Cardiff class of 30 pupils all get A* GCSE thanks to 'Maths whisperer' teacher
A star secondary class have been celebrating after all 30 pupils achieved an A* grade at Maths GCSE.
Students from Fitzalan High School in Cardiff have been taught by the same teacher since they joined the secondary school.
Francis Elive - known as ‘the Maths whisperer’ due to his incredible teaching methods and results – has taught the class their whole secondary school life.
His class took their exam six months early, and each was awarded the highest grade achievable.
Maths students all opened results at the same time
"We did a countdown so they all opened their results at the same time," assistant head teacher Jo Kemp told BBC News. "There was a gasp as they saw their results and then all realised they had the same."
Local MP Kevin Brennan applauded Mr Elive and his class, praising their “amazing achievement", while the local community took to social media to congratulate them.
Tiger By Juniors FC said on Twitter: "Fitzalan and our pupils making history again.
"Francis is a legend of a teacher. This is a great achievement for our local school."
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On average, only 14% pupils sitting the exam in Wales achieve the top grade.
Ms Kemp added: "We call him the maths whisperer, he instills the belief that they have practised the hardest maths that they have to ever to face so why be scared of an exam?
"It's the belief that they absolutely can do it, and the children think it's magic."
Fitzalan was rated in the top 30 of more than 200 Cardiff schools by Ofsted last year. The 1,700 pupils regularly achieve above the national average on exam results, but this week’s news has made history.
A spokesman for the The Fitzalan Maths department said: "We couldn't be prouder of this class and Mr Elive. They've demonstrated that preparation, hard work and dedication pay off."
