Amazing Success of Students at GCSE Continues

A huge congratulations to our year 11 students, their teachers and support staff on a fantastic set of GCSE results. Once again this year, students achieved great outcomes compared to national averages. The proportion of students achieving the highest grades A*/A and 7/8/9 has increased significantly across the vast majority of subjects.

This year’s results have been achieved under challenging circumstances with the level of curriculum change and grading reforms that have taken place. There have been many magnificent performances across our wide range of GCSEs, with many students now beginning A level study at Bosworth Academy.

Across England, % A*-C in unreformed GCSE subjects fell from 69.1% to 67.4% for 16 year olds. In reformed subjects (English Language, Literature and Maths), grades at 4+ (C) and 7+ (A) remained similar to 2016 outcomes, (source Ofqual).

At Bosworth Academy, in the reformed Maths GCSE, 78% of students achieved grade 4 or higher, (compared to 70% national). In English, the figure attaining grade 4+ was 83%, with an amazing 71% of students achieving grade 5 or higher, with 6.3% achieving an exceptional grade 9, (in comparison to the national average of 2.6%). This is an incredible achievement for these students, especially considering the greater demands of new specifications. Similarly, outstanding scores were seen in the Sciences where 82% of students scored A*-C in two Science subjects at least.

The percentage of students achieving the highest grades A*/A in subjects was remarkable; 80% in Spanish, 50% in Religious Studies, 36% in French, 48% in Biology, 52% in Chemistry, 43% in Physics and 40% in Performing Arts to name a few.

Bosworth Academy students performed higher than national averages at % A*-C across a wide range of our innovative curriculum, some highlights include:

Bosworth Academy 2017 Comparison to National Results

Subject Bosworth Academy % A*-C National % A*-C Difference
Additional Science 72 58 +14
Art and Design 93 76 +17
Business Studies 80 63 +17
Catering 80 55 +25
Drama 80 74 +6
History 71 65 +6
ICT 82 67 +15
Music 100 75 +25
Physics 94 90 +4
Religious Studies 91 71 +20
Science 71 48 +23
Spanish 100 71 +29

Amazing GCSE Success at Bosworth Academy

Bosworth Academy students and staff are celebrating another brilliant set of GCSE results. Outcomes have been incredibly high in a range of GCSE subjects and are particularly strong in the reformed GCSEs English Language, English Literature and Maths (graded 9 to 1).

Students have made excellent progress in their time with us since joining Bosworth Academy. Despite only being at the Academy for two years students have made dramatic progress in this short period of time. The new content of the reformed GCSEs is more demanding and controlled assessments have been removed, yet our students have continued to achieve the highest grades (many 9’s) and show immense improvements in their learning. We are now looking forward to many of our students joining us in our Sixth Form.

Bosworth Academy is a highly inclusive school and take students from a range of educational backgrounds. The staff focus on ensuring that learning is relevant, engaging and creative so that students are engaged in what they do and aspire to ‘be better than they thought they could be’.

Simon Brown, Head of School said, “We are thrilled at the achievement of our students this year. They have worked incredibly hard since joining us for the the start of their GCSEs and achieved well beyond what they even thought was possible – showing a real growth mindset. Staff and students have worked creatively and collaboratively to overcome the challenges faced by new GCSEs and this has resulted in brilliant outcomes.”

The new grading structure is not directly comparable to the A*-G system so comparisons to previous years cannot be made at this early stage. Further information will follow on our website at a later date.

