Results confirm vast improvements since the last set of comparable exam results in 2019

Students and staff at Sedgehill Academy in Lewisham are once again celebrating some excellent achievements today, as GCSE qualifications are awarded across the country.

This year – the first in which exams returned to pre-pandemic arrangements – the school’s results have firmly cemented the significant progress it has made in recent years. Nearly three quarters (71%) of Year 11 students achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths this summer – a 23 percentage point increase on the last comparable figures in 2019.

This impressive improvement trend is mirrored in the proportion of students gaining the higher level pass of grade 5 or above in both English and maths – now half of students (50%).

Amongst those students celebrating today are:

• Casey, who achieved five grade 9s, three grade 8s and a grade 5;
• Oliwier, who achieved four grade 9s, four grade 8s, two grade 6s and a grade 5;
• Frankie, who achieved one grade 9, three grade 8s and four grade 6s;
• Emmilia, who achieved one grade 8, five grade 7s, a grade 6 and a grade 5.

Over the course of the morning, there was a great deal of excitement and smiles as the students reflected on what they had achieved. One student, AJ, said:

“Thank you to the teachers of Sedgehill. The hard work paid off.”

Today’s celebrations follow a similar day of success for the school’s Sixth Form last week, in which students gained the grades they needed to secure high-quality university places including at top Russell Group institutions.

Commenting on this year’s results, Clare Cassidy, Principal at Sedgehill Academy, said:  

“This cohort of students has done particularly well as they have been marked and graded in line with pre-pandemic levels, but of course their education was also disrupted by the Covid years. So on top of the usual congratulations to them, there is an added note of admiration for their resilience and determination to put that behind them and excel in their studies.

“Equally, as a whole school community, we have worked over recent years to raise standards, ambition and achievement and we are delighted to see this trajectory of improvement manifest in today’s results. Everyone associated with our school – students, staff, governors and families – deserves to share in the celebrations today.”