‘Big team effort helps pupils to thrive’

Independent schools have praised the efforts of staff and pupils after another excellent crop of A level results.

Pupils at Queen Anne’s School in Caversham achieved a 100 per cent pass rate. This was an increase of one per cent from last year.

The school saw 83 per cent of students achieve A* to C, up by nine per cent from last year. Forty three per cent achieved A* to A, up six per cent from last year.

Jamie Kwok, 19, who lives at the school, received four A* in maths, further maths, computer science and physics.

She will be studying maths and computer science at the University of Bath.

Miss Kwok, who found the third physics paper the hardest, would like to be a computer programmer.

She said: “I was so happy when I opened my results this morning. I was also relieved because I put a lot of work in. I would sit here revising from 7am until 9pm some days, but I have a few friends, who also did well, who were really supportive.”

Victoria Miller, 18, from Crowthorne, received three A -levels and one AS level.

She was graded A* in computer science, B in maths, B in physics and an A in AS further maths.

She will be working with Amazon in Bristol, completing a software development engineer apprenticeship.

She is one out of a small group of people who were chosen from around 40,000 national and international applicants.

“I’m so excited,” she said. “It’s a bit scary, but my sister lives in Bristol. I tried my hardest and found it so much harder when it came to motivation because with A levels, the mental health aspect can be challenging.

“I talked to people about the stress, and the school gave me a lot of support, which was a lot of help because it was so valuable to let me achieve what I needed. I feel very proud.”

Janice Lo, 19, who shared her time between living in Reading and Hong Kong, received two Bs in sociology and biology and an A in psychology.

She is having one of her sociology papers re-marked, as she was three marks off an A.

She said: “Biology was the hardest exam by far. I feel like it was so hard because it requires a lot of detail. It’s not about what you say in the exam, you have to follow the marking scheme to get top marks.

“I did a lot of papers with the mark scheme again and again. From the moment I woke up, that’s what I would sit down and do.”

She is going to Cardiff University to study psychology. She said: “I really love psychology, but I don’t know if I want to do clinical or business.”

She was sad to not be able to get an A in biology. She said: “It was a big jump for me in biology from GCSE because I didn’t previously get good grades, but I got a good grade, and it shows me how hard work really pays off.”

Charlotte Herrington, 18, from Wargrave, received three Cs in history, economics and psychology.

Her first-choice university was Exeter, but she is going to Oxford Brookes University to study international relations.

She said: “I was originally going to go to Exeter, but now I’m going to Brookes. I was upset, but I realised that there are pros and cons to both.

“I wanted to go to the Exeter campus because there’s a lot of surfing, but I would’ve probably got distracted by that.

“Oxford really focuses on the students, Exeter is more focused on research, but I thought it would be quite nice to focus on the teaching.

“I picked international relations because I went through a massive thing when I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but my history teacher had me look at more courses and said I would suit it. I liked the idea of helping people out with a little bit of politics as it’s something that can really change things for people.”

At Reading Blue Coat School in Sonning, this year’s percentage of students achieving A* to A grades was down slightly from 53 per cent in 2024 to 51 per cent.

However, the percentage of students achieving grades A* to C increased from 79 per cent in 2024 to 84 per cent this year. The overall pass rate was 100 per cent.

Student Bella Briscall from Shiplake will be heading to Bath to study pharmacology, after achieving three A*s in biology, chemistry and maths.

While at Blue Coat Bella was a senior prefect for the Aldworth Partnership, which supports the school’s service initiatives.

Winner of the Meadowcroft Prize for chemistry and the Aldworth Lodge Jubilee Award, she donated her prize money to a children’s reading charity to help provide further education opportunities.

Headmaster Pete Thomas said: “I’m delighted for this tremendous group of young men and women who have given so much during their time at Blue Coat and richly deserve this outstanding success.

“What a pleasure it is to see them grow over the years and flourish in so many ways, and I know they will continue to make a tremendous impact beyond the school gates. I’m also delighted for the staff who have worked so hard to create the environment in which they can thrive, and for their parents who give constant support — it’s a big team effort.”

At Shiplake College 31 per cent of students received A* to A, down from 39 per cent in 2024 when it received its best ever results outside of the pandemic.

Pupils receiving A* to C also fell to 82 per cent from 97 per cent in 2024. The overall pass rate was 99.6 per cent which remained the same from last year.

Theo Sanders, 18, who lives in Warren Row, was the top-performing student, receiving an A* in economics, A* in politics, and an A* in religious studies.

He will now study economics at Exeter University.

He said: “I’m really happy. I was predicted A*, A*, A, so I did a bit better than predicted.

“I’ve worked every weekend this year pretty much, so I’ve done a lot of work for it, but I got the result, so it’s great.

“I’m just pleased it’s over, it’s kind of a weight off my shoulders now that it’s done and I’m into university, which is the main thing. It’s quite rewarding that it has paid off.

