Newsletter Results Special 2017
Students buck trend to post great results THE school is celebrating remarkable exam results with a huge spike in passes at both A Level and GCSE. Our students bucked the national trend by posting an increase in the top GCSE marks in the first year of the new numerical grading system. The school achieved a 62 per cent pass rate at Grade 4 or above (the A*- C equivalent in 2016) in maths and English, a 20 per cent increase on last year. While nationwide results dipped by 3.8 per cent due to the new, tougher exams, Hampton High also saw the number of students achieving five A*- C equivalent grades shoot up by a fifth to 62 per cent. Pupils achieved the excellent results against a backdrop of the biggest shake-up to GCSE exams in a generation. New exams in English language, English literature and maths were taken by the Year 11 students, which were graded in numbers, with nine as the highest mark and one the lowest. There were five students scoring the new top grade of 9, equivalent to a high A* of 79 per cent or above. They were Marc Parker, Sam Martin, Zoe Gahn, Megan Huntingford and Lucas Murray. At A Level, our students produced recordbreaking results with 35 per cent of sixth formers achieving A* to B and 67 per cent scoring A* to C grades. This is a ten per cent improvement on last year. All students who applied for university have been offered a place at the first choice, with the rest of students leaving to take up apprenticeships. Outgoing headteacher Mair Hughes said: “I am so pleased with the results this year. Students and staff should be incredibly proud of the results they have achieved. “A 20% increase on the A*-C equivalent in English and maths is a fantastic
Increase in top GCSE grades
better than we expected. I think that the partnerships with the Twickenham schools via the MAT has worked well. “I’m incredibly pleased as 18 students have been accepted by their university of choice.”
testament to the hard work and dedication of all involved and reflects well the progress the school has made over the last few years. “I would like to congratulate all students and thank staff and parents for all their support in ensuring that the students achieved their best.” Co-sixth form leader Melissa Metcalfe said: “We are all very happy with the overall results. They are even
Happy: Hampton students celebrate together
Hampton High newsletter n Results Special 2017
Jubilation: Milan Radojicic (left) shares his good news with a fellow student
Revision work paid dividends for Milan Pupil praises school’s help
STUDENT Milan Radojicic achieved a double distinction in IT and a B grade in A Level business studies. Milan barely spoke English when he first arrived at the school in Year 9 and puts his success down to the support of teachers at Hampton High. He plans to take a gap year before studying computer science at the University of Reading next year. He said: “I have had a lot of support from the school. It is this and hard work that has really made the difference to me. I was revising every day – I definitely put the work in.”
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Gracie ready for a break STUDENT Gracie Grenardo achieved a triple distinction in health and social care and is now taking a year off before studying to be a midwife. The hard-working 17-year-old said she was happy to have completed the course though admitted she had found it difficult. She said: “It was very tough but I got to a point where I just needed to do it. “I’ve done it now and I’m so happy with the results. “The teachers were very supportive of me and I would like to thank them for that. I have had a great time at this school.”
Hampton High newsletter n Results Special 2017
Headteacher Mrs Rebecca Poole reflects on the performance of Hampton High students in the recent exams.
Improved results the reward for hard work
Big future: Mo Deria with his drama teacher Alice Jones
Gifted Mo is a real star in ‘ drama exam
Chasing his dream: Mo is taking his time before deciding on his next step
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to something, he fights to achieve it. He approached me at the start of the year telling me he wanted to achieve an A* in drama, so I told him we would work together to get there and he did it. “While Mo is an undeniably gifted performer, the A Level was 90% written, which shows just how academically bright he is.” Mo’s success has acted as an inspiration to fellow pupils at the school, with student Francis Redfern now set to follow in his footsteps after winning a place at the NYT earlier this year. Following his acceptance to the NYT in April 2016, Mo told the Richmond and Twickenham Times: “I was speechless; I literally couldn’t speak, which is not a great thing for an actor. I was so nervous before I found out. “I only found out about it through my teacher in February so it is all a bit of a whirlwind. “Two months later my whole life has changed and I’m taking my first steps towards fulfilling my dream. I just can’t believe it is happening.”
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BUDDING actor Mo Deria will join up with the National Youth Theatre having scored an A* in his drama A-Level. The 18-year-old hit the headlines last year after winning a scholarship to the prestigious company, which boasts Dame Helen Mirren, Sir Ben Kingsley and Sir Daniel Day-Lewis among its alumni. Mo was interviewed before and after his audition for the BBC Radio 4 documentary Untold Stories – broadcast last June – and also featured in the Richmond and Twickenham Times. He has been offered a place at Kent University but is taking his time to consider applying for drama school. Our drama teacher Alice Jones described Mo as a ‘very driven’ student. She said: “I’m really pleased with Mo. Once he sets his mind
We were enormously proud of our students’ achievements this summer. All of our students who took A Levels secured the outcomes they needed to go on to their choice of university, job or apprenticeship. This was the result of consistent, focused hard work and an unrelenting commitment on the part of the staff, along with the families, to ensure that the students in their care achieved well. Our GCSE results also saw an impressive 22 per cent increase in the headline figure, from 40 per cent 5 A*-C in 2016 to 62 per cent 3 A*-C, including 4+ maths and English, in 2017. All of these results demonstrate that hard work and resilience pay off. We are grateful to be part of the RWST family of schools – this partnership enabled us to moderate and standardise performance in maths and English throughout the year against a backdrop of national uncertainty around grade boundaries. These results have given a firm foundation to support other subjects successfully in this transition period and for the school to go from strength to strength.
Hampton High newsletter n Results Special 2017
Megan hits top spot Nine grade brings relief for student
STUDENT Megan Huntingford overcame the “disorientating” new grading system to score top marks in her GCSEs. Megan (right) was among just a handful of students to score the top grade of 9 in the new English literature exam and also achieved two A* and 3As. She said: “I feel very relieved. At first, I didn’t think I had the right results. “When I first started GCSEs I felt confident but as it got close I wasn’t so sure. “The new grade system was all a bit disorientating but the school did the best they could to make it easier and we all worked hard in what was a tough year.”
Krzysztof gives thanks for help BRIGHT Krzysztof Szymanski thanked the school for preparing students for the new grading system. He bucked the national trend to score an 8 grade in maths and a 7 in English literature, as well as three As in the science subjects. He said: “I’m glad it’s all over. It was a very tough year for students and schools with the new grading system. “However, the school prepared us for it and so by the time this year came around I think we were ready.”
Top performers
Friends form the A-team FRIENDS Marc Parker and Lucas Murray pose with their results after scoring a remarkable 14 As between them at GCSE. Marc (right) scored four A*s, two As and a 9 grade in maths, while Lucas achieved six As and a 9 in English literature.
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STUDENT Fayaz Tarin achieved a triple distinction and is now off to study computer forensics and security at Bournemouth University. Our other high-performing GCSE students: Marina Ghaly: 5A*, 1A, 8 in English language and 7 in English literature and maths. Sam Martin: 5A*, 1B, 9 in maths, 7 and 6 in English literature and English language. Alisha McKie: 2A*, 3As, 1B, 8 in maths, 8 in English literature and 7 in English language. Zoe Gahn: 3A*, 2As, 1B, 9 in maths and 7 and 6 in English literature and English language. Ehsan Mahmood: 2A*, 4A, 8 in maths and 6 in English literature and English language. Katie Cardamone-Ward: 2A*, 3A, 1B, 8 in English, 6 and 5 in English literature and English language.
Hampton High newsletter n Results Special 2017