Burton Borough School in Newport is celebrating a year of achievement, with excellent exam results, the opening of its new 3G sports pitch, and an inspiring international volunteering expedition to Costa Rica.
This year's GCSE results showed significant improvements across a number of key measures – and were the best since the school joined the Learning Community Trust.
Highlights included a 12% increase in students achieving a strong pass in mathematics, a doubling of the percentage of vulnerable students achieving a grade 4 or above in both English and mathematics, and a significant increase in students gaining the highest grades.
Principal Caroline Bedford said: "We are delighted with this year's outcomes and incredibly proud of our students and staff. These results reflect the hard work, ambition and determination of our young people, supported by a dedicated team of staff who are committed to helping every student succeed."
The results cap off an exciting year for the school community. Students and staff celebrated the opening of the school's new 3G pitch, providing enhanced opportunities for sport, wellbeing and community use.
The summer also saw 22 students travel to Costa Rica with Global Action, spending two weeks supporting local communities and helping to protect the region's biodiversity.
Activities included conservation work at the CIRENAS Turtle Reserve, beach cleaning, building a sandbank to protect a turtle hatchery, repainting a local school and observing turtles laying eggs during night-time patrols.
Mrs Bedford said: “Together, these achievements reflect Burton Borough School's core values of being ambitious, proud and caring.
“Whether through academic success, sporting opportunities or making a positive impact on communities and the environment, students have demonstrated the character and commitment that continue to make the school proud.”
