Following the introduction of the A* grade at A2 last year for those candidates who score more than 90%, over 17% of the grades awarded to College pupils this year were A*. Commenting on this achievement, Headmaster Simon Davies said: ‘The A* grade, recently introduced, provides an opportunity for the most able to demonstrate their ability and is evidence that the College is able to work with and for the most academically able pupils and support their development.  At least one A* is increasingly a requirement for those who receive offers from Oxford and Cambridge and for certain courses at a few other universities. I am delighted that all 13 girls and boys who received offers from Oxford and Cambridge (pictured below) have achieved the required grades and that all those who needed at least one A* to take up their place at their first choice university have done so.

For the second year running, over a third of the candidates gained three A grades or better, with superb individual performances from Yawen Yin (4A*,1A), Chris Cheung (3A*,2A), Hannah Church, Joyce Xie and Max Winchester (3A*,1A) and Toby Addison, Camilla Freeman and Rebecca Hreben (3A*). Close behind them were Pinky Lee and Jess Park (2A*, 2A). James Barnes, Sophie Binns, James Dickens, Liza Dyakova, James Giles, Anton Marusenko, Laura Palit, Sam Peat, Jonathan Pickup and Harry Villa all achieved 2A*,1A.

It is worth stressing that while the College caters strongly for the most able, it remains 'selective but not highly selective': the girls and boys who excel at A level do so from a quite wide ability range. Almost all those leaving the College post-A level will be going to their first choice university having done very well indeed.’

At AS level, the Lower Sixth achieved similarly well, with 68% A and B grades setting them up for what should be a highly successful final year at the College.

The Headmaster said: ‘I am thrilled for all those who have done so very well in their A levels. These results are a real tribute to the hard work of the students and teaching staff. I am also delighted by how well each boy and girl has done in relation to his or her individual ability and by how, once again, pupils and those who teach them have worked together to generate considerable value added for children across a range of academic ability. It continues to be the case that while the less able almost always exceed expectations, the more able perform at least as well as they would have done in the most selective schools in the country. We celebrate their individual and collective success.’

Pictured below, left to right: Laura Palit, Marcus Williams, Sam Lowden, Sam Peat, Julia Howell and Lilly Freeman, who between them have achieved 9A*s and 9As at A2.