Successes & Achievements - IGCSE Results 2011

 

It’s a hard world out there, with no sign of the situation easing. Increased pressure on university places, combined with a difficult jobs market for graduates and school leavers alike, make good grades at 16 more important than ever before. At Oakfield we are delighted with this year’s results – a further vindication of our decision to follow the more academically-challenging path of International GCSEs. This decision, taken four years ago, was made in the firm belief that these examinations are better preparation for our students and offer them greater options at A Level and beyond. With most leading independent schools now adopting the IGCSE in a growing number of subjects, and government plans to allow high performing schools in the maintained sector to introduce the exams, we are proud that Oakfield has been at the forefront of educational innovation. Similarly, with the introduction of the new E-Bacc next year, which will measure schools’ success by the number of  pupils attaining A – C grades in English, mathematics, two sciences, one modern language and one humanity, we are pleased to be able to claim that 86% of our pupils are already achieving this benchmark.

So, while you won’t see our name in any standard GCSE league tables, we would like to offer our congratulations to all those girls who performed so well this year. Those girls achieving A*s, As and Bs in their chosen A Level subjects  - whether they be mathematics and sciences, languages or English and the humanities – can embark on the next phase of their education confident in the knowledge that they have been very well prepared. More difficult is the choice for pupils such as Lucy Hockin, who achieved A* and A in every subject. We are hopeful that these girls will go on to take the International Baccalaureate, which will enable them to extend their knowledge across a wide range of subjects.
The real quality of education depends on the quality of teaching and the culture of the school. Oakfield is a non-selective school with no entrance examinations, yet our teachers consistently achieve the best results possible, through a combination of encouragement, support and constructive criticism. Pupils do not learn if they do not have the right teachers. At Oakfield we do, and I am thrilled with our children’s results and our teachers’ success.
 
Susan Goddard, Principal, Oakfield School