Students across Caerphilly County Borough are celebrating receiving the A-level results today, August 13, with a 97.1% pass rate in the borough.
Some 15.5% of grades were A* or A and 69.6% of grades were at C or above. The pass rate for Wales was 97.3%.
At St Martin’s School Jess Baxter celebrated receiving two A*s and an A grade, while Kayleigh Ashman received three As.
Picking up his AS results, head boy and future doctor Joshua Walton received four As in biology, chemistry, maths and geology.
He said: “I’m relieved, I didn’t sleep last night. It’s what I needed I’ve wanted to do medicine since I was about 14.”
St Martin’s headteacher Marc Yeoman said: “I’m pleased with the results, the children worked hard and got the results they deserved.”
Cllr Rhianon Passmore, Cabinet Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, said: “These results have been achieved as a result of a lot of hard work and dedication by our students, together with the commitment and professional support of their teachers in helping the students to realise their potential.
“On behalf of all at Caerphilly County Borough Council – I wish our students every success in their future endeavours, and well done to you all.”
Caerphilly AM Jeff Cuthbert said: “I’d like to congratulate all A-level students who received their results this week.
“The hard work and dedication shown by students across the borough should be commended.
“It’s pleasing the percentage of pupils achieving the highest A* grade is provisionally up on last year.”
Congratulations to those who got the results they wanted, but how does this compare to national averages? What proportion of the year group took a levels in comparison to national average? Seeing as the national average for A* and A is just under 26%, 15.5% seems rather low. Many of the local schools have less than perfect reports and I wonder how many more pupils from the borough could go on to university or better employment if they had a better education?
I want to congratulate all students that worked hard to get good results. I wish them well in their future career or higher education.
Obviously the student who did well must be congratulated, but the schools in Caerphilly are terrible, the teachers must be equally as bad, and parents must be disconnected form their child’s work.
By all measure Caerphilly is below the Welsh average, and Wales is below the UK average. Today has not been a success for Caerphilly, or Wales, it has been a success for a few select individuals. Also, let us remember a pass is A* – E (or 100% – sometimes 35%) I am shocked students do not pass all of their A2 subjects.
I have heard that St martins is struggling a little at the moment which may or may not be an understatement as I have only heard third hand evidence regards their performance. I also hear that they had leadership issues which have now been addressed but I don’t know this for sure.
But from first hand experience (my child is a pupil there) the Twyn school is an excellent learning centre. I’m constantly amazed by the things they are doing and have assurances from the headmaster and another teacher (I forget his name) that the three R’s are not neglected. Time will tell. The fact that many children from outside the catchment area failed to get in is testament to this, unfortunately it is also testament to the lower quality of surrounding schools.
I would strongly advise you to reconsider St Martins when your children reach the age of starting secondary school. All secondary schools in Caerphilly are plagued by under-achievement, conditioned teachers, poor facilities, non-selectivity, large class sizes, behavioural problems, and short school days.
I would recommend you either take advantage of one of the many excellent state schools/academies around Cardiff and Carmarthen, or one of the excellent private schools. Your days will be longer with long car journeys taking your children to school, but I believe that is worth it if your children receive an education triple the standard of the one they would receive in Caerphilly.
It’s got seven years to get its act in order. A lot can happen in that time, but point taken.