Grahamstown's government schools have registered a disappointing combined Matric pass rate of just over 60%, but all three of the city's former-Model C schools have had a very successful year.
Grahamstown's government schools have registered a disappointing combined Matric pass rate of just over 60%, but all three of the city's former-Model C schools have had a very successful year.
The city's flagship government school, Victoria Girls High, boasted a 100% pass rate and produced the top candidate for the Cacadu District, Vivienne Dames, who received seven distinctions. VG has retained both the top results and the top candidate in the Cacadu District since the National Curriculum Statement (NCS) and FET system kicked off in 2008.
Seventeen pupils received three or more distinctions, with 105 subject As overall, excluding the Maths Paper 3 results, which are not included in a pupil’s final aggregate. 47% of the subject symbols were As and Bs, 35% of the pupils had an aggregate of 70% or more and 92% of the pupils achieved good enough marks for university entrance.
These results substantiate the decision by Fair Lady magazine last year to name VG as one of the top 25 government high schools in South Africa – and the best in the Eastern Cape – based on a survey of 25 000 schools in the country.
Graeme College has also done well, with a 99% pass rate and a 76% Bachelor Degree pass rate, which headmaster Peter Reed called “fantastic”. Benjamin Kirkaldy was the top achiever, with six distinctions.
Two other boys, Cameron Smailes and Joshua Pearse, also achieved an overall A aggregate. Reed said the large number of subject distinctions was "testimony to the hard work by both the staff and boys".
PJ Olivier has shown an improvement on 2012's marks, with the 2013 class recording a 90% pass rate, including 18 Bachelors passes and 10 Diploma exemptions. This exceeds 2012’s 12 Bachelor passes and 8 Diploma exemptions.
Principal Piet Snyders said, "I am very positive that after the supplementary exams we will have a near 100% pass rate again as in previous years." PJ’s top candidate was Carla Nel, with three distinctions and an average of 75%. Olwethu Mkolo and Shimone Killian were also top achievers, both with an aggregate of over 70%.
"All three of these candidates will be studying at various universities this year," said Snyders. He went on to compliment his teaching staff, who played an enormous role throughout the Matriculants' school career: "Success is most definitely a team effort and I am very proud of all the educators at our school," he said.
2014 sees the launch of the Curriculum Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS), which is a revision of the NCS. Snyders said the school and staff were ready and looking forward to 2014, "which is the first year that CAPS will be examined."
