Schools celebrating as pupils shine in most difficult of years

The A* tally was close to a half at Hasmonean High with both the boys’ and girls’ schools recording 48 per cent.

In three other schools, JFS, Yavneh College and JCoSS, the A* haul was around or over a third.

After a second year of cancelled exams, results were instead based on internal teacher assessments using course work, mocks and other tests. The exam watchdog Ofqual carried out quality checks by scrutinising samples of student work from schools.

The government was keen to ensure no repeat of last year’s chaos when Ofqual had attempted to modify grades submitted by schools and colleges through an algorithm intended to produce consistency with previous years. Following a widespread outcry, the authorities backtracked and restored the original school grades.

While The Times referred to a second year of “rampant grade inflation”, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson defended the system used in another pandemic-disrupted year, saying on Tuesday that students “deserve to be rewarded”.

Ofqual’s interim chief regulator Simon Lebus suggested that teacher-assessed grades gave “a much more accurate and substantial reflection of what the students are capable of achieving” than exams.

Commenting on the results, PaJeS, the Jewish Leadership Council’s schools network, applauded them as “a lesson in triumph over adversity. The schools across our community have managed to deliver what has proven to be an outstanding provision whilst navigating two years of horrendous disruption and school closures.”

They showed, PaJeS added, “a more balanced reflection of the standards of the students and address the unfairness of assessment based on a one-off exam that can have a life-impacting result on a student that had a bad day”.

At Bushey-based Immanuel, 87 per cent of results were either A* or A and 96 per cent A* to B.

Robert Auerbach, who will be studying material sciences and engineering at Imperial College, London and Ariella Novick, who won a scholarship to read business economics at Leeds University, both achieved four A*s.

Immanuel headmaster Gary Griffin said that “in a cohort who have had their education so seriously disrupted by the pandemic, our students have shown remarkable resilience, fortitude and commitment. They have coped admirably with all the obstacles and pressures placed upon them.”

At Manchester King David, more than 74 per cent of grades A* or A and over 89 per cent A* to B were recorded.

Mr Rowe felt it was “important to note that virtually all the students took proper formal exams which were sat under proper exam conditions”.

The results were a “testament to the abilities and application of our pupils”.

King David pupils Deborah Denderowicz, Woody Jeffay and Louie Leventhall all achieved four A*s. Sixteen other students collected at least a trio of A*s.

Hasmonean’s girls passed 78 per cent of their A-levels at A* or A, with 89 per cent at A* to B. The comparative figures for the boys were 70 per cent A*/A and 83 per cent A* to B.

A “significant number” of students did better than their target grade.

Hasmonean Girls’ head Kate Brice said: “These grades were awarded through a robust process of teacher-assessed grades, against a national standard, approved and awarded by the examination boards. Our students excelled during a challenging and unprecedented year. We know that in future years, the whole community will benefit from their success.”

Spencer Lewis, executive head of Yavneh College in Borehamwood, said that “unlike last year, this year’s results are based on assessments and examinations sat at school for which students worked extremely hard in order to show just how much they have learnt over the last two years.

“Their teachers have used these assessments to assign the correct grades for each student following a long and carefully worked out assessment process.”

Thirty-seven per cent of grades were passed at A*; 84 per cent at A* to A and 99 per cent at A* to B.

Four students gained places at Oxford and Cambridge, with three destined for medical school. Nearly two-thirds of students, 63 per cent, gained all A or A* grades.

Gabrielle Adda, Scott Cowen, Georgia Reback, Sam Wagman and Joel Shamash led Yavneh’s roll of honour with four A*s apiece. Another eight students attaining at least three A*s.

As well as the academic performance, the vocational results were “excellent”, the school reported, with 98 per cent obtaining three distinctions and 10 per cent the top grades.

Five students at JCoSS in North London also secured 4 A*s — Isaac Antscherl, Aran Haber, Jacob Inwald, Lucy Ritter and Ari Weller-Ofek. A further 21 gained at least three A* passes while 24 achieved three starred distinctions in vocational subjects.

Eleven students won places at Oxbridge, medical or veterinary school.

The cross-communal school reported A* passes at over 38 per cent; A*/A passes at 71 per cent and A* to B at 92 per cent.

JCoSS headteacher Patrick Moriarty noted: “This remarkable cohort have faced enormous challenge and disruption over their two years in the sixth form. We are delighted that these excellent results recognise the huge strengths we have seen in them over seven years and their dedicated, resilient hard work over the two years of these courses. “As well as saluting pupils and teachers’ “unstinting labours”, he paid tribute to parents “who have shouldered additional burdens over the past 18 months”.

At Kantor King Solomon High in Redbridge, headteacher Hannele Reece applauded “a great set of results” with 69 per cent of passes at A* or A and 90 per cent at A* to C.

“I’m so proud of all our students in year 13. So many have faced personal challenges, bereavement and disadvantage as a result of the pandemic,” she said. Fourteen pupils achieved all A*, A or starred distinctions.

JFS sixth-formers also did their school proud with nearly a third of exams passed at A*; close to two thirds — 63 per cent — at A*/A; and 84 per cent at A* to B.

Top performers with four A*s were Yoni Benyamini, Joel Braun, Jody Brickman and Natalie Shapiro.

While 31 per cent of the cohort achieved all A*s or A in their subjects, all of those who took the CACHE early years course achieved the equivalent of three A*s or A.

Five JFS students will be heading to Oxbridge and four to medical or veterinary school.

Hailing the results, the school’s recently appointed joint interim principal Anna Joseph said: “Our students have demonstrated that they have the ability and tenacity to meet the higher standard now demanded of sixth-formers across the country. Reflecting the JFS motto, they have brought ‘light and honour’ to themselves and the school community.”

Joint Council for Qualifications data demonstrates the leap in grades in England over the past couple of years. In 2019, when conventional exams were last sat, just 7.8 per cent of grades were at A*. Last year this climbed to 14.4 per cent and this year, nearly a fifth of exams,19.1 per cent, were passed at the top grade.

Just over a quarter of exams, 25.5 per cent, were passed at A* to A in 2019 — jumping to 38.6 per cent in 2020 and to 44.8 per cent this year. The A* to B pass rate was 51.6 per cent in 2019; 66.1 per cent in 2020; and 70.3 per cent in 2021.

In 2019, Immanuel celebrated a then record 30 per cent pass rate at A* — almost half this year’s result. In the same year, the 44 per cent A* to A pass rate at JCoSS was a record for the school, but considerably lower than its 71 per cent this year.

The exceptionally high grades have put universities under pressure as they try to accommodate a larger pool of students who have met entry requirements.Mr Moriarty said that so far, nearly 90 per cent of his pupils have their firm choices confirmed. “A few more got their insurance and a handful are waiting to hear or are in clearing.

“In short, universities are honouring all offers and that means record numbers are getting their first choices and fewer than usual are facing uncertainty or disappointment at this stage.”