Private School News

Budding boxing star Luke lands knockout GCSE grades

Junior boxing champion Luke Rhodes is celebrating a knockout set of GCSE results.

The 16-year-old, a pupil at Mount St Mary’s College, in Spinkhill, achieved nine A* grades and one A in this year’s exams.

Welterweight Luke, from Maltby, in Rotherham, is the current Yorkshire and Humberside, and Midlands Champion, following successful bouts in May this year.

Luke, who was head boy at Rotherham’s Rudston School before joining Mount St Mary’s in Year 7, said: “I am so pleased to get these grades and cap off what has been a great year both at the Mount and in the ring.

“I am hoping to complete A-levels in Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Spanish at Mount St Mary’s before going on to study engineering at university and use my language skills to travel the world!”

Emma Taylor, who was head girl in the same year as Luke at Rudston before joining Mount St Mary’s in Year 7, achieved eight A* and two A grades.

Emma, aged 16, from Whiston, Rotherham, is one of the school’s top musicians thrilling audiences with her portrayal of Nancy in “Oliver!” last year.

She said: “I am planning on studying languages at A-level and would love to go on to fulfil my ultimate ambition of training to become an actress.”

Some of the school’s other top achievers include Hareep Hothi, from Rotherham, with five A* and five A grades, and Kate Woodcock-Fowles, from Thorpe Salvin, who earned two A*s and seven As.

Mount St Mary’s achieved an overall 99 per cent pass rate for A* to E GSCE grades and the results follow the school’s record-breaking 100 per cent A-level pass rate announced last week.

The school’s top set for Maths in Year 10 sat this year’s GCSE exam a year early achieving excellent results, which means pupils will now be able to focus on AS Maths in Year 11.

Laurence McKell, head teacher at Mount St Mary’s, said: “We are extremely proud of the achievements of all our pupils who sat GSCE exams. Supported by staff and parents, they have put in a tremendous amount of hard work over the last two years and these results are reward for their efforts.

“At Mount St Mary’s, we promote an environment of all round education, achieved not only through exams and studying, but with a variety of extra-curricular activities. This unique ethos means we create a balanced school life for our pupils and ensures we support students academically, spiritually and emotionally.”

Photo: Mount St Mary’s junior boxing champion Luke Rhodes celebrates his outstanding GCSE results.