Live blog: GCSE results in Camden, Barnet, Haringey and Westminster

The Ham&High’s website will keep nervous pupils and their proud parents up-to-date today with results statistics, analysis and reaction on our live blog and in our special GCSE results day coverage.

Tough government GCSE reforms in effect for the first time this year could see a national decline in grades.

Resits were scrapped amid the changes, which means students took all exams at the end of their two-year course this summer.

Social media users can tweet their pictures and comments by using our Twitter handle @HamandHigh and the hashtag #GCSEresults2014.

Alternatively, email us at pictures@hamhigh.co.uk.

See next week’s Ham&High for full coverage and a special GCSE results supplement.

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6.27pm

That’s it from us today on the Ham&High’s GCSE liveblog, but please keep tweeting and emailing us your pictures, stories and results.

Stories of success will go online tomorrow, while next week’s Ham&High will have full coverage and a special GCSE supplement.

There have been many happy faces in Camden, Haringey, Barnet and Westminster’s schools today - the Ham&High would like to congratulate every student who picked up GCSE results. We hope you celebrate in style!

And don’t forgot to take a look at our photo gallery of pictures from the day - perhaps you or family or friends are included.

5.46pm

Barnet Council says schools across the borough have recorded impressive GCSE results this year.

Provisional GCSE results from 20 of the borough’s 23 secondary schools today indicate that they have once again performed above the national average.

Results so far show that 83.3 per cent of pupils achieved five GCSEs at grades A* to C above the provisional national average of 68.8 per cent.

Currently it is estimated that 71.7 per cent of all pupils in Barnet will achieve five or more A*- C GCSE grades including English and Mathematics.

This is an increase of 1.6 per cent on last year.

Last year, the borough’s schools were in the top 10 per cent of schools in England.

The percentage of pupils gaining five or more A*- C grades is expected to be 83.3 per cent.

Cllr Reuben Thompstone, chairman of the children, education, libraries and safeguarding committee, said: “I would like to congratulate pupils across the borough on their GCSE results which are testament to all their hard work along with the skill and effort of all our teachers and school staff.

“We are really proud of our secondary schools and their achievements and this year’s results show they have performed highly once again.

“I would like to wish all our pupils the best of luck for the future, whether they be staying in education or heading into training or employment.”

5.22pm

Parliament Hill School in Camden has released its full GCSE results:

- 2014 percentage entries A*-A: 30 (22 in 2013)

- 2014 percentage pupils 5 A*-C (including maths and English): 68 (68 in 2013)

- 2014 percentage of pupils achieving E-Baccalaureate: 30 (35 in 2013)

5.11pm

Camden Council leader, Cllr Sarah Hayward, says GCSE students in the borough have a lot to be proud of today.

She said: “As with last week’s A-level results, Camden’s schools and students have a tremendous amount to be proud of.

“The government has moved the goalposts again, but despite this Camden’s schools, students, teachers and everyone involved have risen to the challenge.

“Once again Camden’s schools have outperformed national results.

“Congratulations are due to all the students who picked up their exam results today and I’d like to wish them all the very best with whatever they choose to do next.”

4.24pm

There was happiness and relief for pupils at Westminster Academy in Harrow Road today as they received their GCSE results.

The results demonstrate continued strength in core subjects, with 70 per cent of students achieving the government’s benchmark of five A* to C grades including English and maths.

An exceptional number of students had outstanding individual results, including top achiever Momoko Kawase Kennedy with 10 A* and one A grade.

Momoko is currently enjoying a holiday at Tokyo Disneyland so her father collected her results today.

Mr Kennedy said: “I’m thrilled at these results and incredibly proud of our daughter - who achieved these grades in one

year after an unexpected change in her previous school system.

“This fantastic outcome is a reward for her hard work and a reflection of the superb teaching environment offered by Westminster Academy.”

Rawad Hamade achieved four A* and six A grades and is looking forward to going into dentistry in the future.

Fellow student Fjolla Ramadani was overwhelmed to achieve four A*s, five As and one B.

The strength of the school’s results this year has earned many other students places on the rigorous International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) offered by the sixth form at Westminster Academy.

Principal Smita Bora said: “I am proud that the hard work of these students throughout their time at Westminster Academy has now rewarded them with exceptional grades and experiences that can be added to their already exciting CVs, enabling them to compete with their peers nationally and globally.

“Their success is shared with a dedicated staff body and would not have been achievable without the fantastic level of support we receive from parents, sponsors and governors and the many community and business partners working with

Westminster Academy.”