“After university I’m thinking of doing investment banking, something in finance maybe in the city, or maybe a master’s degree, we’ll see, I don’t really know.

“Now I have my results I’m going to go out to a restaurant with my family and then to the pub with my mates to celebrate.”

Jack Scanlon, 18, who lives in Henley, got an A in religious studies, an A in politics, and a B in economics.

He will now travel to Queen’s University in Belfast where he will study politics.

He said: “I checked UCAS at 8am to figure out if I got in, which I did and then I waited to check my results in person at school.

“My original offer was A, B, B and luckily it got lowered to B, C, C, but it turns out I would have made the original offer anyway.

“I’m going to go out clubbing tonight, and then I’m going to get flights booked and hopefully get my accommodation offer soon and start making plans to go over.

“I’ve got a lot of family who live in Belfast, I was there a year ago and visited the university and had a look around. I’m excited, I’m looking forward to the independence and being able to do stuff on my own for the first time and that new chapter of life.”

Alfie Malcolm, 18, who lives in Peppard, got an A* in politics, an A in geography, and an A in media.

He has accepted an offer to study politics and international relations at Bath University.

He said: “I’m ecstatic, I slightly exceeded my expectations but it’s kind of what I wanted, so I’m very happy to have got that.

“I think I will see some friends and go out for a few drinks to celebrate and just see my family. I’m very excited, Bath is a lovely city, so it’s lovely to just get started.”

Sophie Woodeson, 19, who lives in Pyrton, got an A in art, an A in criminology, and a B in photography.

Next year she will study interior design at Bath University. She said: “I’m really happy, I’m a bit unhappy about the B, but it is what it is. I was predicted an A* so I dropped a little lower, the grade boundaries have gone up ridiculously high, so I think I’m five marks off an A which is a little annoying.

“Art and photography are very coursework-heavy, so it’s a lot of work, it’s not necessarily that it’s hard but there is so much of it, it’s very time-consuming.

“Then criminology is split into four rather than one exam at the end, so you do it as you go, which is better for me because I’m dyslexic and I can’t recall a lot of information. I came out with a good grade which I’m really happy with.”

Sophie’s parents, Alex and Katie, were “delighted” with her results.

Mrs Woodeson said: “The school has been amazing for her, it has given her the best support, opportunities and confidence in herself. Her abilities have gone through the roof because of the belief that her teachers have had in her, which has been really nice. We feel very lucky.”

Mr Woodeson said: “I think you’re more anxious as a parent than as a student, because you see how hard they have worked. I’m really proud of her. We’re sure she will go off and do amazing things.”

Headteacher Tyrone Howe said there was a positive atmosphere at the school as students celebrated their results. He said: “It’s always an exciting day for everybody, but there is a really positive atmosphere with everyone getting their results and the vast majority of the pupils getting their first university choices.

“What’s really important is that they get that ticket for the next stage of their academic lives. I’m delighted that we’ve got some really top performers and what’s striking is that many of these top performers have been with us since year seven and I think that is a really good sign for what the school is doing.

“There is the odd person who is a little bit disappointed, but the key factor that becomes more and more clear every year is that hard work is the most important factor in success and those pupils that have worked really hard, and the vast majority of them have, have got smiles on their faces today, it’s a really nice, positive atmosphere.

“I don’t think this stage in any way defines a young person, I’m a great believer in things happening for a reason. It’s how you respond to setback or disappointment that is far more important, it certainly shouldn’t be anything that holds them back and if they want to do something badly enough, they can still do it.”

Pupils at the Oratory School achieved a 98 per cent pass rate. Seventy-seven per cent of pupils achieved A* to C, while six per cent achieved A* to A.

Student Flo Gibbon, 18, from Woodcote, achieved an A* in Art, A* in English Literature, A in Maths, and B in Spanish.

Next year, she will go to Edinburgh University to study Architecture. In the meantime, she will travel to Madrid to work as an au pair and sharpen her Spanish skills for three months. She said: “I was quite pleased to get these results. I feel like the work I put in paid off and I’m grateful for all of the support I got from teachers at my school and I’m glad that I’ve been able to get into my first choice university.”

Henley students at the Abbey School in Reading also did well.

Evie Blomfield achieved an A* in psychology and geography, a B in English language and an additional A in her EPQ (extended project qualification).

Fellow student Ella Fitzpatrick achieved three As in maths, drama and economics. She is heading to Leeds to study politics.

Evie said, “I’m over the moon. It’s such a big relief to be able to get my place at uni and I’m really excited for next year and what it has to hold.”

Ella will study Economics and Business Management at Newcastle University. She said: “I was so nervous and I had my alarm set for 8am, went straight online, saw that I was in at Newcastle and I can’t explain it in words, it’s the most incredible feeling ever!”