STAFF at Reading Blue Coat School said that they are delighted that the vast majority of it A Level students secured their first or insurance university place on results day, without having to enter clearing.
And its pupils who sat the Extended Project Qualification, a research project that has the same UCAS value as an AS subject, achieved a 100% pass rate – with 61% of all EPQs at A* or A grade, and 91% were A*-B grades.
And 100% of pupils studying French or Music achieved either A*-B grades.
The school said that the departments were followed closely by Art, Geography, Economics, Government & Politics and Religious Studies, in which 90% of all candidates achieved A*-B grades.
Overall, 71% of grades were A*-B and 41% were A*-A.
Nineteen pupils achieved at least three A*-A grades, including Tom Britton, Ori Brunner, Morgan Hanby, Matthew Peters and Erin Martin who obtained at least three A* grades.
Head Boy Ben Freeman achieved an A* and two A grades, and will study Biomedical Sciences at University College London from September.
The teenager, who is 6ft 7in, raced at Henley Regatta this year, weeks after sitting his A Level examinations.
He said: ‘I’m over the moon, I’m not over it really.
“It’s been such a long year and after everything that I’ve done this year, I got the grades I needed.’
Other students who are celebrating include Ronnie Jha, who received A*s in Biology and Mathematics, and As in Chemistry and Further Mathematics.
His mother said: “We are all so proud of Ronnie. He is going to UCL to study Medicine, and then he will be a doctor.”
Daniel Algar, who captains Reading Blue Coat’s first XI football team, achieved an A* and two As, and has been granted a place at Nottingham University to study psychology.
He said: “It was a struggle until Year 13, when I stepped it up a bit. I needed AAB, so when I opened my envelope and saw A*AA, I thought they were someone else’s results.
“I couldn’t believe I got in.”
The school’s headmaster, Jesse Elzinga, said: ‘‘I am delighted with the superb A Level results achieved by our Year 13 leavers.
“For nearly 10 years the staff and pupils of the school have consistently earned results of over 70% A*-B at A Level, with more than 40% of all grades being A*-A, and we matched these results again in the summer of 2019.
“My particular congratulations goes out to the art, geography, French, economics, politics, religious studies and music departments, all of which achieved stunning results this year.
“Of course, there are many individual success stories amongst these results, and the statistic of which we are most proud is that on results day, almost 90% of our Leavers secured their first or insurance university place – a testament to the excellent work of our pupils and staff during the UCAS process.
“Well done to everyone involved in these results and very best wishes to all of our Leavers as they start the next phase of their academic careers.”
His praise was echoed by Reading Blue Coat School’s head of sixth form, George Morton.
He said: “These are a good set of results for our students who have given so much to the school and community in their time with us.
“Balancing their charitable endeavours and sporting and cultural activities, yet keeping a firm eye on their studies, has been no mean feat and many of them have really earned their place at some of the country’s most prestigious universities.
“We are very proud of them.”