Some of the individual achievements include:

GCSE​ ​Top​ ​Performers

  • Deevani​ ​Jina​ – 9 in Maths, 6A*, 1A, 7 Eng Lang and Lit
  • Victoria​ ​Broomfield​ – 9 in Eng Lang, 9 Maths 1A*, 4A, 2B, 7 Eng Lit
  • Max​ ​Barker​ – 9 in Maths, 5A*, 2 A, 6 Eng Lit, 5 Eng Lang
  • Emily​ ​Beckwith-Chandler​ ​- 9 in Eng Lang, 8 Maths, 4A*, 4A, 7 Eng Lit
  • Rosey​ ​Collins​ – 9 in Eng Lit, 8 Eng Lang, 8 Maths, 4A*, 2A
  • Rory​ ​Cunningham​ – 8 in Maths, 4A*, 2A, 7 Eng Lit, 1 B, 6 Eng Lang
  • Harvey​ ​French​ – 3A*, 3A, 1C, 7 and 8 in English Lang and Lit, 7 Maths
  • Kiera​ ​Goodwin-Hill​ ​-​ ​9 in Eng Lang 2A*, 4A, 1B,​ ​8 Maths, 7 Eng Lit
  • Shania​ ​Singh​ ​-​ ​9 in Maths, 3A*, 4A, 8 and 7 Eng Lang and Lit
  • Katie​ ​Twelves​ – 9 in Eng Lang, 3A*, 4A, 7 Eng Lit and Maths
  • Adam​ ​Watson​ – 9 in Eng Lang, 8 Maths and Eng Lit, 2A*, 3A, 2B
  • Miranda​ ​Watson​ – 9 in Eng Lang, 8 Maths and Eng Lit, 3A*, 3A
  • Inithini Geevakumar – 9 in English Lit, 8 in Eng Lang and Maths, 5A*, Dist* and 1B

 

Proud mother of Harvey French said “To say I am proud is an understatement, we are both delighted with Harvey’s results across the board. Everyone at Bosworth has been amazing and I can’t thank them enough for their support and encouragement”. Harvey achieved 3A*, 3A, 1C, a 7 and 8 in English Language and Literature. He also gained a 7 in Maths and will continue his studies at Bosworth Academy.

Both the parents of Katie Twelves and Rory Cunningham talked about the exceptional support the teachers had given their children. Mrs Twelves said “The masterclasses and revision sessions were great and the way English provided support at the beginning of Year 11 was fantastic”. Mr and Mrs Cunningham both said “the opportunities and creative feedback provided by teachers really helps students achieve their very best”. Rory achieved 4A*, 2A, 1 B, a 6 and 7 in English Language and Literature and an 8 in Maths. Katie achieved 3A*, 4A, a 7 in both English Literature and Maths and an outstanding 9 in English Language. Both students are looking to continue their studies at Bosworth Academy.

What you need to know about the new GCSE grades: Gov.uk New GCSE Grades 9 to 1 [link]

A-Level Success

Once again this summer, students at Bosworth Academy are celebrating excellent A-level and AS-Level results, with the majority of students now progressing to their choice of University.

“Our Results Day is truly a day of celebration for our students following their many years of hard work, commitment and dedication to their studies. Our staff should also be very proud of the great level of expertise and support that they have provided.” – Simon Brown, Head of School.

Some individual successes included:

  • Patrick Taylor who achieved A*, A*, A*, A* and is now progressing to the University of Bath to read Chemistry.
  • William Beckwith-Chandler who achieved A*, A*, A*, A and is now progressing to the University of Exeter to read Mathematics.
  • Eleanor Torrance who achieved A*, A*, A*, A and is now progressing to the University of Nottingham to read Biology.
  • Amy Smith who achieved A*, A*, A, A and is now progressing to University of Cambridge to read Engineering.
  • Connor Gauntlett who achieved A*, A*, A, A and is progressing to study a Mathematics degree.
  • Chelsea Rosak who achieved A*, A*, A, A and is now progressing to read Law at University.
  • Fiona Kinnis who achieved A*, A, A, A and is now progressing to University to study Sciences.
  • Eva Crowson who achieved A*, A, A, A and is now progressing to University of Cambridge to read Geography.
  • Charlie Alcock who achieved A*, A*, A, B and is now progressing to University of Southampton to study Naval Engineering.
  • Sharon Chan who achieved A*, A, A, A , B and is now progressing to the University of Birmingham to read Law.
  • Lauren March who achieved A*, A, A and is now progressing to the University of Lincoln to study Drama

 

Bosworth Academy has a policy of challenging all students to ‘be better than they thought they could be’ by raising the aspirations of every learner. This is the first set of A-level results following the introduction of reformed, linear A-levels in many subjects with updated, more demanding content. Therefore the last two years has proven to be quite a challenge for students and for teachers as they adapt to these changes, though one where all have really risen to the challenges faced. In facilitating subjects such as Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English a remarkable 78 A*/A grades were achieved by students.

