Today we are celebrating with our Year 11 students as they receive their GCSE and vocational grades.  

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The unforeseen and unprecedented circumstances, brought about by the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent school closures, mean that today’s results are not awarded following the usual national examinations and externally verified coursework, but are based on centre-assessed grades. We are delighted that the Department for Education and Ofqual have finally accepted that the people best placed to assess the grades each pupil should be awarded are the specialist school professionals who have been working with them for the past 18 months.  

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The vast majority of Year 11 have received the grades they need in order to progress onto their next stage of education or training, and this is down to their hard work during years 10 and 11. We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of them, but we are sorry for the stress, frustration and worry caused by the confusion and uncertainty in the run up to today. We look forward to welcoming back those who have chosen to stay in the Sixth Form at The Charter School North Dulwich and wish those who have elected to move on to pastures new the very best of luck for their futures.

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However, amongst the celebrations, there are some pupils who will be disappointed with their grades and we will be working with them in order to assess their best way forward. Senior staff from the school and our careers team will be working with each of these pupils to ensure that they are aware of the options available to them so that they can transition successfully to the next stage of their careers.

Headteacher, Christian Hicks commented:

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“As with Y13 last week, this year’s Y11 pupils have had to endure over five months of uncertainty and today’s results will hopefully be able to calm some of the anxieties that many have experienced and give them the boost they need as they return to school or college next month. I am delighted that the Government has finally exercised common sense and agreed to award these results based on the centre-assessed grades as submitted by the school.  

Our highly experienced and conscientious teaching staff worked incredibly hard to produce these grades in a fair, considered and moderated fashion and I am confident that, in these unprecedented circumstances, today’s results are the fairest and most realistic outcome for this year’s cohort. All centre-assessed grades were moderated internally by both department leaders and the senior leadership team, and we are confident that they are a true reflection of each student’s abilities at this time. I would like to take this opportunity to thank those staff for their extraordinary commitment and support of our young people.

Most of all I would like to congratulate Y11 and thank them for their patience and good grace throughout this period. I am delighted that the majority of our Y11 pupils have the results that they need and are now able to progress to the next stage of their education and focus on the future when they return in September. In particular, I am looking forward to welcoming back a record number of Charter students into our sixth form and to supporting all our students to secure the very best 6th form place that will help them to create a brighter future for themselves in these uncertain times.”

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