3.21pm

Regent High School in Somers Town, Camden has announced its GCSE results.

- 2014 percentage entries A*-A: 9

- 2014 percentage pupils 5 A*-C (including maths and English): 50

- 2014 percentage of pupils achieving E-Baccalaureate: 9

Regent High has not supplied GCSE results for 2013 because the school says the number of major changes to the examination system this year mean that it is not possible to make accurate comparisons between the data.

But the school did confirm a five percentage point increase in the proportion of students achieving five or more A* to C grades including English and maths.

English results showed a 13 percentage point increase on last year.

The proportion of students achieving the English Baccalaureate (any student who has achieved grade C or above in English, maths, history or geography, two sciences and a language) has almost doubled since last year.

The school is celebrating many stand-out individual student performances including Refath Uddin Ahmed, Mojida Akhtar, Naeem Ali, Shahzia Begum, Fahima Hoque, Niamh McLoughlin and Idil Mohamud, who all achieved 11 to 12 A* to C grades, including a number of top A* and A grades.

Shahzia and Niamh did exceptionally well, achieving 10 A* and A grades each.

Headteacher Rosemary Leeke said: “I would like to congratulate our students who have worked extraordinarily hard to achieve these excellent results, and to their dedicated and committed teachers who have supported them on their journey.

“It is very difficult to make comparisons with previous years because of the number of major changes to the exams this year, but there is no question that our 2014 results reflect students’ excellent progress, regardless of their starting points. “We are confident that GCSE results will continue to improve significantly over the coming years and we look forward to starting the new academic year in our brand new, state-of-the-art buildings, which are going to bring a world-class learning environment for all existing and future students, their families and the communities we serve”.

2.38pm

Ninety-two per cent of pupils at North Bridge House achieved five A* to C grades this year.

Last year, 90.5 per cent of pupils at the independent school, in Rosslyn Hill, Hampstead, achieved five A* to C grades, in subjects including maths and English.

This year’s A* to C figure provided by the school did not include maths and English grades for every pupil.

The school saw a drop in the proportion of A*s and As achieved by pupils this year – 37 per cent of entries were graded A* or A, compared to 44.4 per cent last year.

Headteacher Georgina Masefield said: “I am so proud of the hard work that has gone into these fantastic results. There are a number of outstanding individual successes but each and every pupil should be proud of what they have achieved.

“There is nothing more rewarding than seeing our students’ efforts and determination pay off. I would like to thank all of the staff for their dedication and commitment, and for going the extra mile to make this possible.

“These are splendid results for North Bridge House and there is much to celebrate!”

2.28pm

All 92 girls who sat GCSEs from Henrietta Barnett School this year achieved at least five A* to C grades in subjects including maths and English.

The all-girls grammar school, in Central Square, Hampstead Garden Suburb, repeated its 100 per cent record of five A* to Cs from last year – with 91 per cent of entries graded A* or A this year.

However, the proportion of A*s and As was down slightly from last year when 94.7 per cent of entries received the top grades.

Acting headteacher Mandy Watts said: “The girls and staff worked extremely hard this year to ensure that the many changes affecting examination courses did not have an adverse impact on the girls’ achievement.

“Among the headline figures are fantastic individual achievements: girls who have overcome some difficult personal circumstances to exceed all expectations. It is those achievements that we are celebrating today.”

2.24pm

Elizabeth Kitcatt, headteacher at Camden School for Girls (CSG), was full of praise for this year’s GCSE cohort, who “worked hard and well-deserved their very good results”.

Among the school’s successes were 11 girls securing a clean sweep of A*s and As, while 80 per cent hit the five A* to C with English and maths target.

“We’re very pleased, students here have done very well,” she added.

“I look forward to seeing what they go on to do next.”

However, she was less complimentary about sacked education secretary Michael Gove and some of his decisions.

She said: “He made a lot of changes and implemented them very quickly, and it’s been hard for schools to keep up.”

She was most critical of Mr Gove’s sudden announcement that any early-entry exams taken in November would be the ones counted when school league tables are announced – regardless of whether the pupils improved their scores by re-sitting in the summer.

That has left the Camden Town school, in Sandall Road, quoting the above-mentioned “actual” figure of 80 per cent with five A* to Cs including English and maths, alongside a “Gove result” of 77 per cent – the one that will be used for official government league tables.

