Dubai: Once again students in the UAE excelled in their GCSE results as school managements say this year's results are ranked among the best in their schools' history.
Jumeirah College got a 100 per cent pass rate at five A* to C, of which 44 per cent of all grades were A* to A.
"This year's results are fantastic and the best. Better grades are attributed to students becoming better learners, the quality of teachers has improved, and the system is much better as it assesses students over a two-year period of coursework, extracurricular activities, and examinations," said Martin Clark, Principal and CEO of Jumeirah College.
Overjoyed
In comparison with last year, Jumeirah College had a 93 per cent pass rate between five A* to C, and 27 per cent between A* to A, while the UK's average was a mere 19.5 per cent.
In the UK, the overall 20.7 per cent of grades were at A* or A, an increase of 1.2 percentage points on last year. More than 65.7 per cent in the UK were at grades A+ to C, up from 63.3 per cent last year.
"Students in the UAE are performing well beyond the UK. I think there is a greater ambition and aspiration and desire to do well. Pupils have many educational opportunities in the UAE," said Clark.
Pakistani National Sarah Khawaja was overjoyed to achieve her aim in getting 11A*s in her GCSEs.
Khawaja has only been in the UAE for two years and says she is satisfied with the quality of education and plans to continue in the same school for her A-levels hoping one day to study biology at Cambridge or Oxford.
Dubai College, known to have students ranked among the top-achievers in the country, succeeded in getting 44.31 per cent A*, 80.32 per cent A* to A, and a 97.32 per cent A* to B, while it scored a 78 per cent pass rate at A*/A in its GCSE results last year.
Kalyani Nedungadi, 16, said it has been an extremely rewarding experience as the school combined fun work in her four years education in the UAE.
"Everyone expected me to get ten straight As* in my GCSE results and I am very grateful to my family and teachers for all their support. It's not only about the grades but the learning process was enriching," said the Indian national who would like to pursue a career in visual arts or creative writing.
Cambridge International School in Dubai had a remarkable 71 per cent pass rate between A* to C of which 139 pupils got straight A stars and 374 got in between A*s to As.
They had a 76 per cent pass rate of A in English and Maths, which is 30 per cent higher than UK percentages.
By Siham Al Najami, Staff Reporter