Education is a hot topic at the moment with the media reporting the 21st and 27th year respectively of rises in results for GCSE and A-Level examinations and politicians lobbying debate over styles of education and merits of qualification in the run up to the next election.

It is a confusing time for all young people and parents in choosing the best route for their future.

However the most salient point is that you make an informed decision based on the education that is right for your child. It is hard to escape the effects of A-Level grade inflation, when the facts speak for themselves: more students are getting the top grades, more students are going to university, there is far greater pressure on places and it is increasingly difficult to ‘stand out’ in the crowd.

For these reasons Sidcot adopted the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma to run alongside A-Levels in 2007. We believe the qualification provides a more stimulating and challenging education that leads to a broader and more relevant experience. We continue to run the more traditional A-Levels programme as an option for students who want to focus on specific subject areas.

Sidcot is one of only five schools in Somerset and Bristol to offer the IB Diploma and our first round of results in July were impressive with an average grade of 32 points, two points above the national average and equivalent to three grade As and a B at A-Level. 50 per cent of our IB students gained the equivalent of five A-Levels, four at grade A and one at grade C or above. These excellent results demonstrate the quality of teaching we provide as a school and how we all rose to the challenge of taking on an entirely new learning experience.

As a non-selective school, we are particularly proud of our excellent record of academic success. This year our results have once again been outstanding with full credit to the children and staff; at GCSE, 96 per cent of our students gained at least five A* to Cs with 50 per cent of our overall grades at A* and A. The UCAS points equivalent for Sidcot’s Sixth Form students taking A-Level and IB equate to an average of over three A grades at A-Level. This is the third year in a row that Sidcot students have achieved this fantastic score.

We know our success with examinations is from the solid foundation our children receive in the earlier years of their education. You ask any Sidcot parent what makes our school special and you will be given a multitude of responses, however they will all focus around the nurturing of the child, both moral and spiritual, and the fact that their children are happy and secure in their school.

Sidcot is a thriving, inspirational school where children really are at the heart of everything we do, if you would like to see this for yourself please visit and talk to our staff and children. You might like to attend our next open morning, which will be held on Friday, October 2, at 9.30am.