As well as success measured in grades we are confident that our young people leaving Bosworth have many valuable attributes to contribute to their communities and future employers; their empathy and support for others, their capacity for moral leadership, their ability to work as part of a team or to take the initiative, as well as being thoughtful, kind and tolerant.

Number of students 189
A*-E = 99%
A*-C = 75%
A*-B = 49%

Dr Korczak’s Example

Students of the Bosworth Theatre Company performed David Greig’s play ‘Dr Korczak’s Example’ on 25th and 26th of May. The play is set in an orphanage in a ghetto in Poland.

The action takes place shortly before the mass deportation of Jews to concentration camps and focuses on the real life pediatrician of Dr Korczak. The subjects of humanity, tolerance and acceptance in the face of fear and brutality were particularly resonant and important to explore in light of recent national and world events. Students learnt about life in the ghettos and the experiences that people faced at that time.

They explored the different viewpoints on how to resist oppression and how there are no easy answers to this. The students performed as an ensemble with the whole cast multi-rolling different parts.

Students also learnt and performed a song in Hebrew called ‘Hine Ma Tov.’ This literally translates to ‘It is a beautiful thing when brothers stand together in unity’. Students were involved in set design, costume and marketing as well as acting.

Together, the Bosworth Theatre Company produced a wonderful example of beautiful work and ensured that the first year of our Company was a tremendous success. Parents thoroughly enjoyed the play and were very moved by the performances given.

Échange et Voyage Linguistique

This year, 33 students from Bosworth Academy went to visit our twin School in Rouen “Le Collège Jean Delacour”. Students were involved in a busy activity programme which gave them an opportunity to discover more about the culture and history of France. Students went to visit the memorial of Caen and one of the D-Day beaches where French and British troops fought together.

Students visited Rouen with their French classmates. They learnt about the great Viking ‘Rollo’ who was a common ancestor for both countries. They experienced shopping in town using what they had learnt in class to buy souvenirs, or order food and drink. Finally, they spent one day at the Collège Jean Delacour and took part in different lessons such as PE, Maths, Music and Art in full immersion.

In June, the French students came and visited us. They visited Leicester with a group of our year 10 students and spent a whole day at Bosworth Academy. This exchange has been taking place for three years and it has enabled students to develop strong links with each other. True friendship has developed among the students from the two schools, and they still communicate actively with each other.

Career Mark Renewal 2017

Having been re-awarded the coveted Career Mark in 2017 in recognition of outstanding support in careers guidance and advice, Bosworth Academy students continue to benefit from world class support in careers planning. We successfully went through revalidation of the award which we achieved for the first time in 2015.

The process was rigorous and involved interviews with a wide range of students as well as with the Careers leader Mrs Marie Delage-Martin. “As a school we strongly value careers education, and employability skills are firmly embedded into the curriculum”, says Mrs Delage-Martin, “we have very good links with the UK top universities and working relationships with many of the regions best employers”.

We are delighted that the quality of Careers Education and Guidance we deliver at the Academy has been once again recognised by a prestigious external organisation.

Tour De Leicestershire 2017

Bosworth Academy Staff Team to Ride in the Open Hands Tour De Leicestershire on Saturday 9th September

Bosworth Academy are again teaming up with Leicester based charity Open Hands for the 4th year in a row to raise money in a sponsored cycle event on Saturday 9th September. The Tour De Leicestershire is a non-competitive sportive cycle ride, which begins at Bosworth Academy and circumnavigates Leicestershire visiting a variety of villages including Mountsorrel, Gumley, Husbands Bosworth and Cosby. There are a choice of two routes – 80 miles and 56 miles. The ride will be fully signed, with drinks and food provided en-route and a BBQ at the finish.

