25/8/2022

Pupils across Cardiff have today received their GCSE results. This year is the first time that learners have taken summer exams since 2019, after two years of grades being determined by schools and colleges. Overall outcomes are higher than 2019, when exams were last sat.

Based on the provisional results announced today, 31.9 percent of GCSE results for 2022 are graded A* to A in WJEC examinations, compared to the Wales figure of 25.1 percent (in all exam boards), and Cardiff's 23.1 percent in 2019.

The percentage of GCSE entries resulting in C grades and above has risen to 73.5 percent, an increase of 7.2 percentage points from 2019, and above the Wales figure of 68.6 percent.

For entries graded A* to G, the 2022 figure for Cardiff is 97.5 percent, compared with 96.3 percent in 2019.

The national picture across Wales is that overall results are higher than 2019, when exams were last sat. However, this year is not directly comparable with any other year.

Cardiff Council's Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Skills said: "GCSE results day is a real milestone for our young people and I would like to congratulate all of those pupils receiving results today.

"After two years without exams, pupils have been given the opportunity to show what they've learnt through exams and assessment and although not directly comparable to previous years, it is encouraging to see the overall increase in grade across the city and to hear of so many stories of success from across the city.

"It is important that this cohort of pupils should be recognised for the way in which they have adapted and succeeded despite the challenges and disruption of the last two years. Whether going onto further education, training or employment, I wish them the very best of luck for the future."

Cardiff saw more than 34600 entries for GCSE's this year. Success stories emerging from across the city include;

Cantonian High School

Amirah Ali

Pupils, parents, staff and governors at Cantonian High School are celebrating their GCSE results today with outstanding pupil' outcomes.

Headteacher, Diane Gill said "I am incredibly proud of the achievements of our pupils today as they have secured truly outstanding exam results following a year of disruption due to the Covid pandemic and in doing so, have achieved their own personal targets. This has only been possible through their hard work and commitment to their studies during their time at Cantonian and the support they have received from their parents, carers and staff at the school. It has given me and my staff great pleasure to be able to celebrate these results with all our pupils today and to wish them the best of luck for their future studies. Many of our pupils are staying at Cantonian to continue their studies into the sixth form so they will continue to be a vibrant part of our school community over the next two years. I would like to take the opportunity to thank all the teaching and support staff for their hard work and dedication who have helped our pupils to secure these outstanding results".

Fitzalan High School

Rebecca Daniels Head of Year 11, Maria Shahrin, Cath Cummings pupil Achievement Leader Yr 11

Fitzalan staff, and pupils have achieved a fantastic set of GCSE resultswith nearly 30% of the Yr 11 cohort securing 5+ A* - A and almost 65% securing 5+ A* - C grades (including English and Maths).

In the statement from the school, a spokesperson said: "After the last two years, our staff are delighted that the commitment and motivation shown by all pupils has been rewarded by such an outstanding set of results. This is really a testament to the hard work and sense of belief that was shared by all of our community and we are justifiably delighted.

"We wish all our pupils every success as they embark on the next stage of their educational journey."

Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Plasmawr

Mrs Thomas and Alexi

In a statement from John Hayes, Headteacher at the school: "Congratulations to all our Year 11 pupils who have performed extremely well in their GCSE, BTEC and Agored Cymru qualifications.  The excellent results achieved is a tribute to their ability, endeavour, dedication and perseverance over the past two extremely challenging years for all concerned.  We wish every student well as they progress to the next exciting period in their lives. We look forward to welcoming a large number of students to our 6th form in September.

"A big thank you to all the staff who have worked tirelessly throughout the past two years in ensuring that our pupils are given every opportunity to succeed. Well done to all!"

Radyr Comprehensive School 

Amelia Thomas

Pupils, parents and staff are celebrating excellent GCSE results at Radyr Comprehensive School today, with a fantastic 74% of pupils achieving 5 A*-C grades including Maths and English.

Radyr are particularly pleased with the proportion of pupils achieving at least 5 A/A* grades, which is an impressive 43%. 46 pupils achieved 5 or more A* grades, with 33 of these achieving 8 or more A*s, 28 pupils achieving 10 or more A*s and 15 pupils achieving 12 or more A*s.

Among the results notable performances include Evie Broome, Cerys Griffiths, Jasmine Nicholls, Luca Southworth and Amelia Thomas, who all achieved a staggering 13 A*s, along with a distinction in Additional Maths. An incredible achievement!

Headteacher Andrew Williams commented, "we are absolutely delighted with these results, which are a true reflection of the consistent hard work of our staff and pupils. Well done, year 11, you are an absolute credit to Radyr, and we are so very proud of you all!" 

Whitchurch High School

Nearly 800 Whitchurch High pupils received their GCSE and vocational results this morning and they have done themselves, their families and their school proud. 

