Beverley High School on top form

Beverley High School has received national recognition for the high attainment of its pupils in the 2013 GCSE examinations.

The school’s success has been recognised by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust following an in-depth analysis of official Department for Education data on all state-funded schools in England.

The SSAT Educational Outcomes Award recognises that Beverley High School is in the top 20 per cent of non-selective schools nationally for high-quality GCSE grades achieved by students.

It is an exceptional achievement for the school, after a challenging 2012/13 academic year. While In April 2013 the school was judged to require improvement by Ofsted, it produced exam results which rank securely in the top quarter of schools nationally.

Headteacher Sharon Japp said: “We are extremely pleased to receive this award. As a school we have always delivered a broad, balanced academic curriculum for our girls and are proud that this award recognises our successes across the board.

“Our 2013 results actually place us in the top 18 per cent of schools nationally for Best 8 Average Points Score. We also learned last week that based on last year’s results, under the Government’s new Progress 8 Measure, to be introduced in 2015/16, Beverley High School would have been placed in the top eight per cent of schools in the country.”

The school has been invited to receive the award at a regional celebration ceremony hosted by SSAT in Bradford in June.

Sue Williamson, chief executive of SSAT, said:  “Beverley High School should be congratulated for their exceptional achievement. They have proved themselves to be leading the field in improving GCSE outcomes for their students. There is so much good practice that this school could share.

“These results are testament to the commitment and hard work of the students, teachers and leadership team at Beverley High School, and show what can be achieved when skilled teachers have high expectations and ambition for every young person. I am proud that this school is a member of the SSAT network.”

Councillor Julie Abraham, East Riding of Yorkshire Council portfolio holder for children, young people and education, said: “I am pleased that Beverley High School has been recognised with this national award. It reflects the high standard of education that the school delivers and shows that the leadership team and governing body have not been daunted by challenges over the last couple of years and continue to ensure that every student can be their best.”

Mike Furbank, head of children and young people, education and schools, added: “It is testament to the hard work and determined leadership of the school that outcomes have been delivered at a time when the school is working really hard on a number of fronts to make rapid progress towards being judged a good or better school. 

"The sense of purpose in the school is palpable, and is driven by the needs of the students. I look forward to the outcomes of this year's exams where I am sure we will see sustained high performance.”.