This year the College has withdrawn from newspaper league tables on the grounds that they have outlived their usefulness, are unreliable and have little, if any, worth. In common with a growing number of leading schools, the College hopes that those who wish to analyse the academic achievements of schools will look beyond the headline figure to what that means in terms of the development of individual children against their own underlying ability. A full explanation of the College’s position may be found in a letter from the Headmaster to all parents located at http://portal.eastbourne-college.co.uk/News/HMLetters/Pages/July2008.aspx
Nevertheless, the College wants to be totally transparent about the achievements of all those who have taken public exams.
This year, the outgoing Upper Sixth was the largest group ever (130 students). They scored an impressive 77% A and B grades at A level, with A grades outnumbering B grades by 206 to 105 – on a par with the second highest ever outcome of 2006 and fewer than three points down on last year’s record breaking results.
As was the case last year, more than half of all the grades awarded to College students were A grades and there were some notable personal achievements. Richard Macklin and Alfred Tan both scored five As and Toby Lewis-Donaldson, Jack Shepherd, Friederike Schenck, James Mai, Chris Dodd, James Mangat and Verity Williams all scored four As or better; 72 pupils achieved 100% A and B grades. Alex Chan was placed among the top five Physicists in the country at A-level this year and Alex Smith received a special certificate from examination board Edexcel for being among the top ten Spanish candidates in the country. All those holding Oxbridge offers matched or bettered those offers.
At AS level, the Lower Sixth achieved 61% A and B grades between them, setting them up for what should be a successful final year.
The Headmaster says: 'I am delighted with the headline figure, which is a testament to the very hard work put in by students and teaching staff. Even more pleasing is how each individual girl and boy has performed in terms of his or her underlying ability: a very high proportion of the most able have scored all A and B grades and a high proportion of those with other abilities have excelled. Eastbourne College is a selective but not highly selective school which has proven, yet again, its ability to add value to all its pupils. We celebrate their success.'
Pictured below are: (top) Thomas Clarke, Tessa Maxwell and Alex Darley all celebrating three As and (below) Verity Williams and Richard Macklin celebrating four and five As respectively.
