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Record-Breakers! Safa Community School’s milestone A Level and BTEC results see 100% of pupils secure first-choice university offer

by Tabitha BardaAugust 18, 2022

The thrilled teachers at Safa Community School say they are “overwhelmed” with the performance of their fantastic Year 12 and Year 13 A-level examination students, as they celebrate the 4^th year of record-breaking results across the school, with almost 40% of all grades awarded being either A* or A.

These milestone marks mean that, in a year when university places have been harder to secure than ever, every Safa Community School student has been awarded their first-choice university offer.

Perhaps even more significantly, Safa Community School has demonstrated an impressive Value Added percentage, which is the level to which students improve and make progress from the beginning until the end of their time at the school.

Safa Community School pupils celebrate their outstanding A Level and BTEC results

Mr Michael Davies Head of Secondary explains:

“Many students here today commenced their examination journey at the beginning of the pandemic. As a school, we made a courageous decision regarding logistics, staffing and resources to keep all learners on-site undertaking face-to-face teaching. Our staff and students amazed us with their resilience and dedication. We are delighted with the AS and A2 results we received today.”

“As a community, we celebrate our 4th year of record-breaking results across the school. I truly understand the hard work that has led to 39% of all grades awarded being A* – A. This is a + 2% rise from the record-breaking year of 2021. Finally, nearly 50% of all grades were A*-B.”

“As a fully inclusive school, we use value-added to track the progress of our examination cohorts. Value Added takes account of expected and actual attainment data where each student started from and their progress.

SCS Value Add compared to World Average

United Kingdom Value Added: (2021) 0%

International Schools Value Added: (2021) 0.8%

Safa Community School 2022: +1.2 grades per child.”

Safa College opening: Growth to provide more A Level and BTEC courses

The school continues is gearing up to grow in both size and stature as it prepares to open the doors to its new pre-university ‘Safa College’ this month, continues Mr Michael Davies:

“The opening of Safa College will ensure that our senior learners have access to state-of-the-art facilities. As learners enter the building, they are immersed in art and photography studios, science Labs, and lecture theatres, with music and performing arts facilities, all under one roof.”

“To cater for well-being and physical development, we have designed a two-tiered strength and conditioning suite alongside an array of sports facilities, including two 25-metre pools, two Sports halls and extensive basketball and netball courts. With growth comes expansion as we open up further A- Level and BTEC courses for 2022-23.”

In the first in-person exams since 2019, the 2022 cohort has done a sterling job, says Mr Emmet Glackin, Deputy Headteacher Academics:

“Our staff have worked incredibly hard to ensure that our students were in the best possible position coming into their final examinations, and our students did not disappoint; they have done incredibly well.”

“To achieve an impressive 39% of grades at A to A* at A-Level as well as 83% of BTEC Students Achieving a Distinction*/Distinction, this shows how well our students have done in the first round of official in-person examinations since the disruption of the pandemic over two years ago.”

Mrs Leanne Fridd, Principal of Safa Community School, enthuses about how proud she and the rest of the staff are of their students’ hard work:

“As a school, we are exceptionally proud of our student’s hard work and efforts which have led to exciting opportunities for their future careers. Our staff have continued to show such genuine care for their students to ensure they reached their true potential.”

“This is an exciting time for us as a school, with 98% of our Year 6 students moving into the secondary school. The wide variety of both ECA opportunities, vast curriculum offering and MAGT programme run throughout the school make our Year 6 students’ transition into secondary seamless.”

“The school’s strategic plan is always focused on both student and staff retention, and going into 2022 – 2023, this is at its all-time highest. Our Safa College’s opening provides greater space and specialist area for our eldest students.”

“I wish our Year 13 cohort the best of luck in their future endeavours, and we look forward to hearing about their university adventures worldwide. We know they are going to have a fabulous impact on the world.”

Where are Safa Community School leavers going?

Mrs Eleanor Nolan, Careers and University Guidance Officer, says visits from former SCS students have helped to inspire and influence the outgoing cohort with their decisions for their future:

“The year saw ongoing international and international visits from universities based here in the UAE. These visits and the wonderful and personalised visits from our alumni have set the tone for this year’s university application.

“The class of 2022 have a passion for psychology, with several of our students pursuing psychology and psychology-aligned programmes in the UK.”

“As always, the world of IT continues to draw many of our graduates where several of our students taking up studies in Computer Science in both the Netherlands and Canada.”

“As is always the case here in Dubai, the wonderful world of Finance also continues to be very popular again this year.”

“We also have a wonderful young woman joining the medical field as one of our graduates is planning to study medicine.”