Despite changes in the system, students at Batley Grammar School have achieved some excellent GCSE results, sustaining last year's high pass rate.

The school has seen  an increase in the percentage of students gaining five  A* to C and five A* to C (including  English and maths)  since opening as a Free School in September 2011, and this year is no exception.

Click below for pictures of students celebrating

 

Some 92% of students gained five A* to C grades and 79% gained five A* to C including English and Maths. This is also the fourth successive year in a row when the capped average points score (best eight) has increased.

Headteacher Brigid Tullie said: "We are particularly pleased with the sustained improvement in the levels of progress in our core subjects of English and mathematics. These, as well as the raw results, are very important measures of performance by which Ofsted judge us. 

"Some 78% of students in English and 82% in mathematics achieved expected progress, and 46% in English and 38% in mathematics achieved better than expected progress. 

"Similarly, we maintained a high percentage of our students in the cohort (53%) achieving the E-Bacc qualification.

"Top performers this year were Shazaib Ahmed (12 A*s including a distinction in Additional Maths), Sarah Edwards (eight A*s,  two As), John Henry Hughes (seven A*s, five  As), Olivia Marchant (seven A*s 2A 1B), Michael Holiday (five A*s,  four As, two Bs) and Anastasia Womack (five A*s,  four As, one  B).

Batley Grammar School - Back: Emma Stretton, Max Thompson Front: Shahzaib Ahmed, Ali Hassan, Michael Holliday
Batley Grammar School - Back: Emma Stretton, Max Thompson Front: Shahzaib Ahmed, Ali Hassan, Michael Holliday

" Other students gaining a high proportion of the higher grades and at least seven  grades at A*/A include Catriona Anderson, Ali Hassan, Ahmed El-Mustafa and Emma Stretton.

"We are delighted with the achievements of our students. These results reflect the dedication and hard work by both staff and students alike.

"Exam results are always only part of the picture and this academic success has also been matched by equally good performances outside of the classroom. Our students regularly make the most of all the opportunities on offer here.  

"This might typically include being a member of the Combined Cadet Force (CCF), undertaking the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, or enthusiastically participating in the vast array of extra curricular activities alongside the volunteering, enterprise and fund raising projects on offer.

" Some of these students have spent a proportion of their summer break in Peru assisting with community projects, trekking and experiencing the culture. To avail themselves of this opportunity they have spent much of the last 18 months raising funds to the tune of over £3,000 per student; no mean feat alongside studying for GCSE exams.

We pride ourselves in helping to create confident, rounded individuals and enriched young citizens that will contribute to the community”.