Cambridge Examination Results

Our continuing commitment to academic excellence is reflected in the 2007 performances of Academy students in their Cambridge IGCSE (Form 5) and HIGCSE (Form 6) examinations.

The Academy’s 2007 IGCSE Results:
Now let me outline our recent academic achievements.
Last year we prepared our final year students for four Cambridge examinations: IGCSE, HIGCSE, AS and A2.
For IGCSE , altogether 107 students received 821 grades, in 18 subjects. The total number of credit grades (A*+A +B +C) was 750 (91.4%), while the total IGCSE passing grades were 821 (100%). 

100% pass rate was achieved in all the subjects. 100% credit rate was achieved in six subjects. Out of 18 subjects, that we offer 17 subjects registered above the 80% credit rate.
I wish to dedicate this remarkable achievement to the founder of our school Mrs. Hamilton and the Managing Director Ms. Rubadiri. This is the most precious gift we can give them when we celebrate our 15th anniversary. Now Mrs Hamilton and Ms. Rubadiri can be proud of the fact that their school has emerged as an icon of educational excellence.

The following subjects enjoyed 100% credit pass rate: First Language English, English as a Second Language, French, Agriculture, Art and Design and Additional Mathematics.

HIGCSE Results
Our HIGCSE students had another remarkable achievement in 2007 results.
A 100% overall pass rate was achieved in 8 out of 10 subjects offered.
A significant credit increase from last year was recorded in Mathemaics 71.4%, Chemistry 85.7%, Physics 85.7%, Geography (95.5%) and History (83.3%). English as a Second Language retained 100% credit passes.
At this juncture, I would like to honour our top performers in the IGCSE, A-level and HIGCSE examinations.

Our top performers in the IGCSE examinations were: 

Student	Credits
Winnifred Arthur	7A* and I A
Patience Osei	6 A* and 2A
Mukome Mushezwa	6A* and 2A
Tshimologo Matlhaga	5A* and 3A
Emmanuel Banful	4A* and 4A
Woshika Weerasinghe	3A* and 5A
Jacqueline Mhando	A* and 7A
Rohan Unuth	6A* and 1A
Faith Minja	5A* and 2A
Victor Minja	4A* and 3A

Our special congratulations go to Winnifred Arthur who emerged as the best IGCSE student with Seven A*s and one A.

A-Level Results
According to a University of Cambridge report, a growing number of schools around the world are choosing Cambridge International A-level as their post-16 qualification. Entries grew 12 per cent last year, reaching 296000 from more than 100 countries. I am happy to report that this year our enrolment for the A-level course has increased by 20 per cent. This is mainly because of the successful implementation of our A-level programme. The excellent results produced by AS students, testify that Legae Academy has made its mark on the internationally recognized, A-level course. A-level or other equivalent bridging courses are a prerequisite for students’ placement and admissions into universities abroad.

I am delighted to report that an overall 98 % pass rate was achieved in our 2007 AS examinations.
Also encouraging credit percentages were recorded in English Language and Literature (100%), Geography (100%), Mathematics (88.5%), and Biology (88.2%).
Our first batch of A2 (second year A-level) has also produced a reasonably good result with 97.8 % pass.

The top A-Level performers were:

Student-Top AS	Grades
Shekhar Ramaswami	Maths-A, Physics-A, Chemistry-A and Biology-A.
Aylin Oommen	Maths-A, Physics-A, Chemistry-A and Biology-A.
Adekambi Bukola	Maths-A, Physics-A, Chemistry-A,
Alur Hrishikesh	Maths-A, Biology-A, English-A, Physics-B, Chemistry-B
Rebecca Ipe	Biology-A, Geography-A, English-A, Maths-B
Student-Top A2	Grades
Jesse Walker	Maths-A, Business Studies-A, Accounting-A
Karthikeyan Parthipan	Maths-A, Accounting-A, Business Studies-C
Sahil Jahoor	Accounting-A, Maths-B, Physics-B

The excellent results produced by AS students testify that Legae Academy has made its mark on the internationally recognized A-level course. A-level or other equivalent bridging courses are a prerequisite for students’ placement and admissions into universities abroad. This provides parents with an opportunity to access world class Cambridge A-level education at an affordable cost.

