Portsmouth Grammar School pupils celebrate GCSE results - and moving onto A-levels

Portsmouth Grammar School celebrated the results after weeks of uncertainty over how grades would be marked.

It followed last week’s fiasco over how A-level students were graded, which saw thousands of teenager’s teacher-assessed marks being downgraded.

After a huge outcry by teachers, education unions and students, the government U-turned on the computer-based grading system, and instead allowed youngsters to choose between either their teacher’s predicted grades or the exam board moderated mark.

The change applied for youngsters picking up their GCSE results today.

Among those celebrating was Dulcie Langley, who has been with the city school since Year 7.

She is now looking forward to spending the next two years studying for her A-levels and said: ‘I am really happy and relieved with my results. The last term was really strange, but it was good to keep busy with the different courses and projects that the school gave us the chance to do.

‘Now I’m just looking forward to starting sixth form.’

Oliver Kettle is also celebrating after having balanced his competitive swimming at national events as part of the Portsmouth Northsea Team.

He said: ‘It was very weird not to take exams but I think I achieved the results that I deserved.

‘I worked hard to balance my swimming and school work. This morning before the results I had my first training session back in the pool - so it's been a good day so far.’

He’ll be starting at the school’s sixth form next month.

Dr Anne Cotton, headteacher at the grammar school, praised the pupils for their efforts – and for coping with the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.

‘We are incredibly proud of how they have responded to the challenges they have faced during this year, and hope that they can enjoy celebrating their achievements after this period of significant uncertainty,’ she added.

The GCSE grading system has now completely changed this year, following a phased approach.

Youngsters are no longer graded from A* to G but instead can earn marks ranging from 9 to 1, with 9 now being higher than the old A* mark.

A level 7 is equivalent to a former A grade and level 4 is comparable to a C in the old system.

Portsmouth Grammar School did not declare its overall results.

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