Private School News

The King’s School Ely celebrates record results

GCSE records were smashed at the King’s School Ely where 59 per cent of all exams were given the top A* and A marks and 99% of pupils achieved five or more passes graded A*-C.

The East Anglian region’s oldest independent school prides itself on developing the best in pupils from a broad range of abilities and backgrounds

The Head of King’s, Mrs Sue Freestone, said: “We are so proud of these young people. It is a real pleasure to know that they have done themselves and their teachers justice.”

Twenty-one students passed in GCSEs in ten subjects all graded A* or A.

At A-level, one in nine students achieved straight A* or A grades. Among five who got A* or A grades in four subjects was David Wallis who celebrated his 18th birthday on results day and whose results confirmed his place to read chemistry at Exeter College, Oxford. Overall, 89% of A-level results were graded A*-C in a total of 31 subjects, and the overall pass rate was 98%.

The results cap a year in which King’s Ely has achieved the prestigious Challenge Award from the National Association for Able Children in Education – the first independent school in Cambridgeshire to receive the award.

The Head, Sue Freestone, said: “These results bear testimony to the hard work and commitment of the young people concerned and the staff who have taught them.”

Photo: from left, Oliver Diss, Isaac Oliver, Bradley Fulford, Sally Cheng, Joshua Townson, Rebecca Rowson, Noah Von Heimendahl, Theo Ogier; front left, Lydia Crussell and Beth Rowson

Mount St Mary’s College, Derbyshire – Record breaking A-level results

There is so much that is being celebrated at Mount St Mary’s College after the Derbyshire school achieved record-breaking A-level results for the third year running.

A and B grades are up again to 51%, with 35% securing A* and A grades.

Leading the way were Head Boy and Head Girl James Proudfoot and Victoria Coe with 1 A* and 2 As and 3As respectively. James, 18, has already secured his place at Durham to read law and Victoria, 18, is about to embark on a gap year and confirm her intention to perhaps read medicine.

Eighteen-year-old Naseem Sharif, Deputy Head Boy at Mount St Mary’s, said: “I got two As in Maths and Biology and two A* grades in Physics and Chemistry and now I’ll be off to study medicine at the University of Manchester.”

Deputy Head Boy, Richard Duggan, 18, achieved an A* grade in Religious Studies, an A in English and B in History. He said: “I’m really pleased and I want to say thank you to the school because it has been a great pleasure to come here and they have really helped me to achieve my grades. I am going to go off to Newcastle to do law and hopefully go on to be a barrister.”

With three As in Biology, Chemistry and Maths, Deputy Head Girl Frances Oliver, 18, said: “I am hoping to take a gap year and then study veterinary medicine in 2011. I have loved being at Mount St Mary’s, the teachers are brilliant and I have had the best seven years of my life so far.”

Laurence McKell, Headmaster at Mount St Mary’s, said: “Congratulations to all our pupils on a truly outstanding set of A-level results. We are incredibly proud of all our pupils for the hard work they have put in and the excellent attitude they have shown to study and learning.

“Credit must also go to our talented staff team for the support they have shown preparing and guiding students over the last two years. Although we are a non-selective school, these results demonstrate how we continue to achieve high standards and help pupils to fulfil their potential.

“At Mount St Mary’s, our ethos is focused on developing well rounded young men and women, and these results reflect our commitment to ensuring they leave school ready to face whatever challenges and opportunities lie ahead.”

Photo: (L-R) Mount St Mary’s A-levels pupils Frances Oliver, Naseem Shariff and Victoria Coe celebrate their results.