The disparity reflects the fact that four pupils who took maths in November 2013 only gained a C after re-sitting the paper in the summer exams.

Ms Kitcatt is “very annoyed” because the school may have to rethink its policy of entering some pupils early, often more disadvantaged ones, to give them real exam practice and help boost their confidence.

Not to mention the fact that the changes in league table measurement were announced after all the paperwork for November entries had been completed.

She said: “We have had 80 per cent, but because of Gove changing the early-entry system, we also the ‘Gove result’ of 77 per cent.

“Some schools put students into maths in November to give them some practice, with a view to retaking if they need to.

“It gives them practice and confidence, but he decided – after schools had already done the entries – he announced that the entry in November would count as their grade for statistical purposes.

“I feel very annoyed about it.

“His reason seemed to be to stop schools putting students in for lots and lots of exams, but we have never done that – schools use it to give pupils practice and give them more confidence, and its often disadvantaged students that benefit from it.

“It’s penalising exactly the people we are really trying to help to get the grades to go into college.”

Camden School for Girls results:

- 2014 percentage entries A*-A: 43 (48 in 2013)

- 2014 percentage pupils five A*-C (including maths and English) “actual result”: 80 (80 in 2013)

- 2014 percentage pupils five A*-C (including maths and English) “Gove result”: 77

- 2014 percentage pupils five A*-C any subject: 86

2.02pm

Fine Arts College, Hampstead also reports a drop in GCSE performance this year.

- 2014 percentage entries A*-A: 26.1 (48 in 2013)

- 2014 percentage pupils 5 A* -C (including Maths and English): 70 (85 in 2013)

- 2014 Percentage of pupils achieving the EBacc: 20 (14 in 2013)

Principal Candida Cave said: “Our GCSE students have put in a creditable performance this year.

“We are particularly pleased the with numbers achieving the important E-Baccalaurate spread of subjects.”

1.54pm

Hampstead School in Cricklewood has reported a significant drop in its GCSE performance this year.

The proportion of students achieving A* to A grades is down from last year’s 27 per cent to 15 per cent.

The proportion of students achieving five A* to C grades including Maths and English is down from last year’s 63 per cent to 51 per cent.

The proportion of students achieving the E-Baccalaureate is down from last year’s 30 per cent to 27 per cent.

Headteacher Jacques Szemalikowski has complained about the impact of recent changes to the exam system on his students.

He told the Ham&High this morning: “A lot of headteachers around the country will be quite cross about what’s happened this year.

“I’m especially angry over what’s happened with English. We had all our students spend time doing English speaking and listening only to find out halfway through it won’t count for anything.

“The course has been changed halfway through – that’s no way to run an education service.

“This year’s results can’t be compared to any other year, that’s for certain.”

Nationally there has been a dramatic fall in English GCSE grades.

1.47pm

Another Camden school, La Sante Union in Dartmouth Park, has had its most successful set of GCSE results ever.

- 2014 percentage entries A*-A: 36.38 (34 in 2013)

- 2014 percentage pupils 5 A*-C (including maths and English): 81 (77 in 2013)

- 2014 percentage of pupils achieving E-Baccalaureate: 29 (45.25 in 2013)

1.35pm

Paddington Academy in Westminster announces its GCSE results.

83 per cent of students achieved five or more A* to C grades including maths and English - up by seven per cent on last year’s results

95 per cent achieved A*-C in English and 30 per cent achieved an A* or A

86 per cent secured A*-C in maths and 35 per cent achieved an A* or A

Principal Oli Tomlinson said: “I am delighted for our students whose hard work has been rewarded today.

“As a year group they were determined to do their very best and beat our previous records and I am so pleased for them that they have done so.

“These results will make a huge difference to their lives.”

1.24pm

William Ellis School in Highgate Road, Camden is celebrating its best-ever results, after a difficult year in 2013.

Some 64 per cent of pupils at the boys’ school’s reached the government’s benchmark standard of five A* to C grades, including English and maths – a huge rise compared with last year’s 45 per cent.

Headteacher Sam White was particularly proud of the school’s marks in English, with 80 per cent of students gaining at least a C grade.

He said it was only “about 54 per cent” in 2013, which was a big factor in last year’s struggles.

Mr White said the school perhaps “didn’t play the game” as well it could have done last year, but was “more tactical” in its approach this time round.

“We’re absolutely delighted and I do think it’s well-deserved,” he said. “These are the best results we have ever had and we’re especially pleased with English.

“The boys worked really hard and the teachers have been very focused on making sure they’ve done the best they could.

