Headteacher Andy Burton said “It is extremely pleasing to see the hard work of our pupils and staff rewarded in today’s Level 2 GCSE and Vocational results.  None the less we must not forget the challenging circumstances this cohort has been through with their GCSE years significantly disrupted by the pandemic.  Their resilience is nothing short of phenomenal, and at a time when our youth generally receive a negative press, I think we should all congratulate them for coping so well despite the obstacles and difficulties thrown at them.  It is extremely difficult and fraught with potential inaccuracy to try and make comparisons at this early stage, but we are expecting our results to be in line with the 2019 cohort who were the last pupils to take a full set of exams.  Headline predictions indicate that almost a fifth of the cohort achieved English and Maths at level 7 or better, over half the cohort achieved a strong pass (level 5 or better) in both English and Maths, with three quarters achieving a standard pass (level 4 or better) in both English and Maths.  However, and particularly for this group of young people whose education has been so unsettled, it is more important that pupils have gained the grades necessary to progress onto their first choice pathway, be that Ousedale’s 6^th Form, college or indeed another local 6^th Form.  Early indications show that a record number of pupils have achieved the grades necessary to join our 6th Form.  If all those eligible accept their place for September it will mean Year 12 is likely to be our biggest ever, potentially around 230 students which is very encouraging.  For those that perhaps have not achieved what they hoped and worked for then our team of staff will be on hand today and tomorrow to provide advice, guidance and assistance.

Congratulations to all our Year 11 pupils.  I hope to see many of them in our 6^th Form in September, and to those travelling further afield I wish them nothing but success and happiness for the future.”

Overall headline figures include:

• Overall attainment figures remain comparable with 2019 (the last year that full exams were taken)
• Early indications show that progress remains above average i.e. pupils at Ousedale progress better than similar pupils nationally
• A fifth of the cohort achieved English and Maths at level 7 or better
• Over half the cohort achieved a strong pass (level 5 or better) in both English and Maths
• Three quarters of the cohort achieved a standard pass (level 4 or better) in both English and Maths
• Early indications show record numbers of pupils have achieved the grades necessary to join our 6^th Form which will mean September’s Year 12 is likely to be our biggest ever, potentially around 230 students