There is never a dull moment at BSB! It’s hard to believe we are already at the end of the second week back of the school term – so much has happened already and we are now well underway with a whole range of activities. First and foremost, our examination results have now been confirmed as our best ever by a long way. My congratulations to each and every student!
In the Primary School Key Stage 2 SATs tests, students once again achieved well in excess of UK averages, as you will see from the board in the foyer and on the website. More significantly, judged by the UK standard of making very good progress (2 sub-levels of progress during the year), in 2014, 87% of Year 6 students made this grade in Reading compared to 32% in 2103, in Writing it was 67% (2013 37%) and in Mathematics 87% (2013 46%). However, the most amazing results are from our most able students. At Level 6, the top level and two whole levels above what is expected for an 11 year old, the UK averages were 0.2% (rounded down to 0) for Reading, 0.3% (also rounded to 0) for Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling and 3% for Mathematics. At BSB, the results were 4%, 5% and 14% respectively – and several of these from students who came with English not as their first language. Proof if ever it was needed that our students really do achieve above and beyond expectation.
In Secondary IGCSE examinations, 86% of all grades were at Grade C or above, with 44% at A or A*. At A level, there were more A grades than any other grade and one third of all the entries achieved A* or A grades, with 20% of our students achieving 8 or more A*/A grades. Full details will be published very shortly, but I want to congratulate all our students and their teachers on this excellent performance. As you know, we at BSB are very proud indeed that we do not select students on ability by an entry test – we believe that, because of this, our teachers have the skills to bring out the best in every student, from those who already show high ability to those whose skills have yet to develop as they go through their formative years, and I believe these results bear out this philosophy.
That is not to say we do not believe we can do better; we always believe that the best is yet to come and this term has started brilliantly. I should like to give particular credit to our new Year 12 students who have embarked on the IB course for the first time. They have really engaged with the course, are working very hard, and showing great promise even at this early stage.
You will have seen in the Foyer that we have put together what we call our Three BSB Promises. They are that:
- You and your child will be known and treated as individuals, with individual needs and aspirations, as part of a genuine BSB family;
- Your child will benefit from great teaching and will achieve more with us than in other schools;
- Your child will have amazing opportunities to grow as a well-mannered, respectful, responsible and socially and intellectually confident global citizen.
These promises are central to what we do at BSB and we want you to hold us accountable for them. Our academic performance is going from strength to strength, but school is also about developing fully rounded young people, and I have been delighted to see the excellent performances in the ‘Grease’ auditions for what promises to be an amazing show, the tremendous level of enthusiasm to sign up for sport, and the commitment to the training students are already showing (as under 19 volleyball coach, I can vouch for this in practice), and the huge number of applications to be Prefects, our most senior student leaders. Your children’s enthusiasm, and your own, makes our family what it is, and I believe we have a very exciting year ahead.
Please do not hesitate to contact me at any stage if there is anything you need to discuss. In the meantime, I wish you all a truly excellent Mid-Autumn Festival Weekend.
With best wishes
Andy Puttock
Principal