As 550,000 pupils receive their GCSE results, which are based entirely on assessment this year, Jo Cameron, Head of all-girls’ Queenswood School in Hertfordshire, gives her verdict…
“Now the grades are out, I feel it is important that pupils take stock and celebrate their success and achievements. These students worked so hard in a year like no other.”
However, Mrs Cameron, continues: “I don’t believe the ramifications of having exams cancelled are over. There will no doubt be a knock-on effect. We were in an exceptional position when schools were advised to close back in March; no one could have forecast the pandemic.” Although she says that GCSE and A-level students will be labelled as the coronavirus year where students took no exams, Mrs Cameron is confident that this year group will weather the storm. “This cohort are more prepared than previous year groups going into sixth form,” she adds. With a quarter of all students across the country receiving A/A* grades (grades seven-nine in the new marking system) in their GCSEs, independent schools, with their high level of dedicated pastoral care and pupil-teacher ratio are able to ensure that students are well supported in the initial stages of their sixth form careers. Mrs Cameron says: “The detail that teaching and pastoral care staff can give to individual students is important as they begin their courses.” “As they progress”, she adds, ̶...