Headmaster Peter Hamilton has expressed his deep concern that the achievements of his pupils and staff are being distorted by the government's decision not to include the IGCSE in the DCSF tables. As he notes, "it creates considerable confusion for our parents and pupils". He is supported in this by the Independent Schools Council, who argue that GCSE league tables published by the government are "flawed, incomplete and misleading". "Children who gain two A* grades in separate science subjects are ranked below children who gain a single grade C in combined science", notes Jonathan Shepherd, Chief Executive of the ISC. Even worse, he continues, "children who take the demanding IGCSE examinations are given no credit at all."
Habs initially chose to offer the IGCSE to our pupils studying mathematics and the sciences because the regular GCSE curriculum failed to challenge them appropriately. The Mathematics IGCSE, for instance, includes a study of calculus which is overlooked in the ordinary GCSE. Nor does the GCSE provide a sufficiently robust preparation for advanced study. We are very pleased, therefore, to report that our results in these very demanding examinations are extremely strong -- recently 84% of the 148 boys sitting the Physics IGCSE attained A* while a further 12% were awarded an A grade, results which were echoed in Biology and Mathematics. Of the 163 sitting the Mathematics IGCSE, 86% achieved A*, whilst 97.5% achieved A* or A. Indeed, we continue to be so impressed by the very high quality and standard of the IGCSE curriculum that two more departments -- History and Geography -- have switched to it this year.
Furthermore, Mr Hamilton has little time for recent headlines which suggest that some schools have qualms about the IGCSE. There may well be schools which are returning to the GCSE, he notes, but this may be simply because the IGCSE is too challengng for their staff and pupils. As for the IGCSE at leading schools such as Habs, he insists "we have no qualms, are very much in favour and find them to be a superior preparation for ‘A’ level study."
Happily, universities also recognise the worth of the IGCSE and understand that the A* and A grades which the boys achieve are good indicators of their ability. The strength of the IGCSE as a basis for further study is reflected in the success of our boys in higher education. Our annual record of admission to the universities of Oxford and Cambridge (up to 40 boys a year) continues unabated.
