Bury Grammar School Boys has heard this week that one of its Lower Sixth students was among the highest scoring candidates in International GCSE Mathematics in this summer's examinations. Nico Hobhouse, who gained an A* in all 12 of his GCSE subjects, was one of 19,213 candidates nationally who took the IGCSE in Mathematics and he was among the ten who achieved the highest overall marks.
Headmaster, the Revd Steven Harvey, says: 'We are, of course, delighted that Nico did so well in his GCSE examinations and particularly congratulate him on his achievement in IGCSE Mathematics. What we regret, however, is the Government's refusal to recognise the IGCSE in its league tables. We decided to adopt the IGCSE for Mathematics because it is a more challenging specification and a better preparation for A Level. We made this decision because we believe it to be in the boys' educational interests. By excluding the IGCSE, the Government's statistics seriously and unfairly distort the actual position and detract from the very real achievements of the boys and their teachers.'