“We always said we’d been badly treated last year.

“We didn’t play the game, but we have been more tactical about it I suppose.

“We’ve been really tracking boys and making sure any boy who is not making progress gets additional support.

“We look forward to doing even better next year.”

William Ellis results:

- 2014 percentage entries A*-A: 20 (16 in 2013)

- 2014 percentage pupils five A*-C (including maths and English): 64 (45 in 2013)

- 2014 percentage attaining E-Bacc: 39 (36 in 2013)

1.15pm

Channing School in Highgate, Haringey, is celebrating a stellar set of GCSE results this year, with 85.7 per cent of pupils getting A*s and As.

More than half of students received all A*s and A grades in their exams, with 11 pupils getting a clean sweep of A*s in their exams.

One of those top performers was Dalia Bluss, 16, who got 11 A*s despite nearly missing an exam after a road traffic collision in Highgate blocked the roads.

“I had to run up the hill and got there with two minutes to spare. It put things into perspective - I was lucky to even be able to sit my exams.”

Headteacher Barbara Elliott said: “I am absolutely thrilled with the GCSE results this year.

“Despite warnings from exam boards to expect ‘volatility’ this year, Channing girls have exceeded all predictions! “Congratulations all round!”

1.03pm

The final breakdown of GCSE results at Hampstead School in Cricklewood hasn’t been confirmed yet, but its headteacher has already complained about the impact recent changes to the exam system have had on his students.

Jacques Szemalikowski, told the Ham&High this morning: “A lot of headteachers around the country will be quite cross about what’s happened this year.

“I’m especially angry over what’s happened with English.

“We had all our students spend time doing English speaking and listening only to find out halfway through it won’t count for anything.

“The course has been changed halfway through – that’s no way to run an education service.

“This year’s results can’t be compared to any other year, that’s for certain.”

Nationally there has been a dramatic fall in English GCSE grades.

12.43pm

The governors of St George’s School in Maida Vale, Westminster, are delighted to confirm that St George’s has achieved its best ever GCSE results - with 75 per cent of pupils securing A* to C grades including English and mathematics.

Mr Martin Morton, chairman of governors, said: “We are particularly pleased that results improved at St George’s given the volatile picture nationally.

“Congratulations to the teachers, pupils and their parents.”

Executive headteacher, Martin Tissot, said: “This year we seem to have done well across the board, with strong performances in virtually all disciplines.

“I am delighted that the English results here are very strong as we have worked very hard to secure very high standards that insure us against the marking boundary changes that seem to occur each year.”

James Martin, head of school, said: “Although we have been running a sixth form at the school for some years we have only just received confirmation from the Department for Education that our own sixth form, in our own name, will

be going ahead this September.

“We are expecting numbers to further increase as a consequence of this strong set of results and the outstanding A-level results last week.

12.25pm

King Solomon Academy in Westminster is celebrating its first ever set of GCSE results - as 93 per cent of students got five A* to grades in English and maths.

75 per cent of students also passed the English Baccalaureate, known as the EBacc – a government measure of the key academic subjects at GCSE.

The school serves an area of deprivation and 58 per cent of GCSE students are eligible for free school meals.

The school said this year’s results are the first step in achieving its mission, to prepare all of its’ pupils for success at university and beyond, irrespective of their starting point.

Max Haimendorf, secondary headteacher of King Solomon Academy, said: “These results reflect the hard work and commitment of all our staff and students over the last five years since the school opened.

“They show that all pupils, irrespective of background, can achieve success academically, if they have the right support and teaching.

“I am so proud of what they have all achieved and know that they will go on to succeed in whatever they choose to do.”

12.11pm

Students at King Alfred School in Golders Green, Barnet are celebrating in their GCSE results today.

94 per cent of students achieved five or more A* to C grade GCSEs including Maths and English and 48 per cent of all entries resulted in A* to A grades.

Dawn Moore, headteacher of King Alfred School, said: “These are an excellent set of results richly deserved by our students.

“They are a great springboard for continued success at A-levels. I congratulate them all.”

The schools top performing students were:

- Grey Whitebloom who achieved 5 A* grades and 6 A grades. He will stay on at King Alfred School to study maths, physics, history and Latin.

- Alma Stritt gained 5 A*s and 5 As and she is looking forward to returning to study maths, biology, chemistry and art.

- Ella Hohnen-Ford and Benny Knight both achieved 4 A*s and 6 As.

