The Royal Hospital School has seen A-level and BTEC results continue to improve year on year as the school achieved an 87% A*-C pass rate despite the impact of national standardisation.
• 87% A*-C pass rate which is in line with what was expected before lock-down
• 31.4% A*-A grades which should rise to 34% when mock results are taken into account
• 23 pupils achieved the points equivalent of three A grades
• Results at A*-B and A*-C are better than the average of the previous three years
• 80% of BTEC pupils achieved at least one Distinction grade
• Outstanding results for Music, Latin & Classics and BTEC subjects.
The Royal Hospital School (RHS), in Suffolk, has seen A-level and BTEC results continue to improve year on year as the school achieved an 87% A*-C pass rate despite the impact of national standardisation. These results and the A*-B pass rate are better than the average for the previous three years. Taking into consideration Awarded Grades and potential mock adjustment, the School is hopeful that it will achieve its best performance at A*/A grade since 2011 with a 34% pass rate.
Of the 108 pupils studying A-levels and BTECs this academic year, 23 pupils have been awarded the points equivalent of three A grades or more.
Catherine Stevens, Deputy Head (Academic) said: “It has been an incredibly anxious time for young people nationally and, in the circumstances, I am really pleased for the vast majority of our pupils who have gained grades which have enabled them to move on to the next stage of their education or employment. However, there is bitter disappointment for some where the national standardisation has resulted in a less positive picture. It will take some time to fully understand how the standardisation has been applied and we are currently working to support those pupils as best we can. Whilst the recent introduction of the ‘Triple Lock’ with mock grades is extremely controversial and scant in detail, we hope it will provide protection for pupils who have been affected by standardisation.
“Our most academically able pupils have continued to achieve top grades, and we are delighted by our BTEC results: predominantly completed before lock-down commenced, these extremely strong results demonstrate that RHS continues to provide a broad curriculum that successfully caters for all our pupils. Results from our Music department continue to be exceptional, and this year Classics and the Sciences have gained particularly pleasing grades, with significant numbers of pupils studying those subjects gaining a raft of A* and A grades.
“The overall grades that the School has achieved are in line with what we expected for this cohort should examinations have taken place as normal, making them some of our best results on record. This reflects the ability and the strong work ethic of this cohort, and I am extremely pleased that the hard work of our staff to continue the academic trajectory of the school has not been diminished.
We are now focusing on providing the highest level of support for our pupils to help them understand the context of their grades and assist them moving on to their next stage.”
Simon Lockyer, Headmaster, said: “Despite the confusion and speculation over A-level results and in the context of national standardisation, I am delighted to see the hard work and potential of this cohort reflected in most areas and this has contributed to the continued upward trend of improved results at RHS.
“For some pupils, however, there will have been frustration and anxiety over the process of awarding grades and the inability to demonstrate their ability under exam conditions. We recognise that there will be those who will feel a sense of injustice in the grades they have been awarded and the lack of recourse to challenge their grade. It is therefore our priority to help each and every one of them make the best choices so that they can move on to the next stage of their career, be that educational or otherwise.
“Of course, the most disappointing part of this situation is the time these pupils have lost in the final year of their school career. They have all made a remarkable contribution to school life through leadership roles, sport, music, service and participating in the many co-curricular activities on offer, despite the disruption. I am incredibly proud of what they have achieved, and we look forward to following their progress, in whatever path they follow.”