Defying assumptions to transform their futures – inspiring GCSE & BTEC results for More House School
Yesterday marked the result of years of hard work from students at More House School in Frensham, telling the story of a cohort determined to upset the odds.
Founded in 1939, More House School is the largest boarding and day school in the country for pupils with special educational needs.
This year, boys from the school have proved that weakness in traditional learning skills is no indicator of weaker intelligence or lesser potential as they’ve exceeded the national average in GCSE and BTEC qualifications this summer.
Despite all pupils at the school being diagnosed with learning difficulties, More House School’s Year 11s have overcome Developmental Language Disorder, Dyslexia and other Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLDs), to beat the England (boys) national average for a good pass in GCSE English by a remarkable 12%.
These achievements are truly extraordinary given that 60% of the school’s Year 11 hold an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCp), recognising a high level of learning difficulties.
A staggering 92% of More House students earned a good pass in Science, with grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) earned by 75% of pupils in English Language and a 68% rate in GCSE Maths, again surpassing the national average of 65%.
Overall, 80% of the school’s GCSE and equivalent certificates were awarded at grades 9 to 4 or the BTEC equivalent of Distinction* to Level 2 Pass. 43% of the Year 11s earned the highest grades of 9,8 or 7 in GCSEs or Distinction* or Distinction in BTECs in at least one subject.
More House’s Headmaster, Jonathan Hetherington, reflected on the odds that the students have overcome to record excellent achievements:
“Many of our students arrive believing they are not clever; they lack confidence in themselves and are convinced they are doomed to failure. These results show just how hard pupils have worked, proving their natural intelligence and potential in society.”
Mr Hetherington reiterated that the school’s staff have displayed a remarkable “commitment to providing the best possible teaching and support for disadvantaged pupils.” He added that, within the right environment, intelligent pupils with special educational needs are able to flourish and “achieve far beyond their own or their parents’ expectations.”
A majority of More House School’s Year Elevens will commence their post-sixteen studies this September in the school’s Sixth Form, pursuing A Level and vocational courses. Others will leave More House to take up places at a variety of local post-16 colleges and Sixth Forms.
Their success follows the fantastic A Level and BTEC Level 3 results achieved by the school’s Sixth Form last week, where an outstanding 99% pass rate was earned, allowing many to realise their dream of studying at university. To read more, visit here.
A registered charity, More House is rated Outstanding by Ofsted in all aspects of its provision, including School, Sixth Form and Boarding, following an inspection in March 2019, and of the Boarding facilities in January 2022.
With nearly 500 boys on roll aged 8 to 18, the school is nationally recognised as a centre for excellence in supporting pupils with specific learning and language difficulties and is a training centre in special educational needs for teachers and external professionals, both across the region and countrywide.