GCSE students deliver top results

Local schools have outperformed those in the UK and excelled compared to previous years with the highest pass rate in the last five years for Bayside and Westside Schools.

Both schools together secured an average pass rate of 70%, up four percent from last year’s total as some students battled against the odds to achieve high grades.

In contrast the UK has suffered a significant decline and GCSE results have plummeted to the lowest level since 2008. The UK’s pass rate slipped from 69% to 66.9%.

The drop in grades in the UK has followed calls for tougher exams and pre-empt next year’s exam shake-ups where select GCSE courses will be graded from numbers 1-9 instead of A*-G.

However, the ‘U’ grade - meaning unsatisfactory – will remain the same.

The Minister for Education, Gilbert Licudi, congratulated all the students and was satisfied with the pass rates.

The Department will now analyse these results and will work closely with schools in order to continue to improve.

"This next academic year will bring significant changes being introduced both to subject content, with breadth and depth of study material both being increased, and, furthermore, to the way examinations are graded with the introduction of a super A*, called a level 9, in some subjects,” Mr Licudi said.

“Our schools and professionals will be prepared to meet these challenges and will work tirelessly to ensure that every child achieves his or her absolute potential."