Success For Derbyshire Students In GCSEs

Students in Derbyshire have done themselves and the county proud by doing well in their GCSEs.

Provisional results show that 75% of Year 11 students in Derbyshire achieved grades 4 to 9 in English and 59% achieved grades 5 to 9.

In maths, 70% of Year 11 students achieved grades 4 to 9 and 50% achieved grades 5 to 9.

New Grading

The new GCSEs examinations are graded 9 to 1, rather than A* to G. Grade 9 is the highest grade, set above the current A*.

The grades were given for the first time in 2017 results for specifications that first started teaching in 2015. By 2019, all GCSE results will be using the new system.

C Grade or above?

Grade 4 is now a ‘standard pass’. Grade 5 is a ‘strong pass’ and will be equivalent to a high C and low B on the old grading system. Grade 4 will remain the level that students must achieve without needing to resit English and Maths post-16.

AQA, the Assessment and Qualification Alliance has a helpful video on the changges here:

 

Just over 7,000 students across the county’s 45 secondary schools received their results today (Thursday 23 August 2018).  Our Cabinet Member for Young People Councillor Alex Dale said:

“We’re delighted that early indications show our GCSE students have done really well in their exams and I want to congratulate them all for their hard work and dedication.

“I’d also like to say a big thank you to heads, teachers, staff, governors, parents and our school improvement service for supporting our young people through this important time in their lives.

“We wish all students the very best of luck as they make the next step in their career.”

Further education or training options open to Year 11 students are:

• full-time education such as sixth form, college or work-based learning
• an apprenticeship
• part-time education or training if they are employed, self-employed or volunteering for more than 20 hours a week

Councillor Dale added:

“Whatever results students may have received it’s important they know what options are open to them as they stay on in education or training.

“Even if students don’t do as well as expected in their GCSEs, schools can put them in touch with advisers who can go through all the options open to them. These include a wide range of vocational qualifications and apprenticeships which will be showcased at our Derbyshire Skills Festival.”

Derbyshire County Council Skills Festival is Derbyshire’s largest careers event for young people and is aimed at students aged 13 to 19, including those in Year 11 who are considering their options after school. This year’s events will be held at:

• Pride Park Stadium, Pride Park, Derby, DE24 8XL on Wednesday 19 and Thursday 20 September 2018
• Proact Stadium, Sheffield Road, Chesterfield, S41 8NZ on Wednesday 26 September 2018

Lots of training providers, larger employers and our community adult education service will be on hand to talk to young people. They will also be invited to take part in a range of have-a-go activities.

View a list of providers and read more about Derbyshire Skills Festival.

There is also a host of useful information for young people on our YOUTHINC website.

Find out about apprenticeships on Gov.UK.

Students who do not pass their GCSE English or maths can choose to sign up at a our adult community education centre to resit them. The centres also offer personalised study programmes. Find out more about adult community education.