Results still soaring at city's private schools

THERE was no sign of GCSE performance dipping at Bristol's independent schools.

As the proportion of GCSEs scoring a C or above fell for the first time in the exam's 24-year history at a national level, private schools in the city continued to see results soar.

At Redland High School for Girls, there was plenty to celebrate as 100 per cent of the students achieved five A* – C grades including maths and English.

Six girls excelled with 11 or more A* grades including Rachel Brierley-Ambrose, right, Maya Concannon, Gloria Lau, below, Madeleine Tickell, Rachel Gaitonde and Madeleine Taylor-Laidler.

The school's head mistress Caroline Bateson said: "Following our A-level results last week when our students achieved 100 per cent pass rate with 30 per cent of students achieving three A*/A grades we can now celebrate these fantastic GCSE results."

Four GCSE candidates at Colston's School in Stapleton pulled off an impressive clean sweep of ten A* grades.

The school's head master Peter Fraser said: "It is exciting to see this level of performance by these most able candidates. What they have gained is well deserved."

At Badminton School in Westbury-on-Trym, 18 of the 48 girls sitting GCSEs achieved all A or A* grades. In total, 47 per cent of all grades were A* and 79 per cent were either A* or A. For many subjects, the school opted to follow the challenging international GCSE (iGCSE) courses.

The school's head mistress Rebecca Tear said: "This is a wonderful achievement for both girls and staff, and is testimony to their hard work and commitment."

Students at The Red Maids' School in Westbury-on-Trym achieved the best ever GCSE results in the school's 378-year history, including 323 A*s, which was a record 43 per cent of all grades.

Isabel Tobias, the school's head mistress, said: "This year's GCSE students have brought to life the Red Maids' values and their achievements should be recognised all the more because of the additional activities that they've take on."

Bristol Grammar School students also achieved the best GCSE results in the school's history.

While 100 per cent of students achieved at least five A*-C grades including English and maths, 80 per cent of all the grades achieved were either A* or A.

The school's head master Roderick MacKinnon said: "Although we're used to seeing our students excel year by year, there is no doubt that this year's GCSE results are exceptional and I am obviously delighted for the children but also extremely proud of my staff."

Some 57 per cent of entries at Clifton High School achieved grade A* or A, more than 78 per cent were marked A*, A or B and more than 92 per cent reached C or above.

Boys at Queen Elizabeth's Hospital in Clifton achieved excellent GCSE level results this year, with 90 per cent of all GCSE grades at A* to B.

Clifton College also posted another impressive set of GCSE results. Six pupils achieved 11 A* grades, including four girls Mabel Moll, Florence Moore, Lizzie Powell and Emily Wright, and two boys, John Maguire and Daniel Baryshnikov.

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