STUDENTS from LVS Ascot school are celebrating setting a new record pass rate for the school.
This year, 99.5% of pupils from the school passed their A Levels, beating last year’s previous record and surpassing the national average of 97.9%.
The school said that nearly half of all grades were A* – B (48.2%), compared to 44% last year, and almost four out of every five examinations resulted in an A* – C grade (78.4%, up from 73.2% in 2016).
There were a number of individual success stories for the independent school.
Simon Newns earned a place at Oxford University’s Balliol College to study engineering sciences after achieving A* in both maths and physics, along with A for further maths and his EPQ (extended project qualification).
He follows in the footsteps of his brother Michael, who in 2015 also received straight two A*s and an A at LVS Ascot and has since gone on to study at Imperial College in London.
He said: “I’ve been at the school since Year 5 and was not very confident before but LVS Ascot has really boosted my confidence and it has shown in my results.
“The teachers have been incredible and got me exactly where I wanted to go to do exactly what I wanted to do – it’s brilliant”.
A budding artist who has already been exhibited at the Tate Modern will continue to pursue his artistic aspirations after highlighting LVS Ascot’s ability to nurture and balance both academic and artistic ambition in students.
Jake Walker, whose school project art installation video was of such high quality that it was on show at the Tate Modern last summer, achieved AABB and will now study a foundation art course at Loughborough University.
LVS Ascot also welcomed new parish councillor Jordan Masters to collect his results.
The 18-year-old last month became one of the youngest councillors in the country when winning the election for a place on Winkfield Parish Council.
Cllr Masters has secured a place at Royal Holloway College to study law, with his future aspirations to work within the Crown Prosecution Service and continue his association with politics.
Cllr Masters’ father, Lee, said: “Jordan came to LVS Ascot on a scholarship and we wanted him to come here as it offered the suite of subjects that he wanted to study. It has been a fantastic experience, LVS Ascot is a great big family and has been very supportive. It is a blessing.”
Frankie Deacon celebrated achieving A*AC, helping her gain a place at her first choice of the University of Surrey.
Frankie said: “I have been involved in so many things at LVS Ascot – as well as getting the right grades I have been Head of House, a music prefect, a peer mentor, school ambassador and also performed on stage in drama productions and music concerts”.
Her mother Janice added: “Frankie has developed and blossomed into a lovely young lady here with great confidence. It isn’t just about the academics at this school, they focus on what is good for the children and develop them in whatever passions they have”.
Sophia Cunniffe, daughter of LVS Ascot Principal Christine Cunniffe, made it a special month for the family by achieving Bs in economics, biology and music technology and is set to do an economics degree at Goldsmiths, University of London. Just two weeks earlier her brother Tom, who achieved BBC in his A-Levels at LVS Ascot, graduated from Swansea University with a first class honours degree in economics and finance.
He was one of a number of the LVS Ascot class of 2014 to obtain first class degrees this summer, demonstrating the crucial academic foundation LVS Ascot provides for students with further education ambitions.
LVS Ascot Principal Christine Cunniffe said: “It is brilliant to have beaten last year’s record pass rate with 99.5% this year. Importantly our success isn’t just about those at the highest level such as Simon Newns, it is shared by all of our students with nearly 80% of all exams being graded A* – C.
“It proves that every student can flourish here whether their aspirations are to gain the grades to go to Oxford, or achieve results beyond their expectations to go on to further education or their chosen vocation.”
