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Berkhamsted Group | 25.08.2016

GCSE RESULTS: Three in four students achieve at least one A* grade

GCSE RESULTS: Three in four students achieve at least one A* grade

Straight A* trio Jed Thirkettle, Edmund Wilson and Dominic Peachey  

Berkhamsted School students are celebrating an excellent set of GCSE results with 34.7% of subjects passed at A* grade and A* – C grades recorded at 97.1%. Over three quarters of the cohort of 169 pupils (131) achieved results that included at least one A* grade.

Principal Richard Backhouse says: 

“We’re delighted that, after two years of hard work, so many of our students are reaping the rewards of high achievement. This gives them a solid base for their onward journey to A Level in their chosen subjects.” 

A* achievers Hannah Lansdell, Jennie Roberts, Kathryn Warburton and Sarah Levin

Nine pupils earned a full house of 10 A*s (excluding Short Course Religious Studies). Congratulations go to Isabel Green, Eloise Groves, Sarah Levin, Sophie Roberts, Ella Taggart and Kathryn Warburton from Berkhamsted Girls and Jonathan Masters, Dominic Peachey and Edmund Wilson from Berkhamsted Boys for achieving a flawless set of grades.

While 24 pupils (14.2%) secured at least eight A* grades, often considered the platform from which Oxbridge applications can be launched, many more students provided further evidence of the School’s firm belief that outstanding academic achievement comes as a consequence rather than instead of an enthusiastic commitment to the wider life of the School community. The following pupils exemplify this and there are many similar examples of students excelling on a number of fronts, as well as the academic:

Edmund Wilson (11 A*s – including Short Course RS, an A grade in Additional Maths and an A* in the HPQ*) is a talented musician and actor who has delighted audiences with his performances on many occasions since joining the School in Year 7 from Chesham Prep. He achieved his ABRSM Grade 8 with Distinction on the cello and was awarded Arts Colours for his contribution to both music and drama. He also plays the guitar, piano and sings, won the Old Berkhamstedians’ Reading competition and is the Politics editor for INK, the student magazine. Outside of school he has auditioned successfully for the National Youth Music Theatre and the National Youth Theatre. He was a House Prefect in Greenes.

* HPQ – the Higher Project Qualification equates to a GCSE half course

• Dominic Peachey (11 A*s – including Short Course RS and an A grade in Additional Maths) joined Berkhamsted Prep from Swanbourne House in Year 3.  He has represented the School at the Salter’s Chemistry Festival and achieved Gold Awards in the Intermediate Mathematics Challenge.  A member of the School’s 1st XI hockey team, he has also received County honours in hockey. Dominic was School Council Rep for Loxwood in Year 11.

Jed Thirkettle (10 A*s – including Short Course RS, 1 A grade, an A in Additional Maths and an A in HPQ) was House Captain for Loxwood House and received Arts colours for his contribution to drama at the School. Jed, who joined Berkhamsted from The Beacon in Year 9, has done much to raise awareness of Muscular Dystrophy at the School and has raised thousands in recent years for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign. He has also competed for the South of England Para Table Tennis team and has completed the DofE Bronze Award.

James Doyle (9 A*s – including Short Course RS, 2 A grades, an A in Additional Maths and an A in HPQ) is another talented actor who received Arts Colours this year. Along with Edmund Wilson, James was instrumental in his house, Greenes, winning the House Drama competition last year. He has completed his DofE Bronze Award and is a member of the School’s Climbing Club. He was a House Prefect in Greenes and will take up the role of Culture Editor of INK, the student magazine in Year 12.

Sam Quinn (8 A*s, 2 A grades and an A in Additional Maths) was House Captain for Cox’s House and has represented the School’s A teams in Rugby, Football and Cricket, and was a member of the cricket squad that toured Sri Lanka during the Easter holidays. Sam joined Berkhamsted in Year 7 from the Gateway School. 

Kathryn Warburton (10 A*s, an A in Additional Maths and an A* in the HPQ) has performed in numerous concerts, recitals and productions as both a singer and actor. She has achieved a LAMDA Grade 6 with Distinction in Acting and has also completed her DofE Bronze Award. . Kathryn was House Captain for Old Stede.

Isabel Green (10 A*s) is a musician who has contributed to many concerts and recitals throughout her time at Berkhamsted and was one of the musicians who played during the visit by Her Majesty the Queen in May. She sings, plays the flute to Grade 7 level, has achieved School Colours in both music and sport, a LAMDA Grade 6 with Distinction in Acting and her DofE Bronze Award. Isabel was House Captain for New Stede.

Alexandra Marriott (9 A*s, 1 A grade, an A in Additional Maths and an A* in the HPQ) is a talented sportswoman who was part of the 1st XII Lacrosse team that won the National Championships earlier in the year. Alexandra has also completed her DofE Bronze Award. Alexandra was a Prefect in Wolstenholme House.

Madeleine Bentley (10A*s – including Short Course RS – and an A grade) is a talented artist who has won individual prizes for her sculpture and art during her time in senior school. She is also active in drama and coaches younger pupils on drama courses outside of school.  Madeleine, who joined in Year 7 from Bridgewater School, has completed her DofE Bronze Award.

45.6% (77) of the 169 pupils achieved at least eight A*/A grades amongst their results and one in four (43) students achieved at least 10 A*/A passes. 27.8% (47) achieved straight A grades across all of their GCSE subjects.

The following 24 pupils gained results that included eight A* grades or higher (excluding Short Course Religious Studies). All pupils whose names are in italics also achieved an A grade in Additional Mathematics.

10 A* – Isabel Green, Eloise Groves (11 A* including an A* in French taken in 2014), Sarah Levin, Sophie Roberts, Ella Taggart, Kathryn Warburton (and an A* grade for HPQ), Jonathan Masters, Dominic Peachey and Edmund Wilson (and an A* grade for HPQ).

9 A* – Madeleine Bentley, Alexandra Marriott (and an A* grade for HPQ), Susannah Taylor, Jed Thirkettle and Emily Williams (and an A* grade for HPQ).

8 A* – Christopher Cox, James Doyle, Joe Harris, Hannah Lansdell, Eleanor MacKenzie, Sophie Oliver, Samuel Quinn, Emma Tuinema, Lauren Preston and Thomas Ross.

Subjects in which students fared particularly well included English Literature, Modern Foreign Languages, History, Maths and Religious Studies.

The majority of students will go on to study at Berkhamsted Sixth, where 15% of A levels passed last week were graded at A*, 75.8% were at A* – B and nine students with Oxbridge offers secured their places.

Berkhamsted School 2016 GCSE Results

Overall pass rate (A* to C) – 97.1%

Overall pass rate (A* to B) – 88.1%

Overall pass rate at A*/A grades – 66.7%

Percentage results at A* grade – 34.7%

OPEN DAYS 2016

Berkhamsted School will hold Open Days on Thursday 29th September (Sixth Form only from 5 pm – 7 pm), Friday 30th September and Saturday 1st October 2016. On Friday 30th September, Pre-Prep (ages 3 – 7, Haresfoot campus) and Prep (ages 7 – 11, Doctors Commons Road) will be open to prospective pupils and their parents from 9 am – noon, Senior Girls from 3.30 – 6.30 pm and Senior Boys from 3.30 – 6.30 pm. On Saturday 1st October, Berkhamsted Day Nursery, Berkhamsted Pre-Prep and Berkhamsted Prep will be open for tours from 10am until 12 noon.
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