‘Another set of excellent results with numbers of High School Sixth Form students achieving A* more than doubling”  

Year 13 students and staff at the High School for Girls are celebrating excellent results today with over half of students achieving at least one grade A at A Level.  Excellence at the very highest level was recognised with seven students opening envelopes containing two or more of the most challenging A* grades.   An amazing 15% of students achieved straight As; with three or more A Levels at Grade A.   Overall, achievement at the highest level improved significantly from last year:  8.4% of all results were at  A*, more than doubling the amount from 2017 and 31% of all qualifications were graded at A*-A; an improvement of 7.5% from the previous summer. 

Sophie Ellis, deputy head girl at the high school, achieved A* in Biology and As in Music, Maths and Chemistry.  She is looking forward to studying Veterinary at Cambridge with a choir scholarship.  “It is crazy! I was really unsure of what the results would be but I am so happy!”   Lucy Taylor, who has suffered with chronic fatigue syndrome, was only able to attend school part-time.  She overcame this to achieve A grades in all her subjects, Art, Psychology and Sociology.  Danielle Dean who achieved A* in Biology and A grades in Maths and Chemistry was really excited to be going to the University of Liverpool to study medicine.  “It shows what hard work can achieve – although it’s still impossible to believe – I had to get my friend to check them again for me!”  Rebecca Clarke joined the High School Sixth Form in Y12 and was “very proud and really happy” with her results.  She achieved A*s in Psychology and Biology and an A in Maths.  She is taking a gap year, to work before starting at UCL reading Human Sciences – “I need to save up to afford to live in London next year!” 

Headteacher Claire Giblin said “These results represent rich reward for our dedicated, hard-working students and all of the teaching and support staff who have done so much to help and encourage them. We are proud of the achievements of our students, not just at the top end, where results were outstanding, but also with the positive progress students made at all levels during their time at the High School Sixth Form”  

Particularly impressive results in A level Art, Sociology, German, Further Maths and Spanish are worthy of special mention with students in these subjects achieving over 90% A*-B grades.  Our headline figures of 62% A*-B and 86% A*-C both show significant improvement from 2017.  Once again High School Sixth Form students have secured places on a broad range of university courses and higher level apprenticeships, with many places secured at Russell Group universities including Cambridge and in Medicine.

The boys who joined us in Y12 performed wonderfully from their starting points.  Based on value added, three of our top eight performing students were boys.  Josh Gooch, who is going to University of Nottingham said “I was so nervous!  I couldn’t believe it when I opened the envelope.”  Josh achieved A* in Economics, which he will continue at degree level, to go with A grades in History and Maths.  Ewan Thomas, who made exceptional progress, was “relieved but happy” to achieve A grades in Economics and Geography and a C in PE.  He is going on to study accountancy at Edinburgh.  “I am looking forward to running my own business, no businesses, one day” Ewan said, “and when I’m really successful I won’t forget the High School.   I can see myself opening the ‘Ewan Thomas Library’ to say thank you!”   

The High School, recognised as the best secondary school in Gloucestershire for the second year running in the Real School Guide 2018, will be moving to a new Sixth Form centre in September 2019. Headteacher Claire Giblin, who came into post in January, said “This is an exciting time at the school as we continue to pursue excellence in everything we do.  We are thrilled to be moving to a new Sixth Form Centre next year.  The new accommodation will enable us to provide the very best facilities and opportunities to our senior students whilst continuing our proud tradition of producing outstanding results and well-rounded individuals, fully prepared to take on the next stage of their lives.”

Director of Post-16 Hannah Leathart said “It has been a privilege to work with this year group, who have worked closely with staff and who have supported each other so well.  They have contributed hugely to the school and local community and very much deserve their success.  I’m so proud!”

Gloucestershire Live