20 August 2018

CISC schools celebrate another year of outstanding success at A Level

Students at CISC schools are celebrating another outstanding year for A-Level results, with many students earning places at the top universities.

Sixth Form students at New Hall School, are celebrating another year of excellent A Level results and success in achieving the university and apprenticeship places of their choice. Records were set, with the average UCAS point score per student equating to AAB, a remarkable 50 A Level modules scoring a perfect 100% and the highest number ever securing competitive apprenticeship places, including with top London firms.

New Hall students celebrate record results

Principal, Katherine Jeffrey, said: “We are extremely proud of all our students today. Their hard work and persistence throughout their time at New Hall, along with that of their teachers, has paid off. The university places and apprenticeships that New Hall students have gained reflect the holistic education that the school offers. Successes range from humanities to veterinary medicine, vocational theatre school places to modern languages. We are also proud to share news of the continued tradition of Oxbridge success at New Hall, with New Hallians achieving places to read Biochemistry, History and Mathematics. This brings the number of New Hallians currently at Oxbridge to 18.”

Head Girl, Constance Day, and Deputy Head Girl, Elizabeth Skells, celebrate 5A*s and 4As between them, securing their Oxbridge places

One fifth of students achieved at least 3 A grades, with outstanding results across all subject areas. The top third of the cohort celebrated 72% A*/A and 92% A*-B grades at A Level.

Among those securing sought-after apprenticeship places are: Drew Mead, outgoing Head Boy, who is celebrating outstanding results that have secured his place on an apprenticeship course with RSM UK in Business & Finance; Henry Hall, who is taking up an apprenticeship in Quantity Surveying with Mott McDonald; Henry Webster, who will be undertaking an apprenticeship in investment banking with UBS; Thomas Clayton, who has an apprenticeship with AON Insurance; and Elliot Swallow, who will be a management trainee with Weston Homes.

New Hall students secure competitive apprenticeship places

Mayfield School is celebrating another year of exceptional A Level results, with girls securing places at top universities including Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, Durham, Edinburgh, Bristol, NYU and in Europe to study a wide range of academic disciplines encompassing Natural Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, Economics, Design, Linguistics and Psychology.

Impressive results were achieved across the board with almost one-third of all girls awarded three or more A*/A grades. 20% of all entries were awarded A*, with almost 60% graded A*/A and 80% A*/B.

Pictured with Miss Antonia Beary, Headmistress, are former Head Girl, Chelsea (A*A*AA), who is excited to be taking up her place at Bristol to study Medicine and Amanda (A*AAA), the worthy recipient of a prestigious Cambridge University Choral Scholarship, who is looking forward to studying Linguistics at King’s College, Cambridge.

Mathematics remained the most popular subject at A Level, with an impressive 30% securing the top A* grade and 83% A*/A. The School’s equally strong reputation for the creative arts is reflected in almost 100% of students achieving A*/A grades in Art, Ceramics and Textiles and 60% attaining the top A* grade.

Headmistress Antonia Beary comments: “I continue to be delighted by our girls’ impressive achievements. Mayfield has a proud tradition of distinction in a wide range of disciplines and this year, once again, our girls have excelled across the board, confirming the strength in breadth and depth for which Mayfield is acclaimed. It is important to note that not only have the straight A* girls achieved the grades they deserved but many girls have exceeded their own expectations, discovering their strengths and passions at Mayfield, and today leave the School with the highest possible grades. The results reflect the girls’ commitment, determination and hard work as well as the inspirational teaching, first-class pastoral care and dedicated support and encouragement of our staff. I am confident that our girls will go on to enjoy the challenge of undergraduate study, as they have the skills to make the most of the opportunities university life and future careers will offer. Mayfield girls graduated this year with First Class degrees from Oxford, Cambridge, Warwick and a host of other outstanding international universities. Proof, were it required, that Mayfield prepares girls to go on to excel in their chosen fields, whatever they may be.”

Mayfield girls with Head of Sixth, Mr John Filking

Sixth Form students from The Oratory School celebrated another year of improvement in A Level results with the A*, A*-A and A*-B grades all showing gains on last year. 40% of The Oratory School pupils achieved A*-A. The majority of pupils have again gained entry to their first choice universities.

Particularly outstanding once again were the results for Art & Design with 8 A*s and 1 A and Photography with 3 A*s and 2 As, demonstrating once more The Oratory School’s strength in these disciplines. In other areas there were excellent departmental performances in: Classics where there were 100% A*-B grades in Latin and Greek; History and Economics where over 80% of pupils achieved A*-B grades and Maths in which over 70% of grades were at A*-B.

