We have had many reasons to celebrate this summer as our pupils achieved the group’s best ever exam results.
Many of the children who attend Kedleston Group schools have previously struggled in mainstream school settings, experiencing significant disruption to their education. Their qualifications successes have seen100% of leavers move on to a positive destination in further education, training or work.
The Group, which has 16 day and residential schools and children’s homes, saw an astonishing 143% year on year increase in the number of GCSEs achieved by pupils. On average, young people left a Kedleston school with more than three GCSEs each, again an increase on last year.
Young people also achieved a wide range of other important qualifications including Functional Skills, Entry Level Certificates and BTECs, with pupils attaining an average number of eight qualifications each – the Group’s highest ever average and the third year in a row it has increased. Attainment in core subjects was also high with 83% of pupils gaining qualifications in English, Maths and at least one science, an increase from 61% in 2020.
Dr Lynda Mitchell, Kedleston’s Director of Quality and Compliance, said: “This phenomenal success is a testament to the determination and hard work of our pupils. As a Group we have a culture of high expectations for the young people we teach and of on-going improvement. We share data between our schools, and with our schools, to continually ensure we are helping more of our students to achieve to the very best of their potential.
“We are continually quality checking to make sure we are delivering the very best education possible, just as our children deserve. Part of that is our bespoke approach to building individual curriculums for each child – if they have a passion and interest, we source those courses for them which in turn nurtures a love of learning and a habit of success.”
Some of the many achievements included:
- All pupils at Wings Cumbria achieving GCSEs in both Art and Design and photography
- A vast range of GCSEs being achieved including Maths, English Language, English Literature, Combined Science, Maths, Statistics, History, Music, PE, Hospitality, Art and Design, Psychology, Photography, Geography, History, Sociology, Computer Science and Food and Nutrition
- Across the group, 10.6% of grades were the higher GCES grades, with one pupil achieving a Grade 9 in Psychology
Lynda added: “This year’s results were drawn from a larger cohort as the Group has more schools and it is really pleasing that as we have grown, educational outcomes have actually increased. We are also hugely proud there is no significant variation in attainment based on gender, ethnicity or whether a child lived at home with their family, or was looked after.
“Every one of these young people has achieved for themselves the foundation to build their future success and we wish each of them the very best as they take their next steps into further education, training or work.”