Legae’s tradition of success in external examinations has been further recognised by MOE, which commended the school “for its high performance in both IGCSE and HIGCSE examinations”. Ministry of Education further noted that:

“This good performance is attributed to a number of factors such as highly qualified staff, small class size, reasonable teaching loads, good and adequate physical facilities and resources, and a conducive teaching and learning environment. The highly qualified teachers of the school are optimally utilised.” (1998 Inspection Report)

“Legae Academy is focused on students achieving academic excellence and has a good organization structure in place to enable the school to deliver its objective. Inspection findings revealed that the school has many strengths, particularly in producing good grades at final exams.”
“The principal provides good guidance and strong leadership and he is well supported by the senior management team and the motivated teachers who work arduously to maintain the good academic results of the school. The atmosphere within the school is conducive to learning and the general staff is very receptive to new ideas and improved ways, to further enhance an existing good system”
“The students of Legae Academy are eager for learning, participate well in school activities and are provided with good quality education.” (2004 Inspection Report)

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Other NOTES
Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education

IGCSE is Cambridge’s international equivalent to the British GCSE, which replaced the “0” level in the United Kingdom during the early 1980s. IGCSE has been fully accepted as an entrance qualification by the University of Botswana, as well as other tertiary institutions. The Examination has been adopted by many schools in Africa and the rest of the world.
The IGCSE has also been adopted as the standard for the new Botswana GCSE currently being phased into local government senior secondary schools. Over the years many Legae teachers have been able to share their GCSE teaching experiences as members of various Ministry of Education Curriculum Development Unit GCSE Task Forces.

Cambridge International Certificate of Education

In pursuing their IGCSE studies, Academy students are further encouraged to qualify for Cambridge University’s International Certificate of Education (ICE), a programme that requires schools to offer a balanced IGCSE curriculum across a wide range of subjects and skills. The ICE provides for “Merit” and “Distinction” passes, which can be the key to opening doors to further education around the world.

Cambridge Higher International General Certificate of Secondary Education

HIGCSE is a globally recognised one-year post GCSE or “O” Level programme designed by Cambridge as a southern African alternative to equivalent to Commonwealth standards such as the South African Matric, Australian Higher Secondary Certificate, and Scottish Highers. In accordance with the South African Government Gazette, students qualify for university entrance with four HIGCSE passes plus an additional lower level IGCSE pass.

HIGCSE has also been recognised as an entrance examination by universities in many other parts of the world, including Britain and North America. A growing number of American Universities have awarded HIGCSE graduates with Advanced Placement (APT) credits.

Cambridge Advanced level - AS and A2 in 2008

Legae Academy will offer The Advanced International Certificate of Education, (A Level) programme. Legae Academy will now be able to provide a wider choice to its students and parents. The successful IGCSE, BGCSE and equivalent graduates will be ready to progress to the International General Certificate of Education Advanced (A) Level, which has formed part of the Cambridge qualifications framework for over 50 years and is widely recognized worldwide, as a leading requirement for entry into higher education.
The two – year A Level course has two parts; Advanced Subsidiary (AS) first year and Advanced Year Two (A2).
The layout of the new International A levels permits students to pursue both AS and A2 routes at the same time.
The A and AS levels are constantly reassessed and upgraded to ensure the quality of the qualification keeps up with worldwide expectations.

The two- part structure of the award gives the student’s choice, in the following options:

A. Take both parts of the course in the same examination, usually at the end of the year.
B. Complete A level in two sittings. AS in the first year and A2 in second year.
C. Do the AS qualification only at the end of either year one or two.

A level is recognized as a direct entry qualification into Universities in countries worldwide.
AS enables direct entry into Universities in Southern Africa.
A combination of AS and A Levels can gain entry into UK Universities.
AS and A Levels gain extra 2 points per subject over the South African Matric.
Locally, it attracts the highest points on both the University of Botswana’s Point Scale System and the Ministry of Education’s Department of Student Placement and Welfare Point System for assessing qualifications. For Example an A at A level attracts 14 points on the UB scale while Senior Higher Matric equivalent grades are assigned 9 Points.
On the Matrix Table for Grading Certificate for the Department of Student Placement and welfare system an A for A level is rated 12 Points while the Higher Grade Matric equivalent is rated 10 points.
IGCSE, HIGCSE and A-level curricula emphasise the importance of student centred self-learning, while promoting such invaluable skills as problem solving, the development of an investigative approach, the ability to undertake both group and individual project work, and the enhancement of communication skills.

see also reporting on  Non Academic Achievements

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