Once again I am absolutely delighted to congratulate our local students for their 2015 GCSE examination success this week, not least of all those attending Holsworthy Community College, where pupils surpassed themselves this summer to deliver the highest examination results that the college has ever achieved. With 64% of students gaining a total of 5 or more GCSE’s (including English and Maths) at grades of A*-C, this result is a clear 9% above the national pass rate of 55% achieved by all secondary schools (including free schools) in 2014.
If Holsworthy’s results last year were good at 60%, this years results are even more 
satisfying, as it goes to demonstrate in the most public way possible that along with other local authority schools, Holsworthy Community College and its staff and Governing Body continues to deliver the highest quality, comprehensive and relevant education available today for children within the Torridge area.
We are all justly delighted by the achievements of the students at Holsworthy. 80% of pupils achieved grades A*-C in Science against a national pass rate of 57%; a total of 72% of the cohort achieved 2 or more ‘higher level’ passes in Science.
In Maths, 73% of pupils achieved an A*-C grade (above the national pass rate of 69%) with 66% making 3 levels of progress from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 4.
English Language also fared well with 75% of pupils making expected progress of 3 levels and 70% achieving an A*-C grade against a national pass rate of 72.6%. Unlike students in many other schools who opted for the easier IGCSE English Language examination, Holsworthy students were entered into the new, more demanding; GCSE English Language exam this year, which excluded any speaking and listening component. 95% of those students entered also achieved an A*-C grade in English Literature.
This positive achievement was also reflected in the results of the more demanding GCSE History course, where 74% of Holsworthy students achieved an A*-C grade.
Food Technology performed strongly with 76% of pupils gaining A*-C grades, French achieved 74% of passes within the same banding and German gained a whopping 91% passes! Sports Studies again continued its strong performance over recent years, with 76% also gaining an A*-C award. These results emphasis that fact that despite being a small rural secondary school, the breadth and depth of the curriculum offered to the children at Holsworthy positively equips them for life in the modern world.
It should also be noted that 100% of students this year achieved 5+ GCSE’s with an A*-G grade, which is especially heart-warming, given that Holsworthy Community College has a comprehensive intake that means along with the brightest and most talented children, the school also provides an educational haven for more vulnerable children and those with special educational requirements. Every child matters at Holsworthy Community College!
The average number of qualifications achieved exceeded 10 per child and the average number of GCSE entries over 9.5. Over one fifth of the 127 candidates taking exams at Holsworthy this summer achieved 5+ A* or A grades. Many pupils achieved their target grades and are now able to move on to their post-16 education with a great set of results behind them.
These fantastic exam results are of course the outcome of five years of consistent, focussed and dedicated hard work from every member of the teaching staff, the support staff, school management, governors and parents of pupils at the college, who can quite rightly be extremely proud of the achievements of Holsworthy students today.
It was also great to see students at Bideford College, Budehaven and Great Torrington Schools doing so well – three students at Bideford College between them gained 18 A*s, 14 As, 1 B and a C, which is absolutely wonderful!
NDG would strongly urge any parent considering secondary schools for their child to look again at Holsworthy Community College. Already recognised by Ofsted as a ‘Good’ school, once again Holsworthy has demonstrated through its results that it is unflinching in its objective of providing the very best education possible for the young people in its care and that it will not be diverted from its stated aim of being North Devon’s most ‘Outstanding’ secondary school.
northdevongovernor 
Thanks for being so positive about the other local schools – some people could learn from this.
Thank you Louou, all schools have their ups and downs, but in my experience, every school strives to deliver the very best education that they can for their kids and they should be recognised and supported in this. If anyone thinks teaching is easy, perhaps they ought to try it someday!
Congratulations, Holsworthy, Bideford, Gt Torrington, Kingsley, and Budehaven on your achievements this year especially to the Teaching staff plus the ancillary staff who all help to make the School a Happy place to learn. Well done to you all.