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GRI:.ENDOWN

A Newsletter from West Swindon's Local School • November 2000

Another rise in GCSE results

Best ever in school's history

Over the last five years, Greendown has consistently raised perform- target setting, regular testing and encouragement in our Personal
ance at GCSE - in line with, but usually above the national average for Development Programmes run by the tutor, many students have
all English schools. This year, with 54.59% of our students gaining five significantly increased results from early predicted grades.
or more A-C grades, we mark two firsts. Not only is this a bigger increase This year, too, provided a surprise. Bucking a national trend, our boys
than any other year in the school's history, but it marks a 10% rise in got nearly 58% A-C grades - outperforming the girls by some 7%. This
these grades over five years. The number of students gaining at least 1 is doubly pleasing, because improving boys' performance in public
A-C grade has also increased by 12% over the same period examinations has been a major school focus since before our successful
Teachers spend a lot of time at Greendown seeking to `maximise the Ofsted inspection two years ago.
individual potential' of students - and it clearly pays off! With careful Though the 5 A-C grades at GCSE are generally considered the
unofficial benchmark of a school's success, the results in schools can go
up or down depending on the basic abilities of the year group when they
enter the school. We are particularly proud, therefore, that year on year,
we have so far managed to increase pupil exam success. This success
clearly sets our students on course for future careers and qualifications.

Early entry brings out Maths ability
Greendown has a successful programme of entering high flying
students for their Maths GCSE a year early. Twenty five achieved grades
A and B this year and are now persuing an A level course.
Early entrants, standing from left: Laura Martin, Natalie Bartlett,
Craig Gilbertson, Sarah Franklin, Michael Bonizzi, Simon Webb,
Robert Gee, Danny Roberts, Christopher Collict, Leon Foster,
Kerisha Laing, Della Bradley, Leigh Collyer, Roshni Patel. Front,
Rebecca Dent, George Tilley, Scott Day, Danny Dunn, James Towers

Graduates starting to make an impact on the world

Three former Greendown students - all of arguments with her father, John Proctor, who Alan Parry, who left Greendown in 1993,
whom did very well at GCSE - have gone on to is head of English at Greendown! graduated this summer with a Master of Engi-
make significant starts to their careers. Polly Benford, below, another of Green- neering degree in Computer Sciences from Bris-
Lucy Proctor down's super artists, who also gained ten tol University. Thinking that he might take a few
left, who com- grade As at GCSE, recently took the initiative months off, he was surprised to he immediately
pleted GCSE Art with another Swindon student in September, head-hunted
early and in a year, to hold an exhibition of her work in Old by Hewlett
gained one of the Town. She is continuing studies in fine art at Packard re-
five highest marks Goldsmith's College, London.
nationally in Phi- Bristol as an
losophy A level internet serv-
this summer. ices consult-
In July Lucy, ant with re-
who together with two other former students, sponsibilities
spent two weeks of their holidays working with for web sup-
some of our new pupils in the literacy school, port across
is reading English at Manchester University. Europe.
She has already contributed an article to the
frd
university newspaper and is considering a Are you a Greendown graduate?
career in journalism. It's difficult keeping track of people who have
Lucy was delighted with the A level result, attended the school since it opened 15 years ago.
but denied that her skill in philosophy had Please let us know what you are doing nowadays
anything to do with the practice she got in by dropping a line to the Headteacher.