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A-LEVEL RESULTS DAY 2019: Spalding Grammar School full results




Students and staff at Spalding Grammar School are sharing in the glow of having achieved its highest percentage of top A-Level grades in recent history.

A*-B grades, and their equivalents, soared from 53 per cent last year to 67 per cent in 2019, the first time Year 13 students have gone above 60 per cent.

Three teenagers, Nick Carter, Tom Quinnell and Rebecca Oglesby, are looking forward to degree studies at Cambridge University after collecting grades good enough to confirm their places at Girton, Fitzwilliam and Sidney Sussex Colleges respectively.

Nick Carter, who is off to Girton College, Cambridge, to read Medicine, with headmaster Steven Wilkinson. Photo by Tim Wilson. SG-150819-007TW
Nick Carter, who is off to Girton College, Cambridge, to read Medicine, with headmaster Steven Wilkinson. Photo by Tim Wilson. SG-150819-007TW

Headmaster Steven Wilkinson said: "These results are all very good and it's been a good year for us, with 67 per cent of grades being A*-B or equivalent.

"Nearly one in five of the grades awarded were at the highest levels of A* or Distinction 1/2, so the students have done really well.

"We've never been over 60 per cent for A*-B grades before and our highest was 57 per cent in 2017.

Tom Quinnell is heading to Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, to study Computer Science. Photo by Tim Wilson. SG-150819-012TW
Tom Quinnell is heading to Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, to study Computer Science. Photo by Tim Wilson. SG-150819-012TW

"There were many exceptional performances across A-Level subjects, including the sciences where 27 students achieved top grades, law, business and psychology all saw the strongest ever performances from our students, geography for which results were on average half a grade higher than in any previous year and engineering, with all six students achieving the highest distinction grades D*D".

Nick, of Spalding, who collected A*s in Biology and Chemistry, as well as a D1 distinction in Maths and a Merit in Further Maths, said: "It seemed really unrealistic to get the grades I did but I'm really happy with them.

"I thought I'd done well enough to get into Girton to study Medicine and that helped a lot with my nerves.

"I really don't know how I'll celebrate, but I'll see what my friends are hoping to do."

Rebecca Oglesby got good enough grades to got to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, to read Geography. Photo by Tim Wilson. SG-150819-023TW
Rebecca Oglesby got good enough grades to got to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, to read Geography. Photo by Tim Wilson. SG-150819-023TW

Proud mother Jane Carter said: "I'm very proud of Nick because he's worked extremely hard and been very studious.

"He's been interested in a career in medicine since he was six or seven and these grades, which take Nick towards it, are all down to him."

Tom, of Crowland, who earned a D1 Distinctions in Maths and Further Maths, a D2 Distinction in Global Perspectives and an A in Computer Science, said: "The grades were a lot better than I expected and I certainly didn't think I'd get a D1 in Further Maths.

"I can go to Cambridge University now and study Computer Science."

Rebecca, of Spalding, who achieved A*s in Geography and History alongside an A in French, said: "I didn't think I'd done that brilliantly so I'm surprised.

"The past week wasn't very nice and it was quite a worry waiting for my results,

"I found it quite hard to sleep after having looked at the grade boundaries and convinced myself that I hadn't done well."

Henry Bedford, Nick Carter, who will study Medicine at Girton College, Cambridge, and Jack Peacock. Photo by Tim Wilson. SG-150819-014TW
Henry Bedford, Nick Carter, who will study Medicine at Girton College, Cambridge, and Jack Peacock. Photo by Tim Wilson. SG-150819-014TW

Jonny Manton, of Spalding, is taking a well-earned break from studying for a year of travelling after earning an A* in Chemistry, A in Geography a D1 Distinction in Maths and a D3 Distinction in Further Maths.

"It's been a lot of hard work, especially in the last six months, going off to exams on the back of a lot of revision.

"I went on holiday before my results came out so I was alright up until the last few days when I was quite nervous."

Sir John and Lady Hayes with son William whose new 'constituency' will be Newcastle University where he will study Politics. Photo by Tim Wilson. SG-150819-015TW
Sir John and Lady Hayes with son William whose new 'constituency' will be Newcastle University where he will study Politics. Photo by Tim Wilson. SG-150819-015TW

An air of Westminster was also present at Spalding Grammar School as Sir John Hayes, MP for South Holland and the Deepings, along with his wife Lady Susan joined their son William who collected A-Level grades good enough to take him to Newcastle University to study Politics.

Sir John said: "We were both fortunate enough to go to university and we know what a privilege that was.

"So seeing our son go through that process made it so resonant for us."

Spalding Grammar School's A-Level results day is in full swing. Photo by Tim Wilson. SG-150819-001TW
Spalding Grammar School's A-Level results day is in full swing. Photo by Tim Wilson. SG-150819-001TW

Lady Susan added: "I'm very proud of my very clever son and I'm really pleased that William has got into his first choice university.

"William went to an open day at Newcastle University and he had his heart set on studying Politics there.

"He loved the city, the university and the course, so it just seems a pleasant fit for him."

Dr Adriana Leadbeater (third left), director of sixth form studies at Spalding Grammar School, with students (from left) Jade Griffiths, Abigail Bates, Eliot Hill, Serena Leadbeater and Alicia Polley who achieved ten A*s and nine As between them. Photo by Tim Wilson. SG-150819-027TW
Dr Adriana Leadbeater (third left), director of sixth form studies at Spalding Grammar School, with students (from left) Jade Griffiths, Abigail Bates, Eliot Hill, Serena Leadbeater and Alicia Polley who achieved ten A*s and nine As between them. Photo by Tim Wilson. SG-150819-027TW

There was special praise reserved for four Year 13 students, Abigail Bates, Alicia Polley, Eliot Hill and Jade Griffiths who each overcame personal challenges to get into their first choice universities.

Abigail has earned a place at Imperial College London to study Medicine, Alicia will also study Medicine at Leeds University, Eliot has a place on a Computer Science degree course at Warwick University and Jade will study Engineering at Bath University.

Dr Adriana Leadbeater, director of sixth for studies at Spalding Grammar School, said: "We had students who did extremely well under difficult circumstances and my heart goes out to Alicia, Eliot and Jade.

Cambridge University students Tom Quinnell, Nick Carter and Rebecca Oglesby, with headmaster Steven Wilkinson. Photo by Tim Wilson. SG-150819-021TW
Cambridge University students Tom Quinnell, Nick Carter and Rebecca Oglesby, with headmaster Steven Wilkinson. Photo by Tim Wilson. SG-150819-021TW

"We're thrilled about what they have achieved in having performed well against their ambitious progress targets."

https://www.spaldingtoday.co.uk/news/a-level-results-day-2019-how-did-students-do-at-your-school-9079627/



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