff.

“These results show that Frome College nurtures and develops fully rounded young people. In one of the most successful years for winning competitions in public speaking, enterprise, sport, computing, showcasing first class music, dance and drama as well as achieving some of the highest levels of participation in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme regionally our students also achieve high academic grades, at GCSE, BTEC and A level. We wish all of our students the very best for their next steps.”