Badminton School Year 11 pupils are today celebrating some outstanding GCSE results. Whilst we congratulate the whole cohort on these fantastic results, there are always individuals who deserve a special mention: Christina, who achieved grade 9 in all her GCSEs, was congratulated by the OCR exam board for being one of the top performers nationally in GCSE Latin, obtaining full marks in each component. More widely, pupils studying Languages were able to celebrate outstanding successes and had clearly benefitted from the range of language opportunities on offer, ranging from in-country homestay visits and language debates, to the hosting of classics debates as part of Badminto n’s role as the southwest hub of the Classical Association.
Once again, pupils have showed prowess in the STEM subjects with nearly two thirds of the grades achieved in Science and Maths being at grade 8 or 9. The extracurricular opportunities offered to pupils within STEM enables them to develop not only their skills in these subjects but also a range of wider transferable skills that will be useful as they move on to the next chapter of their education.
Annabelle, one of our Science Outreach Programme team members said: “Science Outreach has offered me a unique opportunity where I have been able to present at many festivals such as the Festival of Physics and the UK Big Bang. This has enabled me to develop my communication skills and become a more confident public speaker.”
For many pupils GCSEs are the first chapter in their journey to their chosen career and a time when they start to explore their own passions and learn where their strengths lie. Hannah, who achieved a string of top grades and is now set to study English Literature, Politics and Economics at A Level, said of the experiences of the last two years: “Participating in a mock trial competition was not only interesting, but really eye opening and inspired me to obtain work experience shadowing a barrister at Bristol Crown Court; I am now hoping to study Law at University.”
Mrs Miles, Head, said: “Our Year 11 pupils should be extremely proud of what they have achieved. Let’s not forget that the normal rhythm of their school life was taken away from them when they were approaching their final term in Year 8, but they have faced up to the disruptions and challenges along the way, supported by our excellent academic and pastoral staff. Alongside their academic achievements, our Year 11 pupils contributed brilliantly to the wider life of the School, whether it be through music, sport, or fund-raising for a myriad of causes. They now turn their thoughts to the start of their A Level courses and I am very much looking forward to seeing them flourish in our Sixth Form 
from September.”