Examination Results

We were absolutely delighted with the outstanding results achieved by Canfordians sitting A Level and Pre-U examinations this summer, with 40.9% of all grades awarded A*, 75.1% A*/A and 92.6% A*/B.  Nationally, 14.5% of all grades awarded were A* and 35.9% A*/A, while in the Independent Schools sector overall, the average was 28.7% for A* and 58% for A*/A.

The last few years have been very difficult for teachers, pupils and their families and exam boards alike. Comparisons with recent exam years need to be considered in context as the landscape and factors which affected the award of Centre Assessed Grades of 2020 (CAGs) and Teacher Assessed Grades of 2021 (TAGs) were very different.  The charts below indicate the comparison with the last time examinations were sat in 2019.

Despite reports that results nationally are markedly lower than the 2020 and 2021 grades, it is notable that our A* grades are 16.9% higher, A*/A 4.1% higher and A*/B 1.5% higher than the CAGs of 2020. Indeed, our results today are only marginally lower than last year’s TAGs.

There was excellence across all faculties, with Arts, Sciences and Humanities all recording high percentages of top grades. At least 80% of all Music, Maths, Further Maths, Economics, Geography, Physics, Computing and Chemistry papers were awarded A*/A grades, while in Pre-U there were D1s (beyond an A* at A Level) in French and Spanish with 100% of all German papers graded D1-D2 (A*/A). Three quarters of all Extended Project Qualifications (EPQs) were graded A*/A. Twenty pupils were awarded three A* grades and five pupils gained four A*s.

Just as for our Sixth Form, we were so proud of all our pupils for their excellent performances at GCSE.  33.6% of all Canford grades were awarded the very highest grade 9, compared to the national average of 6.6%, while 58.5% of all grades were 9-8 (A*) compared to the national average of 15.1%. 79.4% of all grades awarded to Canfordians were 9-7 (A*-A), compared with a national overall figure of 26.3% and 53% in independent schools on average. 99.7% of Canford GCSEs were graded 9-4 (A*-C) compared with 73% nationally and 92.5% in independent schools.

The last few years have been very difficult for teachers, pupils and their families and exam boards alike. Comparisons with recent exam years need to be considered in context as the landscape and factors which affected the award of Centre Assessed Grades of 2020 (CAGs) and Teacher Assessed Grades of 2021 (TAGs) were very different.  The chart below indicates the comparison with the last time examinations were sat in 2019.

Results of the highest quality were across the range of subjects in Arts, Sciences and Humanities, with over 80% of all Canford Maths, English, Geography, French, German, Philosophy and Theology (RS), History, Physical Education, Latin, Classical Greek, Computing, Chemistry and Biology papers graded 9-7.