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BSB students have delighted their teachers with outstanding results this year. At GCE A' level, students achieved a remarkable 100 per cent pass rate with 60 per cent of all grades at A* to B.
Of the the 61 students who sat GCSE exams, 95 per cent earned five or more passes A* to C while 66 per cent achieved eight or more at A* to C. The school is also delighted by the fact that 36 per cent of all grades were A* or As.
The school had another first this year as some of their students who sat for Maths GCSE in Year 10 earned A* or A grades with 80 per cent achieving A*. Year 9 pupils earned their first GCSE as they entered for DiDA (ICT) examinations with 92 per cent achieving the equivalent of A* to C grades with 27 per cent earning distinction, A* or merit, A grades.
Calling it a brilliant performance, acting director, Karen Moffat said: "To get a 100 per cent is exceptionally good. If you get 3As at A' level you are among the top two per cent.
"These statistics are useful in one way but they are only comparing us to other schools. We are more interested in how each child has done in comparison to their previous performance.
"It was the strangest year I have ever had in my 27 years in education. It was the weirdest start of term. It was stressful and challenging, but considering how complicated the start of the year was, the impact was minimal.
"We are pleased that the children have outperformed themselves and have done better than we expected. The school's value-added dimension is making a difference and students have definitely gained considerably in this teaching programme."
The school is also taking pride in their Year 9 students achieving excellent Cambridge checkpoint results which tests abilities in English, mathematics and science. With a good baseline, the teachers hope to build on the next generation's skills and abilities.
In the last academic year, alongside the delayed start, the school faced numerous challenges as it began operating out of a new building with the faculty and students adapting to new facilities and logistics.
Mrs Moffat said that a highly challenging, low-stress learning environment helped them to stay focussed through the year. Adding that parents' role in helping their children to achieve their goals was crucial, she said: "GCSE years are turbulent years in terms of personal development, especially in the periods of raging hormones.
"A lot of parents often find it difficult to give their children more and more independence. This is usually a time of increased tension at home. Sometimes schoolwork becomes the focal point for the tension and may become a way for parents to control their kids.
"It is important to have high expectations for your children but it's also important to be very, very supportive of them.
"A child's learning is optimal when he, or she, is supported and valued. I would also say don't bribe children with rewards because children who work for rewards give up easily. It is much better to build their love of learning.
"Good parenting is all about being supportive and firm and giving clear guidelines but not being punitive or creating a stressful situation. Communication with children is crucial and it can solve a lot of problems."
