Pupils at St Peter’s School were celebrating today after receiving outstanding results in their A Levels. After two years of disruption and lockdowns, the success was particularly well-deserved this year.
91% of results were awarded at A* to B, and almost all pupils achieved grades from A* to C. 37% of all grades were at A*, with 13 pupils achieving all A* grades and 15 pupils achieving four or more A Levels at A*/A.
The school is proud of the achievements of all of its pupils and there have been some outstanding individual performances.
Kevin Xu has achieved 5 A* grades in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and Further Mathematics. Kevin has already proved himself to be one of the top young scientists in the country, achieving a place on the prestigious Cambridge Senior Physics Challenge summer school in 2020 and participating in the UK Chemistry Olympiad earlier this year. Kevin will go on to study Natural Sciences at Cambridge.
Olly Tomalin has achieved 1 A* and 3 As alongside his exceptional achievements on the rugby pitch. Earlier this year, Olly was named as one of the top 15 U18 rugby players in England for the 2020/2021 season by NextGenXV. Olly is part of the Yorkshire Carnegie Academy and was also selected by the England Rugby team to participate in one of two half term U18 Development Camps last autumn. Olly will go on to study Economics at Durham.
Beth Wheelhouse has achieved 1 A* and 2 As, including an A* in Drama. Beth was accepted by the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain last year and will remain a member of the National Youth Theatre Company until she turns 26, opening doors to a huge range of opportunities. Beth will go on to study the Liberal Arts at King’s College, London.
Hannah Aubrey has achieved 3 A*s in Art, Chemistry and Mathematics, alongside her commitment to sport. Hannah was awarded the school’s Jo Sergeant Shield for all round excellence in Girls’ Sport and will go on to study Biological Sciences at Edinburgh.
Meanwhile, twins Harrison and Harvey Gration have collectively achieved 4 A*s and 2 As. Harrison achieved a A* and 2 As and will go on to study at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London, specialising in voice. Harvey achieved 3 A*s alongside his role as cricket captain for the 1st XI at St Peter’s School and will go on to study English at Exeter.
A number of pupils have also combined excellent A Level results with outstanding musical achievements. Rupert Walker, Olivia Cleobury, Oscar Hawes and Ben Dunsmore have all achieved at least 3 A/A*s as well as diplomas in their ABRSM Music exams. Ben achieved an ATCL in piano with distinction, Rupert achieved an ARSM in singing with distinction and an ARSM in clarinet with merit, while Olivia and Oscar both achieved an ARSM in singing with merit.
Alongside their A Levels, 30 pupils have also completed an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) whilst others have continued working towards their Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
66% of pupils have achieved places at Russell Group universities including Oxford and Cambridge and 86.5% of pupils have been offered a place at their first-choice university. Other leavers’ destinations include overseas universities, including the EDHEC Business School, and Sandhurst.
Jeremy Walker, Head Master says:
Possibly more than any other year I want to recognise the efforts of all of our Upper Sixth pupils today. Not only have they achieved an outstanding set of results, but they have also kept going through the most difficult of circumstances over their two years in Sixth Form.
The pupils have worked extraordinarily hard, adapting to new ways of learning at home and coping with all of the trials the global pandemic has brought them, including uncertainty about the A Levels themselves. In spite of, or perhaps because of, the situation they have faced these young people have achieved a huge amount. The results they have earned today are a fitting reward for all of their hard work.
They have combined their academic studies with a vast range of cocurricular interests and have achieved success in sport, music, drama, journalism, debating and so much more. They have found ingenious and creative ways to continue these through lockdowns, including virtual concerts and plays, inter-year competitions and taking any opportunities they could to expand their knowledge online. The skills and interests they have developed whilst at St Peter’s will, I hope, lead them to confidence and fulfilment in their lives after school.
As well as the academic results they have achieved today, I am very proud of the values the pupils in the Upper Sixth have developed, in particular their compassion for others, their endurance and resilience through the toughest of challenges and their hope and optimism for the future. This combined with the lifelong friendships they will have made in their time at St Peter’s will give them strength for the years ahead.
I wish them the best of luck for the future and look forward to hearing of their many successes.
I would also like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated staff at St Peter’s School who have worked tirelessly to ensure the assessment process was carried out to the highest standards. Most importantly, our teachers have provided inspirational teaching and unwavering support for our pupils throughout the global pandemic, enabling them to fulfil their true potential.
