Outstanding Science and Creative Arts results for Mayfield girls!

24 Oct 2016

Another year, another impressive set of A Level results for girls at Mayfield School: 100% pass rate and an A* to B pass rate of over 75%. Over a quarter of all girls achieved 3 or more A*/A grades, two thirds of the cohort achieved at least one A*/A grade in challenging academic subjects. This is particularly impressive given that the school’s intake is not highly selective.

Impressive results across the board saw eleven subjects achieved 100% A*/B. As ever, the most outstanding results were in the sciences with Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Physics all achieving consistent success. Particularly noteworthy was the 75% of a large cohort achieving A*/A in Chemistry for a successive year, and over two thirds of Biologists achieving the same accolade with 100% being awarded A*-B. Given Mayfield’s reputation for creativity it is no surprise that the Cambridge Pre-U in Art and Design candidates built on the impressive success of last year when candidates achieved the top marks in the country. This year over 80% achieved a Distinction which is the top grading.

Yet again there were outstanding individual performances:

Tiffany Li earned a remarkable four A* and 2 A grades in Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Psychology and Chinese.  She has a place to study Medicine at Dundee. Maria Barelkowska has A*s in Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Polish and EPQ and an A in Further Maths, she will be taking up a place at Imperial College, London, to read Engineering. Phoebe Toyne-Bridges (A*A*A) is delighted to be taking up her place at Exeter College, Oxford to read Law. Karolina Parambul (A*A*A*A) is hoping to study Medicine.

A host of girls with straight A*/A are off to their university of choice: Laura Gilliland, off to study Medicine at Edinburgh, having achieved A*/As in Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Geography, and will be joined by Jessica  Butcher (Anthropology) and Madeline Hibbins-Cline (Art). Durham is also popular this year Zarina Budd (Economics), Eloise Stadler (Anthropology), Madeline O’Conor (Archaeology).

Wera Ruan, who achieved (A*AAA) has a place to study Economics at Warwick. Head Girl Francesca McLaren (A*AD2) with a place at UCL to study Anthropology, and will be joined in London by Tinki Chan studying Biomedical Science and Amelia Wang (Engineering) both at KCL, and Brontë McFadyean (A*AD2) who is one of a number of girls who have places at Wimbledon College (UAL) where she will be studying Costume Design. Tabitha Sternberg Allen (AAA), already used to winning on an International stage having represented GB and the AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association) in International competition, will be performing in a different arena when she begins her veterinary course at RVS in September. Zoe Snowball-Yudowi (AAD2), who lives in Mayfield, and is one of our dance scholars, has a place at Nottingham to study Criminology. She is currently dancing in New York on a scholarship and has a number of ballet schools vying to offer her a place. Zoe has also danced with the English National Ballet.

Headmistress Miss Antonia Beary comments:

“I am delighted that this year’s leavers have achieved the grades that they deserve, and which reflect the quality and variety of their education experience at Mayfield. As ever girls have been able to excel in a diverse combinations of subjects: Sciences, Humanities and the Creative and Performing Arts. Behind the statistics there are individual stories: girls who have worked tremendously hard and made exceptional progress during their time at Mayfield. There are too many successes to mention: these include not only whose who have a plethora of A*s but also those whose results may appear more modest but are an indication of sustained effort, application and resilience. Against a background of turbulent results it is reassuring that the standard of results at Mayfield remains high albeit that, as is becoming the norm, sadly some individuals have suffered from erratic exam marking.

Many girls continue with a combination of Arts, Sciences and Humanities at A Level and their success reflects the value and importance of creative thinking not simply in ‘artistic’ subjects, but across the board. It is gratifying to see that the national trend of students moving towards more challenging A Level subjects and the increasing popularity of Maths, is beginning to reflect what is the norm at Mayfield. We are proud to provide such an innovative, holistic and enlightened approach and look forward to Mayfield remaining a leading proponent of education which nurtures and values the talents of individuals both inside and outside the classroom.