Christ College celebrates consistently outstanding A level results

07 Mar 2012

For the third year in succession, pupils leaving Christ College, Brecon have achieved outstanding A level results, with 77% of all examinations taken being awarded the top A*-B grades. Nearly half of all candidates achieved at least two A or A* grades, while 16 pupils gained three A grades or better with 18% of grades at A*. This compares very favourably to the Welsh average of 6.3 % and the UK average of 8.2%. To achieve the coveted top grade, candidates must achieve an average of over 90% on the challenging A2 units. By late morning on results day, with the support of senior staff and the Careers Department, all candidates had secured university places.

This year’s A level candidates have performed strongly across the board, with outstanding results particularly in Mathematics, where 90% of those sitting Maths or Further Maths A level achieved A or A*, and in Art and Photography, where 30 of 31 entries were awarded A*-B grades. There were some very strong performances in the humanities subjects of History, Geography, Economics and Religious Studies, too including an A* in Economics for Stefan Freeman from Machynlleth, who is heading for Oxford University next year to study Politics, Philosophy and Economics. Stefan gained two A* grades and one A grade overall, narrowly beating his twin brother, Dylan, whose A* in Biology and A grades in Chemistry and Maths nevertheless gain him safe entrance to Birmingham University to study Medicine, one of the most competitive courses in the country. Stefan and Dylan phoned for their results from New Zealand where they are travelling.

Closer to home, former Head of School James Spencer from Brecon was delighted that his A* in Maths and As in Physics and RS had secured his place at Keble College Oxford to read Politics, Philosophy and Economics. James said: “It’s been a bit of a nervous wait but I’m delighted with these grades. I know I’m going to enjoy the course at Oxford with these grades behind me.”

Catrin Lewis, who is also from Brecon, was in a much calmer mood than her parents as she opened her envelope to reveal A*s in Chemistry, Maths and Further Maths. These outstanding results mean that Catrin will go on to study Maths, Operational Research, Statistics and Economics at Warwick University. Her father, Rhobert Lewis said: “What a fantastic day for Christ College!”

Ellen Gowans, also from Brecon, took time off from a rigorous summer training schedule to pick up her results. Her 3 As in Biology, Chemistry and Maths meant that she has been accepted by Bristol University to read Biochemistry.

Other pupils came in from further afield to pick up their results. Liam Bridge’s 3 As in Maths, Further Maths and Physics means that he will continue with his aeronautical ambitions (he earned his pilot’s license earlier this year) and will study Aeronautical Engineering at Bristol University. Rhiannon Brooks, who lives in Germany, opened her envelope in front of her younger sister to reveal that her 3 As in Biology, Chemistry and Maths will mean a move to Warwick where she will study Chemistry.

These results brought jubilation for the many candidates from the school who have successfully gained places at top universities for challenging courses in the toughest year yet for university applications. Pupils have gained places at a range of prestigious institutions including Oxford, UCL, Warwick, Durham and Bristol Universities, to study a range of courses from Architecture to Law and from Fashion Photography to the challenging and unique Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics and Economics course offered at Warwick University.

Head of Christ College, Mrs Emma Taylor, was delighted with the results. ‘Behind every set of grades there is a personal story of talent, hard work and ambition, and behind every candidate there is a set of highly professional teachers and a supportive family,’ she said. ‘It is a thrill not only to see A grades from the most able pupils, but also B and C grades from more modest candidates, for whom their achievements are perhaps even sweeter because of the challenges they have faced. I am proud of their achievements, and proud, too, of the strengths that Christ College has across the board, with excellence not just in one or two areas, but in Maths, English, Science, Humanities, Languages and the creative subjects.’

These excellent results further confirm the judgements made in the school’s recent Estyn inspection, which identified the school as excellent in the outcomes it achieves for pupils, the educational provision on offer, and the leadership and management of the school. In concluding that the school qualified for the sought-after ‘excellent’ judgement, the inspectors commented on the very good progress and particularly high standards achieved by pupils and commented that ‘pupils are extremely well-motivated, show high levels of self-discipline and are very effective independent learners’.

Mrs Taylor concluded: ‘It is perhaps not surprising that such motivated and committed pupils have achieved such very gratifying results.’

Additional highlights:

77% of all entries graded A*/A/B confirming recent 3 year trend
Over 18% of grades achieved the top A* award which means candidates have achieved an average of over 90% on the more difficult A2 units.
In Art and Photography 97% of entries were A*/A/B.
In Maths 95% of entries were A*/A.
In Further Maths 78% of entries were A*/A.
91 % of all entries A*-C.
16 candidates achieved 3 or more A* or As.
44% of candidates achieved 2 or more A*s or As.
53% of all grades at A* and A.