Colston’s Girls’ School (CGS), to be renamed Montpelier High School from September, has announced a fantastic set of GCSE and BTEC results, reflecting the hard work of students and staff who have remained determined and focused throughout the unprecedented period of pandemic.
24.3% of all grades were at grade 9, equivalent to A**, and 77% of all students achieved at least five strong GCSE passes, including English and Maths.
Principal Kerry McCullagh said: “We are so proud of the way our Year 11 students have conducted themselves throughout the Covid pandemic. They have shown resilience, dedication, optimism and kindness. Today we are celebrating our amazing students’ well-deserved success. All students this year have met the standards of the grades they have been awarded. Teacher Assessed Grades vigorously tested students and the benchmarks are absolutely the same as in external examination years.
“These hard-working students remained focused on their studies during the periods of lockdown and remote learning. The continuous support from their families and from our wonderful teaching team helped students to stay positive and to keep working towards their ambitious goals, despite the uncertainties created by the pandemic.”
There are many exceptional individual performances, including Eliza Jordan who achieved eleven grade 9s, including Further Maths and Latin. Sophia Tang added a grade 8 to her eleven grade 9s, including 9s in three languages: French, Spanish and Latin. Hemlata Pant received ten grade 9s; Juliette Lay and Irene Raju achieved nine grade 9s; Heidi Szynkaruk added a grade 8 to her nine grade 9s; and Abbie Clark added an A in the Higher Project Qualification to her nine grade 9s.
A further nine students achieved a majority of grades 9s: Hannah Davies, Katie Aries, Daisy Palmer, Malou Brown, Shumaila Muhammad, Maria Lapuridi, Francesca Brocklebank, Emma Lau and Izzy Warner.
Sophia Bailey, one of the students who spear-headed the school’s recent name-change consultation, said: “This year has been tough, but looking back I can see that I’ve grown in confidence and resilience. I’m so grateful to all my teachers who have supported me through every step. I can’t wait to start my A-levels at V6.”
Eliza Jordan said: “I’m so delighted, it hasn’t fully sunk in yet! I’m looking forward to starting A-levels with the goal of studying medicine at university.”
Izzy Roberts-Pease said: “I’m really happy with my results and have definitely enjoyed my time at CGS. I can’t wait to come back next year to study at V6.”
CEO of Venturers Trust, David Watson, said: “Our Trust-wide values of respect, responsibility, curiosity and resilience couldn’t be more evident in the lives of these young people who today have collected fantastic and well-deserved GCSE results. In challenging circumstances brought about by the pandemic, staff and students adapted both teaching and learning with such confidence that the trajectory for success has continued uninterrupted. Across Venturers Trust we share a belief that all children can succeed if they have access to an excellent education alongside opportunities to develop skills for life and to nurture ambitious goals for themselves, their families and their communities. These brilliant young people are the leaders of tomorrow and they are already displaying the right characteristics that will help them to carve out very bright futures.”
CGS and V6 are part of Venturers Trust, which is sponsored by the Society of Merchant Venturers and the University of Bristol.
Photo captions, top to bottom:
Headline photo: Sophia Tang; Hayley Edwards; Zia McKinen; and Hazel Porter
Eliza Jordan; Juliette Lay; Aymara Huidobro-Sealey; Heidi Szynkaruk; and Principal Kerry McCullagh
Isla Jordan; Hope James; Principal, Kerry McCullagh; and Isabel Joicey
Izzy Roberts-Pease; Charmaine Patole; and Anita Sandhu
Heidi Szynkaruk; Aymara Huidobro-Sealey; Juliette Lay; and Eliza Jordan
Sophia Bailey with Principal, Kerry McCullagh
Lucy Loughlin and Sophia Tang
Charmaine Patole; Izzy Roberts-Pease; and Anita Sandhu
