GCSE success at Leighton Park
22 Aug 2024
Families were celebrating at Leighton Park this morning, with the School seeing an increase of 8 percentage points in 9-7 grades. 56% of grades were 9-7, with a whopping 41% of grades at 9-8 and 21% of grades at 9.
Leighton Park’s STEAM academic departments achieved particularly strong results, with the proportion of grades 9-7 shown in brackets, including Geography (92%), Engineering (80%), Physics (67%), Combined Science (67%), Maths (62%), Chemistry (60%), Biology (60%), Music (60%) and Design Technology (55%). Leighton Park is one of very few schools in the UK to offer the Engineering GCSE, reflecting the School’s focus on teaching critical thinking and creative problem-solving.
English Literature and Language performed well with 58% and 59% grades 9-7 respectively. Languages overall did very well, including French AQA (100%), Japanese (100%), Russian (100%), Mandarin (89%) and German (80%). The school also offers a BTEC in Creative Media Production with seven students enjoying Distinction* or Distinction grades.
Deputy Head Academic, Alex, commented: “We are absolutely thrilled with these results. A rise of 8 percentage points at grades 9-7 is simply exceptional and reflects the hard work and dedication of students, staff and parents. This morning it was a real pleasure to see such joy on everyone’s faces. These results bode well for the future at Leighton Park.”
Two students achieved straight 9s, including Olivia whose sister Harriet also achieved three A*s in her A Levels last week. Olivia enthused: “I think these results are down to my amazing teachers and I can’t thank them enough.” Dr Randall, Olivia’s dad, commented on his daughters’ success: “We originally picked Leighton Park for Harriet as she has working memory issues. We knew the small class sizes would really help her. The School transformed Harriet with incredible support. Olivia followed because we were so happy with how the school helped Harriet. I’m not sure they could have achieved these results at another school. They are very different but Leighton Park has been fantastic for both of them.”
Matthew, Head of Leighton Park, was very pleased with the results: “The success we are celebrating today is a shared one. It reflects the close-knit community we nurture here, where students support each other, staff go above and beyond, and parents play a crucial role in our collective achievements. Our students have not only excelled academically but have done so with kindness, humility, and a deep respect for one another—qualities we value as much as their grades.
We are also thrilled that almost all of our students will be continuing their educational journey with us, proceeding to our Sixth Form to pursue their chosen courses in our brand-new Sixth Form Study Centre, Grove.
As they move forward, we are confident that they will continue to embody the Quaker values that define our school. We look forward to seeing the positive impact they will undoubtedly have on the wider world.”
Antigoni, who also achieved straight 9s, has been choosing between the School’s A Level and IB Diploma programmes and won one of the School’s prestigious IB Diploma Scholarships: “I would like to thank Duncan, Jenny, Gemma and Shabs for the extra sessions and the support when I doubted myself most. I’m really looking forward to being in the new Sixth Form Study Centre next year – it looks amazing! Thank you to all my teachers for putting the maximum possible effort into all my classes to help me achieve the best grades.” Antigoni’s mum, Alexandra, agreed: “I would like to say a massive thank you to the school as we had some tough moments through the year and we received fantastic support. I am so happy!”
Marcus, who received eight grade 9s and one 8 and an A in Global Perspectives alluded to Leighton Park’s award-winning personal development, with the School winning the national Independent Schools Association Award for Pupil Personal Development in 2022/23: “I’m pleased with my results. The past three years at the school have really helped me develop and grow, including in music and the sciences.”
Cali received five 9s, two 8s, two 7s and an A* in Global Perspectives also reflected on her wider development: “I’m feeling so happy about my results, the hard work paid off and I feel like it wouldn’t have been possible without the support of all my teachers throughout. Even when I didn’t believe in myself, they believed in me and for me that was the biggest factor in my success. It shows how far I have come and how much Leighton Park has helped me develop and excel. As a drama scholar, it’s been so amazing, the drama department is such a big part of my life. I’m staying at Leighton Park for Sixth Form studying Business, Geography and English Literature and I’m so excited to use the new Sixth Form Centre!”
Max who achieved six grade 6s, two 8s and a 7 as well as an A for Global Perspectives received an incredible 200 points out of 200 in the Maths GCSE exam: “I’m incredibly happy with my GCSE results. I’m staying on at Leighton Park to study Music, English and Maths at A Level after being a Music and Academic scholar. I found that I had many opportunities as a scholar to further my musical and academic performances and without that, I wouldn’t have even thought about doing the subjects I did at GCSE.”
Helen Taylor, our Assistant Head: Director of Sixth Form was delighted to see so many happy families: “I am looking forward to this fantastic Year 11 cohort moving on into the Sixth Form in September. This year is the largest number of newcomers to the Lower Sixth that we’ve ever had, and also the very fortunate group that are going to be the first to benefit from the wonderful new Grove Sixth Form Study Centre.
Leighton Park won Senior School of the Year 2023-24 in the Independent Schools Association (ISA) Awards and was also a Finalist in the prestigious Times Educational Supplement (TES) Awards for Independent Senior School of the Year 2023-24.
Leighton Park also won the ISA’s 2022-23 Award for Pupil Personal Development and has been celebrated by Muddy Stilettos in their 2024 Awards as a Finalist in their Most Inclusive School Award. The school is looking forward to the success continuing as we open our stunning new Sixth Form Centre in September 2024.
If you are considering studying A Levels, CTEC Sport, BTEC in Digital Film & Video Production or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, the next Sixth Form Open Afternoon at Leighton Park School is on Saturday 21st September, 1.30-3.30pm. To join us, book online at www.leightonpark.com/visit-leighton-park.