Comments on: 2015 Public School Graduation & Exam Results

By: Everett Outerbridge

Everett Outerbridge — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 19:16:11 +0000

Congratulations to all those students that put in the hard effort to do their very best. It is my belief that things will get better. I also believe that we should not forget the simple basic things such as providing more homework opportunities for students. It appears that students in private schools are provided with more opportunities to work and to learn at home with their parents, who are the child’s first and most important teachers. There is a lot to be said of the old adage, “practice makes perfect.”

By: acegirl

acegirl — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 17:18:38 +0000

Whilst the increase in pass rate A*-C is encouraging, the overall results are not something to celebrate. As said before a couple times by other people anything below a C at GCSE/IGSCE is not considered a pass and will not gain you entrance into any credited university in the UK. The fact that year after year shools and the ministry are telling parents and students that D-G marks are considered a pass could be part of the reason the pass rate remains so low. This level of results would not stand anywhere else in the western world and the education institutions and teachers would be investigated and potentially shut down.
It was also mentioned that private schools pick and choose which students enter and sit the exams, however this is a false statement. A teacher can only advise a parent that it may not be worth their child sitting the exam and this is because of the fact that parents independently pay for their students to take them. Also students at private schools take at least 6 GSCE/IGCSE compared to the 3 or 4 that are sat at the public school which makes the two widely different. And before any says anything about privedge and class, I would like to say that they are irrelevant. I will say that I think the ministry of education needs to sit down and have a think about why the public school results are so low considering that Bermuda is a wealthy country with resources to improve itself.

By: spoons

spoons — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 15:01:17 +0000

What on earth are you talking about when you say “easier exam boards?” Exam boards would not exist if they were deemed to be unequal. Are you kidding me? If you think the 5 questions I asked in my above post are wrong in any way, inform me. Don’t rant on about how the exams children sit in government schools are somehow harder than those in private schools. That just complete rubbish. Oh BTW, I am a teacher and have taught in some of the roughest secondary schools in Britain. So I understand. Completely. Parents, schools and students all have a role to play in education failure. But I maintain, 33% is ABSOLUTELY unacceptable.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 14:38:53 +0000

Its still scary..guess the rest of the males dropped out of school? Shouldn’t it be more like 50/50?

By: Research

Research — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 04:50:29 +0000

Do you understand the difference between private schools and public schools? Do you realize that private schools get to choose which students enter their walls and which students get to sit the GCSE exams (usually the only ones who will guarantee passes?) Do you also realize that private schools get to pick which GCSE board to use (usually the easiest one) while public schools are forced to use the more challenging Cambridge board for English, Math and Science? Do you also understand that public schools are comprehensive schools which means they must take ALL students who then take the GCSE? No excuses just facts…and the answer to your question #1. Just compare oranges with oranges.

By: d realist

d realist — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 02:24:01 +0000

pathetic!

By: Optimistic

Optimistic — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 21:31:47 +0000

Even though these are not the greatest pass marks for all of the students, at least some students are making the grade I.e. 33% pass rate for A*-c. If this 33% can do it, the rest of the students can do it too with more motivation and ambition. Sometimes success starts out small but a continue push in the right direction can reveal bigger successes. People should try and be a little more positive and encourage the kids. When the kid hear the constant put downs this can make them feel like they cannot achieve. Let’s not forget that public schools have a greater dynamics of children from different backgrounds who may also have some social and economical challenges. I reiterate if some of their peers can do it, they can do it too. Public schools can put out some amazing students who go on to take up great careers, the will and drive just had to be there. Keep pushing forward students. There is hope.I believe the ministry is heading on the right direction. Students sometimes you may have to be prepared to seek success and opportunities on your own and this does not make you any less than your private school counterparts.

By: Skittles

Skittles — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 19:21:57 +0000

Oh my goodness, When will we stop considering A*-G a pass?
Anything below a C is NOT A PASS! Stop the lies so we can actually address the issues

By: watching

watching — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 18:37:25 +0000

Its not 37% of the males. it said 37% of the graduates were male.

By: jmz522

jmz522 — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 16:47:33 +0000

I think they mean 37% of the 216 graduates were male, not a 37% graduate rate for males.

You would have to take the 80 male graduates of the class (216*0.37) and divide that by the number of males enrolled at the beginning of the school year to determine male graduate rate.

By: Family Man

Family Man — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 16:06:57 +0000

On the Cambridge Checkpoint scale of 0.0 – 6.0, a level 2.0 represent only a basic level of understanding of the subject matter. Anything less is considered poor.

46% of Bermuda public school students cannot even attain a level 2.0 in math. Roughly half of Bermuda’s public school students do not have a basic grasp of math. Sadly Bermuda’s economy is heavily dependent on math related occupations, actuaries, accountants, underwriters, fund managers.

Fortunately by the time graduation comes along they must have all buckled down to study hard because now 92% of Bermuda’s public school students achieve a high enough score to graduate. Amazing. They’re now ready to enter a work force in areas that require a high degree of competence.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 15:53:01 +0000

Serious? Only 37% of males graduated? Scary numbers there.

By: BDA Pink

BDA Pink — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 14:30:01 +0000

I thought Minister Scott increased scholarships this year? Good job Minister Scott. Stay focused on the task of improving the public education system. Have noticed some improvement since you became Minister.

By: aceboy

aceboy — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 14:27:08 +0000

Not bad? Your standards aren’t very high. Dreadful results in my opinion.

What the heck is a “G” grade? Anything below a C is a fail.

By: Jimmy

Jimmy — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 14:26:44 +0000

Compared with the international averages, this is very poor performance.

By: Not Good

Not Good — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 14:17:20 +0000

A 33% rate (A to C) on GCSEs (minimum grade of a C is required for any reputable university)coupled with males comprising only 37% of graduates is not good.

To put in to perspective the worst school in the UK registered a 35% rate two years ago (don’t know most current rates).

These results, while better than previous year’s, is not good now and does not bode well for the future for many of these kids as they will be totally unprepared to survive in a service based economy such as Bermuda’s.

By: jt

jt — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 14:09:36 +0000

You have no clue. None.

By: Onion juice

Onion juice — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 13:54:37 +0000

Not bad even with scholarship cuts.

By: spoons

spoons — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 13:20:11 +0000

Well done to the students who worked hard and achieved. But these are not good statistics by any means. Private schools reported A* – C pass rates of 82-93%, compared to the 33% reported by the Ministry. Any school in the UK that records a pass rate of 30% (A* to C) and below is placed in Special Measures. So the entire educational system in Bermuda, at high-school level, is borderline Special Measures (if you want further information about what this actually means for a school, see http://www.ofsted.gov.uk). Parents need to start asking the questions, 1) What are private schools doing so right, and why isn’t this being replicated in government schools? 2) Am I doing everything I can to help my child learn? 3) Do I set a good example elsewhere for my child? 4) Is my child respectful of teachers and their school? 5) Are my child’s teachers outstanding practitioners?
There is a reason for the continued poor performance, but nobody wants to own up to it….