Headmaster, Jon Reddin, celebrates with Ratcliffe College students

The Head Master, Mr Joseph Smith, who was on hand to offer his congratulations to boys and parents said: “We are delighted with these results, which show another significant increase in the percentages of A*-A and A*- B grades achieved on the last two years’ results. This is in line with our goal to ensure that every boy achieves his academic potential at The Oratory, whatever that might be. For a school with a broad intake and spread of ability these are results to be proud of, for our pupils, their parents and their teachers.”

Students at The Marist School in Ascot celebrated some outstanding A Level results with over half of Year 13 girls receiving straight A* and A grades and 97% receiving A* – C. This year, 77% of students have been offered places with Russell Group Universities.

Marist School students celebrate success

Principal Karl McCloskey said, “I am absolutely delighted with the A Level results this year, which are the highest since the A* grade was introduced in 2010. Furthermore, I am immensely proud of the girls who have worked exceptionally hard to achieve their results and with 100% progressing to Higher Education, we can expect to hear continued great things from them in the future.”

18 months ago, Leweston School pupil, Tessa was forced to stop her A Level studies due to a life-threatening illness that saw her on life-support in intensive care for over three weeks. Her illness prevented her from attending school for the rest of the academic year. Tessa was determined to resume her studies in September and is now celebrating outstanding results with an A* in Psychology, A in Biology and D3 in the English Literature Pre-U (equivalent to A*).

Mrs Kate Reynolds, Head, said ‘I am delighted for Tessa. Her results are a credit to her character, her resilience and determination. The temptation was just to return to school to get her results but Tessa went above and beyond embracing her new year group and supporting other students throughout the school. She was a role model to us all with her love and zest for life.

Of course Tessa is just one of many individual stories of hard work and all our pupils’ results are a source of great celebration. We are equally proud of our students’ outstanding extra-curricular achievements so important to their success and soft skills in the workplace.’

Across the entire year group 41% achieved A* and A grades and 16% of all exams were passed at A* or Pre-U equivalent, an increase on last year and twice the national average. The School’s French Department achieved 100% A* to A grades and English, Maths and Art and Textiles saw over 50% of entries with A*s or As.

Mrs Emma Massey, Head of Sixth Form at Leweston stated:

“Our focus on the individual interests and aspirations of the students is reflected in the wide range of courses and destinations this year. Students have secured places to read: Medicine, Chemical Engineering, Law, Psychology, Midwifery, English and Creative Writing, Accounting and Finance, Product Design, International Management, Modern Foreign Languages and Theology. Almost all Leweston’s leavers have won places at their chosen universities or specialist colleges.

Pictured left to right are Lewston pupils, Ottie G, Tessa B, Lauren S, Alice L

Excellent results for St George’s students were a fitting tribute to the outgoing Head of Sixth Form, Mandy Smith leaving on a high as her students’ hard work was wonderfully rewarded through excellent A Level results! Over 50% of all papers were awarded an A* or A grade – a figure that increases to 83% awarded A* to B grades.

“This Upper Sixth year were among the best students I’ve ever had the privilege to look after,” explained a delighted Mandy Smith, who is retiring from her role of Head of Sixth Form. “They truly deserve their excellent results.”

Excellent results were achieved in the first year that St George’s has offered the Extended Project Qualification (worth half an A Level): of the 82 students who entered for the EPQ, 71% achieved A*/A and 89% A*/B.

Head of Sixth, Mandy Smith, celebrates with A Level students

Mandy Smith was in no doubt about why St George’s students had done so well: “They had a great work ethic,” she said. “They embraced their studies, took advice, knew when to ask for help, managed their time brilliantly and honestly worked to the best of their abilities.”

“Equally important, they listened to our advice about the best Further Education courses for them to realise their ambitions for the next step in their education. Now they are moving on in the best possible way and I’m delighted for them.”

Headmistress Rachel Owens, was equally delighted: “In line with the ‘perfectly balanced’ heart of the school, the range of subjects achieving over 50% A*/A grades goes from Art to Computer Science, English Literature to Music and Economics to both French and Spanish – to name but a few!”

“It’s been a very good year and these excellent results are a tribute to both our exceptional students and our dedicated – and equally exceptional – teachers.”

There was great joy and excitement at Farnborough Hill as delighted girls opened their results envelopes to celebrate their best set of A level results for over 10 years. An outstanding 61% of grades were A* / A, with 87% at A*, A or B.

Farnborough hill students celebrated their best set of A Level results in over 10 years

Mrs Alexandra Neil, Head, was delighted, praising the girls for their dedication to their studies: ‘I am extremely proud of all of the girls receiving their results today; they have achieved truly excellent grades which are testament to their hard work and tenacity. The fact that, overall, the grades are the best since 2007 is phenomenal and the staff should be commended for supporting the pupils to achieve such brilliant results. The girls are aiming high for their future careers and we are privileged that Farnborough Hill has played such a key role in setting them up to achieve these goals. We wish them every happiness and success for the future and will proudly follow them as they become the leaders of tomorrow.’