'These results are real!' South West schools celebrate strong GCSEs
Almost one in three results handed-out across the region this year have been the top grades
Last updated 17th Aug 2021
Many GCSE students in the South West are enjoying a weekend of celebrations, as their final grades have been revealed.
Of all the results issued across the region this year, 29.1% were 7 or above.
That is equivalent to an 'A' or higher, under the previous classification system, and represents a 3% rise on the same figure 12 months ago.
Some experts are now calling for GCSEs to be reviewed, arguing that so-called 'grade inflation' means assessments are not rigorous enough.
'The future of exams at age 16 is likely to come under threat'
Professor Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at the University of Buckingham, said: "Plentiful top grades make pupils and parents happy, but they are less helpful for those using the grades for admission to the next stage of education or recruitment to employment.
"With another bumper crop of top GCSE grades, the future of exams at age 16 is likely to come under threat".
'Resilience that young people have shown'
Any plans for traditional GCSE, A-level and AS-level exams this year were scrapped in January, amid fears that the ongoing disruption caused by the pandemic would affect pupil performance. Instead, assessments came in the form of various teacher-led tasks.
Emma Leigh-Bennett, Headteacher of Kingsdown School in Swindon, said students had been through a "incredibly tough" 18 months.
"I pay tribute to the resilience that young people have shown. A level of maturity way, way beyond their chronological ages has been demanded from them.
"Their parents and carers have navigated their way through online and home learning - that hasn't been easy.
"The Heads of Department, the teachers, the leaders of the school and our professional support staff have all worked tirelessly to champion our students ... all of that hard work has paid off," she told Greatest Hits Radio.
'The assessments have been more rigorous'
Assistant Headteacher at Kingsdown, Louise Criddle, added: "I think we need to be really careful not to discredit the hard work that the students and staff have put in this year.
"The assessments have been I'd say more rigorous, than what they have been in the past. (We've had) both internal and external moderations.
"These results are real and we are so incredibly proud".