Students and staff were jumping for joy at Leighton Park as this year’s GCSE results revealed its highest proportion of top level grades for 14 years.
55% of the results were at grade 7-9, the equivalent of A to A* grades, which is a 4% year-on-year increase.
More than a third of the cohort’s grade were at grades 8 or 9, with an amazing 15% at grade 9.
Headteacher Matthew Judd said: “These outstanding results represent a magnificent achievement for the Year 11 Leighton Park students. This year’s GCSE results are our best for a long time with over half the grades at the top levels; the students and staff have worked incredibly hard to achieve these and I wholeheartedly congratulate them on this considerable success.”
Many students will be attending the Leighton Park Sixth Form, which recently ranked in the top 3% in England for academic progress.
Annie Milhofer secured seven grade 9s, two grades 7s and an A, and will be studying Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Design Technology. She said: “I’m really happy; especially with my Geography result — I never expected to get a 9!”
She also earned an A in her Free Standing Maths Qualification last week, an additional course taught outside the curriculum to prepare students for A level Maths.
Rowan Taylor was pleased to see she had secured four grade 9s, four grade 8s, one grade 7 and an A, and will soon be starting the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in the Sixth Form.
“It’s great, I feel brilliant! I was at a different secondary school before and I honestly think I would have been one or two grades lower across all my subjects if I had stayed there.
“Leighton Park gives you a real start; there are small class sizes and well qualified teachers who know how to teach the exam. The teachers here have higher expectations.”
Deputy head Karen Gracie-Langrick said: “I am delighted that the strength and support of our academic staff has provided such a positive learning environment for our students, whose efforts and commitment to their academic progress have clearly paid off today, resulting in a fantastic set of results, which at the highest level, haven’t been bettered for more than a decade.”
Ellie Pearson was shocked but delighted to see she had earned two grade 9s, two grade 8s and five 7s. Her mother said she was “very proud of her” for working hard.
The school specialises in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths, and so students naturally excelled in these subjects.
81% achieved grades 7-9 in Combined Science, 74% in both Physics and Chemistry, and two thirds in Maths.
Almost three quarters of the students studying History and Geography took home top grades 7-9 as well.
Hari Gupta will be studying Maths, Further Maths and Economics in Sixth Form. His parents said: “Leighton Park has definitely prepared Hari better for the future.”
Jessie Sumroy was pleased to see she had earned seven grade 9s, one grade 8 and an A. “I am so happy. I couldn’t have asked for better results. It was hard work but it was worth it!”
