Minister: Berkeley 78.5% GCSE Pass Rate
Education Minister Dame Jennifer Smith said her attendance at the Berkeley Institute prizegiving had provided her with an opportunity to “accentuate the positive” about Bermuda’s young people.
This morning [Nov 19] the Minister of Education Dame Jennifer Smith delivered a Ministerial Statement in the House of Assembly on yesterday’s Prizegiving Ceremony at Berkeley Institute, hailing the accomplishments of the school’s students.
The Minister said Berkeley’s GCSE results showed positive growth with the most significant improvement in Mathematics and English. There were 195 GCSE entries in May/June 2010 and the overall pass rate was 78.5%.
52 candidates wrote Mathematics and 89.6% of their grades were in the A – C range. To provide a point of comparison, Dame Jennifer said 58.4% of all students writing GCSE Mathematics in the UK earned grades in the A – C range.
60 students wrote GCSE English Language and of that group, 69.5% earned grades of A-C as compared to the UK National average of 64.7%.
The Minister also mentioned four students by name – Stefanny Sanchez, Marshall Stoneham, Sudan Furbert and Tashel Bean – saying they “Played an active role in the ceremony and demonstrated maturity and poise.”
In September, then-Premier Premier Brown met with seven Berkeley Institute students who successfully passed their math GCSE exam two years before most students traditionally even sit the exam; Alexandra Francis, Jumoke Stovell, Sierra Symonds, Premier Brown, Hans Peter Rozer, Azra Smith, Jadiyah Bailey and Whitney Riley.
The Minister’s statement follows below:
Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that so much of our television and newspaper reports highlight the negative activity of our young people. I recognise, however, that news is news because it is not an every day occurence
In fact, statistics tell us that the negative behavior we see is being committed by a minority of our young people.
Therefore it begs the question, what are the majority of our young people doing?
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, along with 3 of my colleagues, I had the privilege of attending Berkeley Institute’s Prizegiving Ceremony.
This was a celebration of the positive contribution the majority of our youth are making in schools every day of the year.
Oh yes, there were the usual speeches by the Chairman of the Board and the Principal, but the words and actions of the students took centre stage!
Principal, Mrs. Michelle Simmons, began by noting that instead of giving a long verbal report, the dry facts would be handed out at the end of the ceremony so that the focus could be on the students alone.
Mr. Speaker, I was impressed and proud of the contribution of all the Berkeley students; but I must single out a few of the outstanding students.
Stefanny Sanchez – an S3 High Honours Student, Marshall Stoneham, Sudan Furbert and Tashel Bean – all S2 High Honours Students who played an active role in the ceremony and demonstrated maturity and poise.
Guest Speaker Mr. Glenn Jones, who spoke about how to turn academic success into successful careers, had the students hanging on his every word.
Mr. Speaker, there were several success stories yesterday, but the students I have mentioned by name stand out as well-rounded models for their peers to emulate.
Mr. Speaker, we have much to celebrate as we look at the achievements of our young people and I look forward to learning about the achievements of our Cedarbridge students at their prizegiving on the 30th.
Mr. Speaker, consider the following -
At the end of term in June, two hundred and twenty-four students or 36 percent of the total student body of 630 students achieved academic honours.
Berkeley’s GCSE Results showed positive growth with the most significant improvement in Mathematics and English.
There were 195 GCSE entries in May/June 2010 and the overall pass rate was 78.5%.
Fifty-two candidates wrote Mathematics and 89.6% of their grades were in the A – C range.
In comparison, 58.4% of all students writing GCSE Mathematics in the UK earned grades in the A – C range.
Sixty students wrote GCSE English Language and of that group, 69.5% earned grades of A-C as compared to the UK National average of 64.7%.
Mr. Speaker, one week ago I told the Bermuda Union of Teachers that, “all is not well in Education” – and that is true! However, it is also true that all is not lost!
Mr. Speaker, as I continue to focus on those issues that need to be addressed within the Education System, I am also going to highlight and celebrate the successes. I believe that it is important to hold up and encourage hardworking dedicated teachers and hardworking dedicated students even while we work to ensure that all students have a positive school experience.
Mr. Speaker, Berkeley’s Prizegiving offers a perfect opportunity for us to accentuate the positive.
Mr. Speaker, I have previously stated that I intend to keep this House and the community at large informed about what we are doing in Education. This means that I will share both the good and the bad.
Thank you.
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- Bermuda education Dame Jennifer Smith CedarBridge Academy | Bernews.com | December 3, 2010
RESPICE FINEM…Keep the end in View…
16 is when people “traditionally” take the exam. Correct me if I’m wrong but these stats are from final year students, right?
Congrats Berkeley. Keep up the good work and our good name.
Congrats to all those who passed.
Now onto university and back home to fill all these positions where educated, bright and motivated Bermudians are desperately needed.
Congrats again…
Dame Jennifer,
Sorry to burst your bubble, because I know how much you wanted to “accentuate the positive” attributes of these young people, but I have to say, that 20 minutes ago, I witnessed a violent fight break out on Park Road in Hamilton. Who was involved? A crowd of approximately 50 (school edited) students looking on, while one boy was allegedly viciously beat by several others. The fight eventually had to be broken up by a man passing by. Oh, yes, and the police were there quickly, too.
