Over four hundred students received their GCSE results last Thursday. The results show an overall pass rate A*-C of 70%: a 4% increase on last year and the highest pass rate achieved in the last five years.

Worthy of special note is the performance of students in the core subjects: English Literature at Westside has more than doubled the number of A*/A grades obtained last year; the proportion of A*/A grades in Mathematics remains consistently high; and, despite the recent changes, performance in Science has remained quite stable.

The Department will now analyse these results and will work closely with schools in order to continue to improve.

Minister for Education, Gilbert Licudi QC, expressed his satisfaction with the results and wished to congratulate students on their performance. He was also grateful to teachers for all their hard work.

He added: "This next academic year will bring significant changes being introduced both to subject content, with breadth and depth of study material both being increased, and, furthermore, to the way examinations are graded with the introduction of a super A*, called a level 9, in some subjects, Our schools and professionals will be prepared to meet these challenges and will work tirelessly to ensure that every child achieves his or her absolute potential."