GCSE results 2023: How Southampton schools performed

Year 11 students across Southampton were in a celebratory mood on Thursday morning as they walked through their school gates for one last time to find out the results of their GCSE exams.

Cantell School proudly stated their results were ‘against a national picture’ as GCSE results as the school remained in line with last year's.

Results across the country were down due to a return to pre-pandemic grading.

Vishaan Vohra worked incredibly hard to achieve seven 9’s, three 8’s, and one 7, as the Cantell student told the Echo: “I was up at 6am revising before school, and then did more revision hours every night after school.

“It drained me a lot and didn’t make me feel good at the time but looking back, it got the job done.”

The Hamble School celebrated individual achievement as two students were highlighted for achieving eleven grade 9’s.

St Anne’s Catholic School and Sixth Form College also noted the school had seen a six per cent rise from 2019 in students achieving a grade 5 or above in English and Maths.

• GCSE results day 2023: Live updates from Southampton
• Pictures from Bitterne Park, St George, Gregg, Wyvern and Hamble School 
• Pictures from Cantell, Upper Shirley High, Noadswood, Arnewood and Oasis Lord's Hill

Overall Picture

• The Hamble School

The Hamble School was quick to identify individual achievement as two students including Martha Morrow achieved an outstanding eleven 9’s – the highest grades she could achieve.

She said: “It’s a massive achievement for me personally, I’m very proud.”

Though the school didn’t divulge the overall statistics from the current GCSE results – headteacher, Miss Cambridge said: “These results represent exceptional personal progress for our young people and as a community we are delighted that they are able to now successfully move onto the next stage of their education. We wish them every success in the future.”

• Cantell School

Cantell School stated well over 20 per cent of all GCSE grades were grade 7 or better and 6 per cent were a grade 9. The figures are in line with the achievements secured by last year’s cohort and are a testament to their “commitment and hard work”.

Harry Kutty, headteacher of Cantell School, wished all students the very best of luck for the future, saying: “It has been fantastic to celebrate with our students.

“They have worked incredibly hard for these results, and it is a credit to the whole Cantell family that has come together and contributed to their success.”

• St Anne’s Catholic School and Sixth Form College

GCSE grades at St Anne’s Catholic School and Sixth Form College were ‘very positive’ and up on 2019 which saw the last set of comparable grade boundaries.

Eighty-two per cent of students received a grade 4 in both English and maths, up five per cent from 2019.

For students achieving Grade 5 and above in English and maths this increased from 60 per cent in 2019 to 66 per cent in 2023.

Miss Bourne, executive headteacher, said: “We are so proud of our young people!

“They have shown such resilience and faith in themselves. They have endured huge disruption to their lives that had a significant impact on their education, yet they showed real determination and commitment throughout – they thoroughly deserve these excellent rewards for their hard work.”

• Priestlands School

There was much to celebrate at Priestlands School, with strong overall performance and many outstanding individual successes for students despite the revised grade boundaries this year.

Seventy-two per cent of students secured the standard pass (4-9) in English and maths, while 52 per cent of students achieved a good pass (5-9) in the same subjects.

Twenty per cent of students secured 7-9 in English and maths, as 29 per cent of all grades in year 11 were 7 or higher.

• Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill

Much like The Hamble School, Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill proudly singled out individual performance on results day.

Benjamin Bond, Executive Principal at Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill: “We are thrilled for our young people who have worked so hard for these results.

“At Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill, we are passionate about giving our students the opportunities that they need to make great progress and flourish, and this year more of our students than ever are leaving us with the qualifications they need to take the next step towards a fulfilling career.”

• Wyvern College

The proportion of students at Wyvern College gaining 5 or more good GCSE passes (grades 9-4), including English and maths has increased by five per cent to 70 per cent.

There has also been an increase in the proportion of students gaining 5 or more strong passes (9-5), including English and maths while the proportion for those gaining good passes in both English and maths has gone up to 75 per cent. 

Wyvern students are leaving the college with an average grade of 5 in 8 GCSES.

The gender gap between boys’ and girls’ performance has reduced in terms of 5 or more GCSEs including English and maths with good passes and strong passes.

• St Swithun’s School

St Swithun’s School revealed 32 per cent of results were at grade 9, the highest ever in a non-Covid year, while 62 per cent were grades 9/8/A*, exceeding results in 2019.

Seventy-nine per cent of results were grades 7/A and above, with students taking on average just under 10 (9.9) GCSE qualifications each.

Amongst the school’s top achievers were 12 students who achieved all 9/8/A* grades while three students gained 11 grades 9/8/A* and two students received 12 9/8/A* grades.

Sixty-three per cent of students attained six or more 9/8/A*s and over a third received nine or more 9/8/A*s.

• Bitterne Park School

Bitterne Park School proudly stated that both Kathryn Manners and Ben Foskett achieved seven grade 9’s.

Headteacher, Stewart Roderick said: “I am exceptionally proud of all our students. 

“The resilience they have shown under the conditions that they have faced over the last few years is remarkable.  As a cohort they are inspiring, talented, and resilient. 

“I know I speak for all the staff at Bitterne Park School when I say how proud we are of you – we will miss you very much and we wish you well for your next steps.”

• Saint George Catholic College

Eighty-eight per cent of students gained grades 4-9 in English and maths at Saint George Catholic College in Southampton.

Headteacher, James Habberley, told the Echo: “The results represent a testament of the student’s hard work, dedication, and positive attitude.

“They fully deserve this success. All students have hopes and dreams of what they want to do with their futures, and we are so proud that these results will allow them to continue that journey into next year with bags of confidence, energy and enthusiasm for the future.”

• The Arnewood School

This year, 67 per cent of grades achieved by students at The Arnewood School were 9-4, compared with 68 per cent in 2019, with 40 per cent of students achieving five or more grade 5s, compared with 41 per cent in 2019.

In relation to core subjects, English was the highest performing department with 71 per cent of students achieving above a grade 4. 

Of note were students studying Child Development who recorded some of the best results the school has ever seen.

• Upper Shirley High School

Headteacher, Chris Sykes said: "We are incredibly proud of our students. Some of the individual stories are wonderful with some truly astonishing results.

“Our results are up on 2019, which is the last broadly comparable set of grade boundaries.”

Seventy-two per cent of students achieved grade 4 in both English and maths, while 52 per cent of students achieved a grade 5 in both English and Maths.

Twenty-three per cent achieved a grade 7 in English and 22 per cent in maths.