Westgate’s results put it in top six in country (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Westgate’s results put it in top six in country

11:59am Monday 25th January 2010 in

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STAFF and pupils at The Westgate School in Winchester have reason to celebrate after gaining some of the best GCSE results in the country last year.

The mixed comprehensive school’s GCSE English results of 83.5 per cent A* – C for language and 89 per cent A* – C for English literature have put the English department in the top six per cent of national state schools and third from the top in Hampshire. The school’s overall ranking is in the top 11 per cent nationally. Head of English, Catherine Baker, attributes this success to enthusiasm, high academic standards and hard work from both staff and pupils.

She said: “We are fortunate in having committed colleagues who know pupils well and are able to support the needs of individual pupils.

“Equally, pupils were particularly open to ideas about how to achieve, leading to these excellent results.” The school also came third out of Hampshire’s state secondary schools for the Government’s “value added” progress measure or CVA (Contextual Value Added) with a score of 1024.3.

Head teacher Julie Turvey added: “To hear that our results place us at the top nationally, in terms of our GCSE performance is fantastic. We knew our results were excellent but this is very gratifying. It is a testament to our outstanding teachers and support staff.

“Equally, we must pay tribute to the hard work of students and the support of their parents. However we are not complacent and continue to investigate ways of supporting students in order to give them the best possible education.”