Fantastic A Level results celebrated
There were hugs and smiles all round at Headington School’s Sixth Form as girls returned to school to collect their A Level results.
Despite receiving their results electronically, many came to celebrate with teachers and friends and to discuss their next steps.
The hours of hard work were reflected in an excellent set of results which saw many girls achieving results higher than those predicted for them when they joined the School. Eight girls achieved three or more A*s while there were exceptional individual results in a range of different subjects. All eight girls (including two from the class of 2023) achieved the grades required to secure their places at Oxford or Cambridge Universities. In all, an impressive 61 per cent of exams were graded at A*-A with 87 per cent at A*-B.
Among those Oxford bound are Head of Boarding Alexandra Cutmore and Head of Day Zara Jones. Between them, they achieved four A*s and three As, along with an A in the EPQ. Zara – a Headington student since the age of 8 – will take up her place to study English at Corpus Christi College.
She said: “I am so excited, just really thrilled. It has been such a long journey, I’m so excited to finally be going to Oxford and also so pleased to be sticking around in my home town!
“It’s mind-blowing to think that I’m walking into school for the last time. I genuinely don’t think I would be able to even have gone through the application process without the support of everyone, it has been absolutely incredible. I’m going to miss it!”
A number of girls have secured places on a range of varied and creative courses, including Biomedical Engineering, Film Production, Popular Music and Fashion Design. Grace Symondson-Cann and Katarina Korica will both be headed to Arts University Bournemouth to study Film Production – even staying in the same halls.
Grace said: “I’m feeling very relieved and excited now that it’s confirmed. The sun is shining and the vibes are good. In the Hive, the Art Department have definitely been pushing alternative creative routes rather than just Fine art or Photography and they’re really passionate about their subjects which gives you a bit of headway before you get started.”
Katarina, who joined Headington in the nursery aged 3, said: “It feels a bit surreal! I’m very excited to see what’s going to come of this opportunity.”
For future vet Emily Watson, her A*AA grades have secured her a place to study Veterinary Science at Bristol. During her time at Headington, she has acted as Hockey Captain and also founded Veterinary Society. She said: “Ever since I was so young I have always loved animals and wanted to be a vet I am so happy and very relieved but also excited for the future.
“The school has been very supportive not just academically but also emotionally with the mental side of it, I am so happy I stayed here for Sixth Form, it has got me where I need to be!”
Jess Taylor, who secured her place to study Biological Science at Durham with A*AA, will first spent a year working as a graduate assistant in Australia. After waking from a nightmare in which her results were DDE early this morning, she said her nerves had now settled after getting her excellent results.
She said: “After a bad summer exam last year, I have had to put in more work and crack down a bit more. I thought I was going to be on the boundary so there was a sense of the unknown. I am really happy.”
Helena and Alice, two members of the Rowing 1st Eight which won gold at Henley Royal Regatta earlier in the summer, have both secured places to study at Ivy League universities, Helena at Princeton and Alice at Dartmouth.
There were a range of impressive results in different subject areas. Every student taking Lens-based Media and Computer Science achieved the highest grade, while 100 per cent of those taking German, Greek, Japanese, Music, Religious Studies and Textile Design achieved A*-A grades. Other excellent subject results included in Psychology, with 80 per cent achieving A*-A, English at 75 per cent and Business, Economics and History with around 72 per cent.
Headmistress Mrs Caroline Jordan said: “What an absolutely tremendous set of results! I am incredibly proud of these girls, their attitude to learning and approach to school life. They have demonstrated immense hard work and dedication and I am so excited to see what they continue to achieve in the future.
“I’d also like to thank the fantastic work from our teaching staff to support, encourage and inspire the girls to achieve their very best.”