This sort of behaviour is exactly why Bermuda is in the state it is in. I hope the administration deals with this very seriously, since, I’m sure we all agree, that this “negative behaviour of our young people” on our public streets is NOT acceptable.
Sorry to have to point this out, but you asked, “What are the majority of our young people doing?” Well, now you know.
Thats NOT what the MAJORITY of our young ppl are doing moron, so the only bubble that needs bursting is yours. Bees always look for flowers and beauty, they fly around finding nectar and spreading pollen to fertilize more growth everywhere they go. Then there is a certain type of flying insect that always flys right past the beauty and land right on the sh#t. I’m tired of you big ugly green sh#t-flys
Dame Jennifer,
Thank you for the positive press that you gave to our school! I have taught at Berkeley for the past 5 years, and although I am dismayed by the way our country is heading, moments like last night provide me with so much encouragment. You are 100% correct – the MAJORITY of students are not engaged in undesirable behaviors. Some work, some volunteer, some are busy studying, and some Miss Sarina, are actually breaking up fights and returning lost wallets (bet you missed that news article…)! It’s never comforting to hear about the negative things that young people in our community are engaging in; however, it’s not fair to those who are doing the right thing to continuosly ignore them to highlight the deviants. Thank you Dame Jennifer Smith!
Thank Dame for the update. Ayesha thank you so much for that clarification, b/c Sarina seems to be one of those who focuses on the negative of our young people. Even with this positive story, it is sad that we have a person pointing out the bad. Dont we have enough of that in the media already?
I agree ‘the MAJORITY of students are not engaged in undesirable behaviors”
It;s funny, but Ayesha if you didn’t clarify Sarina’s statement, many people who have left this page believing that majority are engaged in behaviors and all of those 50 were fighting. I mean some people just jump in the deep end of things, ever been socializing around a group of people after school and a few decide to fight? Well, that could have been the case, not that all 50 were fighting.
Anyway back on the positive, thank you Dame Jennifer. You have started on the positive already. I believe you were the right person for the job. Also let me add that too much emphasis are placed on these GCSE, SAT standardized exams. Most dont prove a a thing but allow criticism of schools and countries. Let’s focus on the things that matter.
Respice Finem
Kenneth Burgess and Miss Ayesha,
Perhaps you are the ones who need clarification. When I am sitting in a parked car, minding my own business on a Friday afternoon, and am suddenly confronted with a mob of students surrounding the car, as a violent altercation breaks out, I am justified in feeling the way I do. One girl near me shouted “Does he have a gun?”. Wouldn’t any normal person feel a sense of disgust and fear for their personal safety? Yet you accuse me of “jumping off the deep end?” How dare you?! You were not there!
And I wonder how many of those students involved on Friday were included in the 78% GCSE pass rate. Does the fact that they managed to pass a few exams excuse this type of anti-social behavior? I think not. Even if all 50 were not fighting, none of them bothered to stop it. And why are all these students hanging out in Hamilton after school, when Government has already made it clear that this should not be happening?
Say what you will, but if I were a teacher, I would feel ashamed to have anything to do with these students.
You jumped on the deep end when you decided that this article was a nice place to post your story. Then you jumped even further toward the deep end when you implied that this is what the MAJORITY of our young people are doing. Here is some positive news and instead of you being a honey-bee and at least acknowledging the positive you land right on the sh#t and start rubbing your hands. Well enjoy your meal, sh#t-fly. But I will not partake. Tis not for me. Ta ta.
It amazes me how a number with a percent symbol behind it can distract people so well.
Firstly it is great that 78% passed math and english A-C but that national average that they are comparing to in the UK is for students who take 5 or more IGCSE exams. We are looking at percentages for 2 exams. Secondly where are the other subjects’ grades? Im pretty sure universities are looking for those as well.
A quick question, how many 16 year old students didn’t sit the exams? The numbers being shown reflect the students who took the exams, not all the students in that age range, (it is fairly obvious that the numbers stated reflect about 50 students taking 2 or 3 exams correct me if Im wrong) while in the UK sitting IGCSE exams is compulsory for all students in many schools, so of course the numbers they show will be slightly less students dont have an option to opt out if they might fail. Lets really put the education system to the test and compare the pass rates to other schools on the island who have 80% A-C for FIVE or more of these exams.(often 9-10) It is great to see progress but let us put it in perspective and demand more from our capable children so that they can actually compete internationally. Throwing a parade for 78% pass in 2 subjects only creates a false sense of security, last time I checked universities want 9 IGCSE passes and 2 A level passes from perspective students.
Sorry to burst the bubble
Neyo
This is for only 2 or 3 exams? I did 9 when I was 15 and so did the rest of my year. This shouldn’t even be news, this should be how dissapointing that this is all they’re leaving school with. Good universities won’t let you in unless you have APs or IBs as well, they hardly even look at the GCSEs!
My sentiments exactly Jay. To think you can get into university on anything less then 9 IGCSEs AND grade 12 equivalents is … silly. To congratulate for five or less is rewarding mediocrity.
(Let me correct something as well from my first post. The average pass A-C for english and math is 79.6 and the ‘overall’ pass is 78.5. This doesn’t change my argument but the devil is in the details.)