ST BENEDICT’S, Ealing, is celebrating the school’s best-ever GCSE results, with 66% of pupils being awarded grades 9 to 7, the equivalent of A*-A in the new style GCSEs.

This represents a 12% increase from last year’s results, and an improvement of almost 20% since 2016.

Four pupils achieved nine grade 9s, including two with 10 of the top grades, an exceptional achievement since 9 equates to a higher mark than the old A*.

Headmaster Andrew Johnson, said: “The new-style GCSEs have been designed to be academically more demanding, and we have sought to prepare our pupils rigorously for this.”

ELTHORNE Park High School staff and students at Hanwell are celebrating another set of outstanding results, with 78% of students gaining grades 9-4 in English and Maths and 60% achieving grades 9-5.

With 48% of the year obtaining an EBacc – double the national average – the school achieved its best-ever results in the year when virtually all GCSEs have converted to the more challenging 9-1 grading system.

Strong results were seen across the curriculum, but of particular note were the sciences, where 98% of students achieved grades 9-5 in physics, chemistry and biology.

READ MORE: A LEVELS: Everyone at Villiers is off to uni

READ MORE: What to do if you don't get the results you wanted

READ MORE: London Mela draws 40,000 to Southall Park

Top achievers included George Powell (7 grade 9s, 2 grade 8s and a grade 7), Nithila Daby (7 grade 9s, 1 grade 8 and 2 grade 7s), George Stephens (6 grade 9s, 3 grade 8s and 1 grade 7) and Curtis Parfitt-Ford (6 grade 9s and 5 grade 8s).  

VILLIERS High School in Southall recorded the highest Progress 8 figure in its history, with pupils on average scoring half a grade better than expected.

Abdulahi Abdikadir, from Southall, said he was totally surprised to get two 9 grades - the top mark available - as well as two 8s and four 7s.

After a partial introduction last year, almost all GCSEs are graded from 1 to 9, with the former A* grade split into the 7, 8 and 9 grades.

Abdulahi said: “My teachers were one of the biggest reasons I’ve got these grades. I used to drop into their classrooms at lunch for extra help. If I had any confusion or difficulties they wouldn’t hesitate to help.”

MORE than 20% of pupils at Alec Reed Academy inN ortholt achieved the new A**/A equivalent grades.

Gary Lobbett, chief executive, commented: “There are many individual success stories to celebrate, reflecting two or more years of hard work and determination.”

Many pupils gained 10 or more A**-A grades in their GCSE examinations, including Mathusan Jeyakumar who achieved seven Grade 9, two Grade 8 A* Distinction and A grade.