Seaford College is once again celebrating for the second time this week as students achieve their strongest ever results, today for GCSE. Headmaster, John Green, said: “I’m immensely proud of the results all of our students have achieved. The results are underpinned by the hard work and dedication of students and my amazing staff, who made the experience of our Connected Learning platform (our holistic online learning platform used during school closure due to lockdowns) so successful.  

Despite the challenges of the past 18 months, my staff and students have shown tremendous resilience.  All of our students have been focused and worked really hard – all of which is reflected in their grades. I’d like to congratulate everyone who achieved their personal bests today. 

As with our A level results, there are no surprises today, with the results strongly aligning with our incredibly successful Challenge Grade system, where students’ grades are tracked and regularly communicated over their Middle School years. This, combined with our Connected Learning platform where students followed a full day’s timetable combined with co-curricular and pastoral support, meant that students were connected to Seaford and supported.  

Throughout the last year, a comprehensive and bespoke revision and support programme was available to each Year 11 student in the run up to their internal evidence examinations. These were put on by different teachers Monday - Friday both in person and virtually, making the most of our Seaford Connected Learning platform. These sessions helped students to feel confident with the subject content and used the time to gain confidence in structuring and answering examination questions. Teachers ensured students were fully prepared to sit their GCSE internal evidence examinations and it was great to see so many students actively involved in those sessions. 

Seaford had a thorough and most rigorous, invigilated, internal assessment process where all students sat examinations (which mimicked the traditional examinations process); the results formed the basis of the teacher assessed grades. The regular contact with students meant that no one flew under the radar and our academic momentum was maintained.  

Our popularity as a non-selective, all-inclusive school has seen an increase in student numbers of over 60% in the last 9 years and this is undoubtedly due to our strengthened academic core. This September, we will see our highest student numbers across our Prep School, Middle School and Sixth Form. 

Our students saw the passion that my teachers have for their subjects, and saw how dedicated they were as they provided innovative solutions to the constraints we have had due to COVID-19.  My staff have gone out of their way to adapt and adjust; a good example is in practical subjects where they have come up with creative solutions to teach their subjects.  Teachers put on a series of practical days to enable them to support students in their practical subjects in April and May before the start of their internal evidence examinations. These days enabled the teachers to give their full attention and support to the Year 11 students, giving them time and space to work on the practical components of their courses such as DT, Dance and Music (to name a few). This passion and drive have, in turn, rubbed off on our students as they saw how much their teachers went out of their way for them to achieve their grades. 

 

Our students have also supported each other; one example is George Gibbens, who set up an Academic Peer Mentoring Programme.  The idea was for students to help each other with different topics in groups during prep time, drawing on each other’s strengths and weaknesses.  This type of student initiative and collaboration is something that defines a Seafordian. 

The number of students achieving the top grades of 9-7 – as well as a record number of students achieving 9-5 results – has continued to increase since the introduction of the number grade format in 2017. Teachers continued to inspire students to achieve their best results throughout our rigorous internal evidence examinations thanks to the successful Seaford Connected Learning platform and supportive revision and preparation programme. We have an exciting two years ahead with a record number of our Year 11 students entering our Sixth Form in September. 

Despite these superb academic achievements, Seaford has maintained its core ethos and these results were achieved in a non-pressurised environment where students have also excelled in co-curricular pursuits alongside their studies. Most importantly, these results have been achieved with smiles on our students’ faces, in a happy and supportive community. 

Seaford students celebrated success across a broad curriculum. We have many notable GCSE successes. Fraser Lyne (from Westbourne) and Monty Hodson (from Yapton) gained ten 9s. George Gibbons (from Selsey) and Abbie Biggs (from East Dean) achieved eight 9s, one 8 and one 7.  Ed Gordon-Thomson (from Warnham) gained eight 9s, one 8 and one 6. Lily Gardner (from Lodsworth) achieved seven 9s, two 8s and one 7. and Mandy Rabina (from Duncton) achieved seven 9s, one 8 and one 7. Phoebe Foden (from Wisborough Green) achieved five 9s and five 8s despite a very challenging year with long COVID. Harry Foster (from Emsworth) gained three 9s, six 8s and one 7. Charlotte Brinsmead (from Chichester) and Grace Clark (from Storrington) achieved three 9s, five 8s and two 7s. Ella Scott-Barnett (from Eastergate) achieved three 9s, five 8s and two 6s. Amber Mullahy (from Thakeham) gained three 9s, four 8s, one 7 and two 6s. Archie Thomas (from Upper Froyle) achieved two 9s, four 8s and four 7s.

 

I am so proud of what we have achieved through teamwork with students, staff and parents. My academic strategy and culture of ambition is firmly embedded at all levels. The academic momentum and all-round ambition have seen success from the academically gifted through to those that find the examination process a challenge. These results provide evidence that the College’s academic strategy, and our focus on improving teaching and learning, is having a sustainable impact. 

I look forward to welcoming students back in September. Take every opportunity you can and you will have the best school years of your life in our Sixth Form.”