Open Hands is a charity based in the city which provides food, furniture, clothes, care, support and counselling to the most vulnerable and needy people in Leicester and Leicestershire. All the money from the entry fee (except the £1 to British Cycling) goes directly to Open Hands and some teams and individuals choose to raise money through sponsorship as well.

For the first time, there will be a prize for the Organisation/Club/Business which cycles the most cumulative miles. The event is supported by Velobici Cyclewear, High5 Sports Nutrition and the Rapid Relief Team Charity. Dave Bennett, Deputy Head at Bosworth said: ‘Bosworth Academy is proud to be associated with the work of Open Hands. They do a great work supporting people in our city and county. We are hoping to get a large number of staff, students and parents involved this year – it will be brilliant to support Open Hands and have the enjoyment of getting fit as well.’ 

We are always looking for more riders. Why not enter a team?  If you want more details or want to enter, visit the Open Hands Website.

An Interview with Dr Stephenson

I currently teach Film Studies at Bosworth Academy and am also a Moderator for WJEC GCE Film Studies. This means I assess A level Film coursework from schools across the country. However, my experience in research and teaching the subject spans several years.

In 1993 I studied Italian with Film Studies, BA Hons. at the University of Reading. As part of the course I spent a year studying at l’Universita di Trieste, Italy, which was fantastic. I achieved a First Class in my course and developed a real passion for learning. After that I was lucky enough to be awarded a scholarship by the Arts Council to attend a Masters degree in Film and Television Studies at the University of Warwick.

This all led to my specialist qualification of a PhD in Italian Cinema at the University of Reading. The title of my 60,000 word thesis was ‘The Soviet Model in Fascist Cinema’. This looked at how Mussolini tried to use cinema as the Communists had in the 1920s. I was fortunate enough to be granted another scholarship by the Arts Council for my PhD. Much of my research was carried out in libraries and archives in Rome. After this, I spent a couple of years lecturing Italian Cinema at the University of Manchester.

In 2007 I completed a PGCE in English and Media Studies and have been teaching at Bosworth ever since then. I feel really lucky to be able to use my cultural and academic expertise on a daily basis working with young people at Bosworth Academy!

A Century of Rememberance

This year, Mr Mowbray brought learning to life as he took two Year 9 students, Katie McNulty and Ethan Stock, on an expedition to Belgium and Northern France to learn about World War 1 and the importance of remembering the fallen soldiers who gave their lives for the freedom that we all experience 100 years on.

Mr Mowbray, Katie and Ethan got an overwhelming sense of the scale of lives lost during the conflict when visiting battlefields and memorial sites such as Newfoundland Park, Thiepval, Tyne Cot and The Menin Gate. They also managed to find the names of their ancestors and those from the local community who fought and died in the war at these memorials.

The purpose of this enriching and thought provoking journey was for Katie and Ethan to learn about and remember the fallen during the war and to exhibit their findings to the academy and the wider community, to keep the legacy of those soldiers alive.

Doctor in the house

Each year Desford Medical Centre offers two budding medical students the chance to get work experience with them in preparation for careers as doctors. This year Harsh Patel and Olivia Timperley will take advantage of this fantastic opportunity to see how our health-care professionals operate in a real world context and understand the organisational challenges that they face on a day to day basis. As always we are very grateful for the support and encouragement our local community offers our students in a variety of learning contexts.

“Olivia and I have joined Desford Surgery’s Patient Participation Group (PPG). Being part of the PPG requires us to attend quarterly meeting in which we discuss current matters and ways in which we can improve the surgery. This type of experience is extremely useful as we both intend to study medicine at university.” – Harsh Patel