Ella said: “I am very proud to have got straight As.

“It gives me as much satisfaction as the other things in my life that I am proud of, such as my musical achievements and the fundraising activity that I love being involved in.

“I can’t wait to celebrate at Reading Festival and look forward to continuing my studies this September.”

11.39am

About 68 per cent of pupils at Parliament Hill School in Camden got five A* to C grade GCSEs including maths and English this year - a slight improvement on last year.

Headteacher Sarah Creasey said: “In a time of real uncertainty we are really pleased with our results in light of the national context and changes to GCSE qualifications.”

10.53am

Pupils at University College School (UCS) in Hampstead have achieved the school’s best ever GCSE results this year.

The school has announced that 88 per cent of exams were graded at A* or A grade and more than 60 per cent were at A* alone.

A third of pupils secured nine A*s or higher and 20 pupils got 10 straight A* grades.

- 2014 percentage entries A*: 60.1 (52.86 in 2013)

- 2014 percentage entries A*-A: 88.1 (86.1 in 2013)

- 2014 percentage pupils 5 A*-C (including maths and English): 99.8 (99.6 in 2013)

UCS is pleased to recognise Ethan Elstein for securing 11 A*s and Michael Ettlinger and Simon Hanassab for 10 A*s and an A each.

Headteacher Mark Beard said: “The GCSE profile is increasingly seen by both universities and employers as an indicator of work ethic and determination of character, and our boys rose to the challenge.

“They worked extremely hard and have been rewarded with delightful results.

“In particular, I was thrilled for one pupil who underwent liver transplant surgery in the spring but was nonetheless able to sit four GCSEs, obtaining two As and two Bs.

“I am always impressed by our pupils’ maturity, their commitment to school life and the respect that they show for one another.

“These accomplishments are extremely well deserved.”

10.37am

South Hampstead High School in Camden says it is “delighted” as it announces this year’s GCSE results:

- 2014 percentage entries A*-A: 89.2 (84.3 in 2013)

- 2014 percentage pupils 5 A*-C (including maths and English): 100 (100 in 2013)

More than 61 per cent of GCSE results were graded A* - an increase of 8.2 per cent on last year.

Twenty girls achieved A*s in 10 or more subjects.

The school’s percentage of A grades is also up, meaning that just under 90 per cent of all results fell into the A*-A category, 5 per cent more than in 2013.

Across all results, A* to B grades were up 2.5 per cent on last year at 98.2 per cent.

Headteacher Helen Pike said: “Both the girls and their teachers have worked assiduously to achieve these results, and I am delighted at their success.

“These results show how adept the girls are at balancing their academic endeavours with their extra-curricular activities.

“I am all the more delighted to be celebrating these achievements during this exciting year for the school.”

10.17am

Henrietta Barnett School in Hampstead Garden Suburb, Barnet announces this year’s GCSE results:

- 2014 percentage entries A*: 61

- 2014 percentage entries A*-A: 91

- 2014 percentage pupils 5 A*-C (including maths and English): 100

- Percentage of pupils achieving E-Baccalaureate 2014: 92

For the seventh consecutive year Henrietta Barnett students have achieved more than 90 per cent A* and A grades - and 23 girls, 25 per cent of the year group, gained 10 or more A* grades.

52 girls at the schools achieved all A* or A grades and 36 achieved nine or more A*s.

Acting headteacher Mandy Watts said: “The girls and staff worked extremely hard this year to ensure that the many changes affecting examination courses did not have an adverse impact on the girls’ achievement.

“Teachers ensure that girls are fully prepared to meet the requirements of the exam courses, but also go beyond these so that lessons are stimulating and inspiring rather than limited by the specifications.

“We want girls to enjoy their education and to think for themselves; we are preparing them for a rich intellectual life and not just to pass examinations.

“We also encourage them to gain a healthy balance between their academic studies and other aspects of school life.

“Girls in this year group, as much as in any other year, found time to take leading roles in drama productions, such the fantastic Oh What a Lovely War, to support the school in its many events and activities and go on residential trips abroad. “Among the headline figures are fantastic individual achievements: girls who have overcome some difficult personal circumstances to exceed all expectations.

“It is those achievements that we are celebrating today.”

10.10am

Hornsey School for Girls in Haringey announces its full GCSE results:

- 2014 percentage pupils 5 A*-C (including maths and English): 70

The school has seen significant increases in A* to C grades in all GCSE subjects this year, with performance in maths, science and English standing out as exceptional.

