Amazing Success for Results Day 2023

Well done to all Options students and staff on an amazing set of qualifications achieved this year.

The students who have received their results in any formal qualification or award this year have shown great resiliency in their commitment to learning and therefore have achieved some exceptional outcomes:

Options students achieved a total of 189 GCSEs (an increase from the 159 last year) in a wide variety of subjects with a grade 8 in Combined Science being the highest achievement.
Over 200 Functional Skills Qualifications were achieved, predominantly in English and Maths, but also including ICT and Music.
In addition, a huge range of over 300 wider qualifications were achieved, with 100% Pass rate, at pre-entry and Entry Level, including BTECS, AQA Units, ASDAN Awards and Duke of Edinburgh awards. The most successful subjects included Sport and Fitness, Sports Leader, Home Cooking, British values, Art and Design, Food Safety and Hygiene and Personal Progress.
Options Students in Scotland achieved 30 qualifications at National 4, 5 or Higher, predominantly in English and Maths, but also in Biology, Chemistry, History and Geography. This included a student getting an A in Higher for English (A-level Equivalent)
There were also four incredible A level successes: two students were awarded Mathematics A Level, and a further two were awarded Computer Science A Level, one graded A and one an A*
This full range of additional qualifications means that every student has been able to succeed and achieve a portfolio of qualifications relevant to their skills, interests, and future plans.

Many of our students start at an Options school having been out of education for some time or having huge gaps in their learning journeys. Often, they have very negative views of schooling and low self-confidence about their ability to learn and achieve. Our job is to help build back up their confidence in all areas of their life and development, whilst delivering the formal education they deserve. With that in mind, results day always creates a great chance to pause and celebrate the hard work of everyone involved: our students, our staff, parents and carers. However, it is also a chance to celebrate not only the formal qualifications but also all the other ways that young people have developed during their time with us, and the huge progress they have made towards their next steps.

Four pupils at Underley Garden School took their GCSEs this year, but one pupil’s story really stands out. Lewis has been so determined to challenge himself this year; he became so confident in his own ability that he went for the higher paper in Math’s and went on to achieve a grade 5.

Nicola Harper, Headteacher at Underley Garden School, told us “We knew he could do it. Lewis is now going on to college to do Engineering Technology as well as continuing some learning with us at Underley and holding down a part-time job in the local community – we couldn’t be prouder.”

We are so proud of our students, and we wish all our leavers a fond farewell and best wishes for their future endeavours.