Highgate’s Year 11 pupils discovered if all their hard work had paid off today as they received their GCSE exam results with friends at school or with their families at home.
Amongst the 188 Highgate pupils who took exams this year, we are pleased to announce that 94% of entries were awarded grades 7, 8, or 9; 82% were at 8 or 9; and 54% received the highest grade 9.
Highgate’s Senior Deputy Head, Louise Shelley, was at school to welcome pupils this morning: “Huge congratulations to our Y11 pupils on their fantastic achievements. I’m delighted that so many pupils have secured such terrific results; it’s wonderful to share in their happiness and excitement today. GCSE results day always brings with it a real sense of possibility, and I’m genuinely optimistic about what these young people might go on to do in the future. It’s clear that the next generation is full of energy, talent and ambition. A huge amount of supportive work goes on behind the scenes – from parents and carers, teachers and so many more people – but today is about celebrating the individual successes of the pupils.”
Pupils braved the wet weather to pick up their envelopes from the school library, with many looking relieved and excited to find out how well they had done. Pupil Rayhan (above left) with fellow pupil Samson (above right) said: “Thankfully I passed all my GCSEs with mostly grade 9s and I’m happy because I did better than my expected predictions. I’m staying on at Highgate Sixth Form to study Maths, Computer Science, Chemistry and Classical Civilisation which is one of my favourite subjects.”
Highgate Head, Adam Pettitt added: “I’m so pleased for our pupils this year: they had clearly put in the hours and honed their revision techniques to bring out the very best of their knowledge and understanding in exam conditions. They should be proud of what they have achieved and feel brilliantly confident about pursuing the subjects they enjoy and are good at, which will challenge and excite them anew in the Sixth Form and beyond. Bravo!”
At Highgate Senior School, Year 11 pupils study a minimum of 10 GCSE exams, with pupil choice and academic opportunities at the heart of our curriculum. Kathryn (above left) with fellow pupil Zara (above right), was pleased to achieve 8s and 9s in all the subjects she needed: “I want to do A levels in Spanish, Biology, Maths and Chemistry. I’m excited about staying on at Highgate and doing the subjects I like with a view to becoming a vet in the future.”
Head of Middle School, Jonathan Pearson praised the pupils’ tenacity: “Taken as a whole, these results are incredible and deserve the highest accolades, but the real joy for me comes from what these results represent for the individual journeys our pupils have taken. I know that all the staff who have watched this year group learn, struggle and grow over the past few years will be thrilled with all the victories in these results, both the obvious and the understated. I’m sure parents will share these feelings when they think of all the effort their child invested on focused study, not to mention the stress and exertion of the exams themselves. I hope they are justifiably proud of themselves!”
The majority of our Year 11 pupils will now join Highgate’s Sixth Form to embark on their A level studies which allows and encourages critical breadth. Last week’s A level results saw the Sixth Form Class of 2024 receiving 78% of their exam entries graded at A* or A, with 82% of pupils securing their first-choice university and a further 10% their insurance place.
James Newton, Deputy Head (Academic) commented on what pupils can expect next: “These results show how incredibly hard the pupils have worked, and as their teachers we are enormously proud of them. Amidst the enjoyment of seeing their well-deserved and excellent grades, I get a real kick out of the excited conversations with pupils about their A level choices. It’s admirable to see our pupils opting for unusual subject matches – one pupil is taking Art, Russian, Philosophy and Mathematics, while another has chosen Biology, Chemistry, Politics and Theatre Studies. Having a curriculum that can accommodate these eclectic combinations allows committed scientists or linguists to “go deep”. This cohort really is special!”
Year 11 Mark (above) excelled in GCSE Maths and is starting his A levels at Highgate in September: “I’m looking forward to having a bit more freedom but also working hard in my free periods. I’m hoping to keep all four A levels into Yr 13 – Maths, Further Maths, Economics and German – with my big aim of going to study at university in the US.”
Find out about the Sixth Form 2024 A level results here.