Headteacher, Mark Powell said: "Many congratulations to every one of these young people, a cohort of pupils who have experienced disrupted and disjointed schooling since 2020 but who have persevered throughout. The knowledge, skills, understanding and resilience that they have developed and demonstrated in recent years will certainly set them up for their futures whether they be in the sixth form here, in college or in the world of work. We look forward to welcoming many of them back into our sixth form in September and we say a fond farewell with our very best wishes to those who are leaving us for pastures new. Llongyfarchiadau pawb!"

St Illtyd's Catholic High School

Emma Spencer 12A*`s

The school has done really well with somewith some great individual successes to boot and have done better than 2019 in nearly all areas.

Mary Immaculate RC High School

Leena and David

Pupils and staff at Mary Immaculate are celebrating today as the Class of 2022 receive their GCSE results.  Particular congratulations go to the following pupils who received the highest grades across the school. The top performing girl in the year, achieving 12A* is Leena Malik.

The top performing boy in the year, David Jula is celebrating achieving 10 A/A* this morning.

Georgie Avery, Head Girl gained 8A* and 2As. Other notable successes include Meera Narbad gaining 8A*, 2As and 1B grade; Iustina Chirila achieving 7A*, 5As and 1C grade; Divine Kamden achieved 7A*, 1A, 2Bs and 1C grade; Reuben Eze gained 4A*, 5As and 1B grade and Ellen George who has left school with 5A*, 6As and 1B grade. (From left to right, Meera, Leena, Iustina and Ellen)

Mr Huw Powell, Headteacher has said "I am so proud of what the pupils have achieved in spite of the challenges they and all pupils have faced Their results are a testament to the hard work of pupils and the staff who supported them; with these results I know they will go on to great things and make us and their community proud

Cardiff West Community High School

Headteacher Martine Hulland said: "It was a delight to welcome our Year 11 learners into school today to receive their GCSE results. As a school we are very proud of the results and our students have demonstrated huge levels of resilience and hard work in the face of significant challenges in the last 3 years. Staff and students have worked in partnership to ensure that our students have clear opportunities ahead of them. We wish all of our students in Year 11 well for the future and look forward to welcoming many of them back into our sixth form in September."

Llanishen High School

Headteacher Sarah Parry said:  "Our GCSE students have demonstrated incredible determination and dedication over the last few months, and we're thrilled to see so many achieve the results for which they had hoped. We appreciate that the definition of success differs between individual students depending on their personal goals, but we believe that all of our young people have something to be proud of following these results and we're pleased to have been able to play our part in this.

Congratulations to Ben Lee on achieving 14 GCSEs at A*/A. Ben is looking forward to studying A Levels in Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics and Biology in September.

Congratulations to our ‘Famous Five.' These five are all members of our Hearing-Impaired Unit. They are Sam Ford, Grace Jones, Salma Abdillahi, Hamzah Ahmed and Maisarah Bodor. They secured outstanding outcomes and all five will continue to A Level studies at LHS this September. What a team!

What's Next?
A wealth of information on education, employment, training and other opportunities is available all in one place for young people in Cardiff considering their next steps ahead of this week's exam results day.

What's Next is an online platform for 16 to 24-year-olds that pulls together useful information all in one place that will help young people decide their next steps, making it quicker and easier to find out about available options for the future.

The platform was launched and developed last year by the Cardiff Commitment - the Council initiative that brings together the public, private and third sectors in partnership, with schools and education providers, to connect children and young people to the vast range of opportunities available in education, training and the world of work. 

The site includes information on going to college, university, preparing for work, internship, traineeship and volunteering opportunities, jobs and apprenticeships and even information on starting a new business.

A short animation about the What's Next platform is available to watch here https://youtu.be/xncskRbUm2Q 

Visit the platform at www.cardiff.gov.uk/whatsnext

School improvement guidance 2022
In May 2022, the National Resource: Evaluation and Improvement was launched by the Welsh Government and is designed to support schools with self-evaluation and improvement, fundamental to school effectiveness. This national resource aims to support all schools to develop and use a range of approaches and resources to achieve the best possible outcomes for all learners in Wales.

In June 2022, Welsh Government published the School improvement guidance: framework for evaluation, improvement and accountability. National Categorisation and the publication of school, Local Authority and National performance measures has ended, and accountability will be maintained through school governance and Estyn inspections. Estyn has made changes to its inspection approach in schools and pupil referral units, including the presentation of inspection reports which will see the removal of summative gradings and the addition of a key overview of findings focussed on a school's strengths and areas for development. Their inspection framework also supports the new Curriculum for Wales, from September 2022.

In line with the Curriculum for Wales, the school improvement guidance, which came into effect on a non-statutory basis from the date of publication, sets out how arrangements to assess progression must be designed as part of the new curriculum, with requirements that schools include for every learner: ongoing assessment throughout the school year to assess progress; identification of next steps in progress; and assessment of the learning and teaching needed to help bring about that progress.