RHS provides a winning combination of breadth and academic rigor at A Level
19 Aug 2016
The Royal Hospital School (RHS), Suffolk, announces a 97% pass rate at A Level this year despite widespread uncertainty amongst teachers and schools as to the reliability and accuracy of results alongside sweeping changes to the curriculum at AS level.
Simon Lockyer, Headmaster:
“I am delighted to report that our 2016 A Level results reflect the continued benefit of the breadth in our curriculum that provides opportunities for all our pupils and opens pathways beyond RHS. This year considerably more RHS pupils have secured their first place choice of university including Cambridge, UCL, St Andrews, Durham, Birmingham, Exeter, York and Warwick and on courses as diverse as Medicine, History, Natural Sciences, Economics, English Literature, PPE, Engineering and Anthropology. We are also delighted that a number have secured competitive apprenticeships, places at International universities, as well as entry to the Conservatoire of Scotland. Many will have surpassed more than they had dreamed possible and all should be congratulated on their personal successes.
With exams taken in over 30 A level subjects supplemented with enrichment courses and the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), RHS demonstrates that breadth of choice combined with academic rigor is the formula for success. In the first year of running the EPQ programme, 100% of pupils gained an A* or A grade further enhancing their combined UCAS points. Overall, more than half of A level grades were A* to B and 15 pupils gained the equivalent of 3 A*/As. Particular success was seen amongst those taking the most rigorous of academic subjects with over 90% of pupils gaining more than a B grade in their chosen Modern Language and an 80-89% A*-B pass rate across the core sciences (Chemistry, Physics and Biology).
Of course, one of the best indicators of success is employability. Within 5 years of leaving school, an impressive 91% of former RHS pupils are in graduate level employment. This is achieved by providing the best possible support and guidance, helping young people to navigate their way to achieve success in whatever career path they choose”.
RHS Pupil Stories
Charlie Steptoe: All Round Excellence
With his outstanding grades of A*A*A*A, Charlie Steptoe from Guildford has secured his place at Robinson College, Cambridge to read Natural Sciences next year.
Charlie joined the Royal Hospital School as a boarder in Year 7 as both his parents are serving in the Army. Charlie said “Being part of a services family meant having to move from school to school with my Dad’s job but the chance to board at the Royal Hospital School meant that I avoided this disruption and could concentrate on making the most of the opportunities available to me”.
Charlie excelled in this boarding environment gaining eight A*s and two As at GCSE and the position of Head Scholar in his final year. Outside of the classroom, he has been an active member of the School’s debating society and has represented RHS in cross country and athletics. He has also undertaken the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award and has been a committed member of the School CCF and Guard.
His Housemaster, Mr Jonathan Pooley, said “Charlie has excelled in so many areas; academic and co-curricular. He thoroughly deserves his place at Cambridge and I believe he has a great future ahead of him.”
Connor Harvey-Ward: Secured a Higher Degree Apprenticeship with Jaguar Land Rover
Connor Harvey-Ward from Woodbridge chose a different route; but equally impressive. He has secured a higher degree apprenticeship with Jaguar Land Rover. He was one of 20,000 applicants vying for this prestigious placement and one of only 240 to be invited to an assessment day.
His excellent performance on the day led to the offer of a place on this highly sought after 6 year apprenticeship at the end of which he will have gained a fully funded Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Warwick and a secure job placement with one of the world’s most prestigious car manufactures on £34,000 pa.
Connor said, “Despite receiving a generous offer of ACC and signing my contract, I have been waiting on tenterhooks for my results that will secure the placement. I am now packing my bags to travel to Warwick on 5 September to start this very exciting journey.”
Tia Jeremiah –Green: A Life Changing Opportunity has led to a place at Uni to read Internaitonal Relations and Politics
Tia Jeremiah-Green joined the Royal Hospital School as a boarder in the sixth form from her maintained school in East London. With her success at A level she has secured a place to study International Relations and Politics at De Montfort University in September.
Tia is the Royal Hospital School’s first ‘SpringBoard’ pupil. Her application was supported by Eastside Young Leader’s Academy (EYLA) which exists to nurture and develop leadership potential.
The SpringBoard Bursary Foundation was established in 2012 to assist with the funding of boarding places for disadvantaged pupils who would be benefit from a boarding education but whose parents cannot afford the fees. Ian Davenport, CEO of the SpringBoard Foundation explains, “The Foundation works closely with schools and partners such as Eastside Young Leader’s Academy to provide life-changing opportunities”.
The Royal Hospital School was one the first boarding schools in the UK to be accredited by SpringBoard and from September 2016 twelve pupils ranging from 11 to 18 years will benefit from a one of these bursary places.
Ian Davenport said of Tia’s success “Outstanding HMC boarding schools like the Royal Hospital School provide excellent pastoral care and academic support in which young people with potential can thrive and exceed all expectations. We are so grateful for the wonderful support provided for Tia; I believe that this has been a truly life-transforming experience for her”.
Ann Collard, Project Manager for EYLA, reinforced this sentiment by saying “Tia and RHS were a perfect match. Tia felt truly welcome at RHS from her first day in September 2014. She immediately threw herself into boarding school life seizing every opportunity and developing a strong work ethic. We have watched her mature into an ambitious yet gracious young woman and now she is over the moon with the recent confirmation of a place at her first choice university. We look forward to watching her progress through her higher education into the world of work. She has been a positive role model and mentor to the younger girls in her community and will be a strong ambassador for RHS, EYLA and SpringBoard. Tia, her family and EYLA are grateful to RHS and SpringBoard for this life changing journey”.
Isabelle Williams: Busy days and demanding duties didn’t stand in the way of Issy acing her As
Head of School at the Royal Hospital School, Isabelle Williams, from East Bergholt, is delighted with her straight As in History, German and Classical Civilisation and an A*in the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) in which she investigated The Impact of the Russian Revolution on the later Cold War. These results have confirmed her place at Bristol University to read History.
Head of Sixth Form, Chris Graham, said “Throughout her seven years at the Royal Hospital School, Issy has shown the grit and determination to succeed. She has made the very most of every opportunity showing particular prowess in debating, public speaking and Model United Nations. Alongside her demanding duties as Head of School, which have involved hosting Royalty, speaking at numerous functions and events and leading the whole-school ceremonial parades, Issy was awarded the National Maritime Museum prizes for outstanding achievement in History, the Todd Declamation for public speaking and was Highly Commended at MUN conferences across the country for her presentations on Human Rights. I wish her all the very best, she thoroughly deserves her place at Bristol”.