Merton’s GCSE results beat national averages

· by · in Education and schools. ·
Cllr Sally Kenny, left, head teacher Kate Page, and pupils from Ricards Lodge celebrate their results

Students in Merton schools received their GCSE and vocational results today and can be extremely proud of their achievements.

Their education was significantly disrupted by the pandemic and they have shown remarkable emotional, personal and academic resilience to overcome the impact of lockdowns and remote learning.

Early figures show that 76% of Merton students achieved at least a ‘standard’ pass grade (4-9) in GCSE English and maths, which is well above the provisional national average of 66%. Also, 57% of Merton pupils secured a ‘strong’ pass (5 – 9), compared with 49% nationally.

Raynes Park High School students receive their results

In 2023 there has been a return to pre-pandemic grading in England, with some protection in place to recognise the disruption that students have faced.

This means that nationally, as with A level results last week, today’s GCSE results have returned to pre-pandemic levels, similar to those in 2019, and – as expected – lower than in 2022.

Merton averages tell a better story, with GCSE English and maths ‘strong’ passes improving significantly upon 2019 and similar to 2022. It is the same picture for Merton’s ‘standard’ passes.

Students at Rutlish School were high achievers in the borough

Here are some of the highlights from Merton schools:

  • Raynes Park High School – ‘strong’ pass grades at (5-9) in GCSE English and maths are in line with 2019, and the percentage of students achieving the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) has increased.
  • Ricards Lodge High School – the percentage of students achieving ‘strong’ pass grades (5-9) in GCSE English and maths, is significantly above 2019 school outcomes and similar to those in 2022.
  • Rutlish School – the percentage of students achieving ‘strong’ pass grades (5-9) in GCSE English and maths is well above 2019 school outcomes.
  • St Mark’s Academy – the percentage of students achieving the EBacc has increased significantly compared to 2019.
  • The Ursuline High School – the percentage of students achieving ‘strong’ pass grades (5-9) in GCSE English and maths is significantly above provisional national outcomes.
  • Wimbledon College – the percentage of pupils achieving a ‘standard’ pass in GCSE English and maths is 20% higher than the 2023 provisional national outcome.
  • Melbury College, Canterbury Campus – a very significant increase in the percentage of pupils achieving both ‘standard’ and ‘strong’ passes in GCSE English and maths compared with 2022.

We thank leaders and staff in all Merton schools for all that they have put in place to raise pupils’ achievement in all year groups this year and all the resources they have drawn upon to identify and provide pupils with the personal support they have needed.

St Mark’s Academy students with their head, Hannah Fahey

Councillor Sally Kenny, Cabinet member for Education and Lifelong Learning, visited Ricards Lodge as students picked up their results.

“I would like to congratulate all of Merton’s young people who took GCSEs this year,” she said.

“As a cohort, they have had so much of their KS3 and KS4 learning impacted by the pandemic, during which there was so much change in the way that they were educated.

“We couldn’t be prouder of their achievements, and look forward to them going from strength to strength in the next stage of their education.

“I’d also like to recognise the incredible support of their families, teachers and schools which has been so important in helping them to achieve their best.”