High praise from Richmond Council has been issued this week to pupils and school staff, as GCSE grades have now been published.

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, pupils were not able to sit their exams this year. Following last week's controversy around A level results, students have now received teacher assessed grades, rather than standardised grades originally proposed by the Government and Ofqual.

Against the national picture of vastly improved outcomes, local GCSE results show a similar improvement in almost all measures in local schools. It should be noted, however, that the changes to grading this year make direct comparison with previous years difficult.

Provisional figures show that 84% of pupils achieved a grade four or above in English and maths, which is broadly equivalent to the old C grade or above.

This is 7% points higher than was achieved by local pupils in the tests last year and almost 20% points higher than the 2019 national average. 65% of Richmond's students also secured a 'good' pass in both subjects, achieving a grade 5 or above.

The proportion of pupils who achieved the English Baccalaureate, which considers performance across a range of subjects including humanities, languages and science, is also considerably higher this year when compared to local and national results.

Councillor Penny Frost, Chair of the Education and Children's Services Committee, said:

"With schools finishing so suddenly this year and exams not taking place, it's been an uncertain and worrying time for many 16-year-olds and their families. I'd really like to congratulate them on how well they have done in the face of the coronavirus adversity.

"This year, perhaps more than any year in the past, GCSE grades have been based on the consistent hard work of pupils over time and the support that they have received from their parents. In the absence of pupils taking examinations, teachers are best placed to use their professional judgement to ensure young people are awarded grades that most accurately represent their achievements.

"I have been really impressed with how schools and young people have coped and gone above and beyond to maintain such high standards. A huge 'well done' to pupils, parents and teachers alike."