Badminton School bucks the national trend and celebrates outstanding success at GCSE; an impressive 87% of all grades awarded were at A*-A / 9-7 with approximately a third of all grades awarded in reformed subjects at the highly coveted grade 9. Those subjects still examined at A*-G achieved some of the School’s highest statistics for a number of years and 90% graded at A*-A, with approximately half of all girls gaining straight A*-A / 9-7. In addition, Badminton’s pioneering GCSE Computer Science pupils gained 10% of all grade 9s awarded to girls nationally by the Edexcel exam board! These results are a real testament not only to the hard-work of girls and staff, but also reflect the value added that comes from our holistic approach to learning.
The talented Year 11 cohort have also enjoyed plenty of successes outside the classroom as well as excellent GCSE results. Charlotte from Somerset is celebrating a clean sweep of A*-A / 9-7 and is now set to embark on A Levels at Badminton in Biology, English and Latin. At the same time as studying for her GCSEs, she has also found time to learn to fly helicopters and hopes to gain her private pilot’s license shortly after her 17th birthday. Speaking of her results, Charlotte said, “I’m incredibly happy and really proud of my results and I’m excited to start my A Levels. I feel privileged to be able to do so in an environment as inspiring and supportive as Badminton”.
Jenny and Cathy, both boarders, also celebrated straight A*-A / 9-7 but these were not their only successes. Jenny was part of the St Ursula’s Team that won the under-16 National Junior Badminton Competition, whilst Cathy had previously come in the top 50 nationally of the Intermediate Maths Olympiad so, with this and her 9 in GCSE Maths, she is now well placed to embark on qualifications in Further Maths, Physics and Computing. Reflecting on her love of Maths, Cathy said, “I really look forward to studying A Level Further Maths, which not only enables me to extend my knowledge and understanding, but also gives me the opportunity to tackle some even more interesting and challenging questions”.
Mrs Tear, Headmistress commented: “Each and every one of our GCSE cohort this year should be proud of their individual achievements, particularly at this time when many had to grapple with new courses and a new grading structure. Their fantastic GCSE grades are only one piece of the puzzle however, as their triumphs outside of the classroom in their extra-curricular activities shine alongside them. The staff at Badminton are real enthusiasts and ensure a holistic approach to learning that enables the girls to have a deep understanding of their subjects. I am very proud of our whole community.”