The school had a 90 per cent A* to C pass rate in English, 77 per cent pass rate in science, 76 per cent in maths and 83 per cent in further maths.

10.01am

Camden Council leader, Cllr Sarah Hayward, tweets a message to pupils getting their GCSE results in Camden today.

“Congratulations to Haverstock & all Camden studets [sic] getting GCSE results today. Despite gov moving goalposts again, you’ve done really well.”

9.48am

Highgate School in Haringey announces this year’s GCSE results:

- 2014 percentage entries A*-A: 86 (87 in 2013)

- 2014 percentage pupils 5 A*-C (including maths and English): 100 (100 in 2013)

Nine students at the school achieved 11 or more A* GCSE grades.

They are Eleanor Burke, Ruby Davies-Brown, Billie Esplen, Nikita Kvasniov, Georgina Lloyd-Owen, Matilda Mills, Leo Salem and identical twins Daniel and James Remo.

Daniel and James each got 11 A*s in the same subjects, including Mandarin.

Another set of twin sisters at the school, Amy and Zara Tyne, got three A*s and six As each in different subjects

And pupil Wenbo Cau, who spoke very little English on his arrival in the UK three years ago, got an A* in English.

Tilly Mills and Cameron Burt, who played Maria and Tony in the school’s recent production of West Side Story, got 11A*s and seven A*s and four As respectively.

9.29am

A Haringey student has been named the top performing pupil in the UK in her GCSE maths exam paper.

Kirsten Land, 16, a Year 11 student at Hornsey School for Girls in Haringey, scored a perfect 100 per cent in her GCSE exam, becoming the top maths student in England and Wales.

In addition to achieving an A* GCSE in maths today, Kirsten had already scored an A* in A-level Maths last week, and has achieved an A in GCSE further maths today, which she studied in six months.

Carol Jones, headteacher at Hornsey School for Girls, was contacted personally by the AQA exam board to inform her that Kirsten had secured the highest maths marks in the country.

AQA is sending a special award to Kirsten in recognition for her amazing achievement.

Ms Jones said: “A huge congratulations to Kristen for being the highest performing maths student in the country. We are absolutely thrilled by Kristen’s result.

“We have seen significant increases in A*-C in all of our GCSE subjects this year, with maths, science and English standing out as being exceptional.

“We are particularly proud of the large number of students attaining higher grades.

“Our success is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of our staff, students and parents.

“Congratulations to all.”

Kirsten achieved eight A* grades and two A grades in her GCSEs.

Hornsey School for Girls has achieved its highest ever GCSE results, with 86 per cent of its students achieving five A* to C grade GCSEs, which the school says is higher than above the national average this year.

9.23am

Ham&High reporter Paul Wright is with a lot of nervous students waiting outside the hall at Hampstead School in Cricklewood.

And a lot of nervous teachers too!

When asked how they thought their students had done, one said: “They’re great kids and they’ve worked hard.

“I’ve not seen the results yet. But all the changes this year has been hard on them.

“They’ve been given a bit of a raw deal in my opinion.”

9.18am

Maria Fidelis Catholic School in Camden confirms its GCSE results:

- 2014 percentage entries A*-A: 20

- 2014 percentage pupils 5 A*-C (including maths and English): 64 (61 in 2013)

That’s a rise of three per cent in the government’s benchmark figure for performance - the number of pupils getting five A* to C grades including maths and English.

9.07am

Adam Pettitt, headteacher of Highgate School, in Highgate Village, Haringey, congratulates pupils on a stellar year for GCSE performance.

“The weeks of waiting are finally over for our Year 11 pupils and I’m delighted for them that the results have been worth the wait!

“With all the warnings about ‘volatility’ in results, it’s been an anxious period, and indeed, the yo-yo-ing in subject totals has continued: same team, same leadership, and the results shift about from one year to the next. “This may mean a percentage point here or there in the overall totals, but it points up the strain which the exam system is under: does it really make sense to go from 87 per cent A* in 2013 to 55% A* in 2014 in English literature for example?

“So I am still glad for Highgate’s young people who have done so well, and I congratulate them on a fine set of results.

“But I am even more convinced that schools need to stick to their guns and to define their own curriculum, choosing the exams which have the least distorting effect on what they wish to teach and why: with volatility on this scale and predictability, it’s even more important to make sure that the learning which goes on day by day stands the test of usefulness and challenge without regard to exams which are, at best, a moving target.”

School’s full results to follow.