Dr Nick Smith, Headteacher, once again saw students and teachers achieve nothing less than excellent results. A highly impressive 41% of all A level grades were awarded at A* or A, and half the students received three A Levels with grades A*-B. 

Dr Smith  commented,  ‘In recent years, the school has been nationally recognized for its results and you could take this success for granted, but our teachers never do – they realize that these results are what matters to our students and I am very glad to say that it matters to them too.’

A beaming Head of Careers, Mr Gordon Neighbour, confirmed that the overwhelming majority of students got into the universities of their choice. He also reflected on the growing rise of apprenticeships saying, ‘This is the first year when we have seen so many of our very brightest students go into degree apprenticeships; students are really attracted by the idea of being employed and earning a salary whilst studying for a degree and we are keen to support them in this’. An example are two lead members of the Head-Girl team, Alexandra Wright and Victoria Haigney, who whilst in the Sixth-Form led the students in raising a record £16,000 for Operation Imprezza (a charity supporting equal access education in Western Kenya). Such energy and drive has led to both being offered highly prestigious and competitive apprenticeship with leading national accountancy firms. 

Director of Sixth Form, Ms Emma Browne, paid tribute to the approach of all the students in the ‘Class of 2019’ saying “We are pleased for all who achieved what they needed whether it be the medical students, all of whom got places, or those following their own personal academic interests”. As a Head of Politics, she is particularly pleased for Ella Sheffield, the first of her family to go to university and an active political campaigner for a change in society, who achieved 3 A* grades and has a place to read Politics and International Relations at Bristol University.

Ms Browne also commented that it was wonderful to see so many female students pursuing Maths at university. Ellie White, for example, is using her two A*s and an A grade to read Mathematics at Bath University, whilst Ivy Calascione more than justified her decision to return to the school in the early part of Year 12 by achieving three A* grades, allowing her to read Maths at Warwick University.   Ms Browne added that statistics always hide the real stories behind the results, saying that ‘some of our students had to cope with immense personal issues during these two years and so I am particularly pleased for them.’