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2 ACADEMIC
Public Examinations 2017
For our U6 and Fifth Forms, the shadow of exam results
hangs heavy over the summer holidays. This year, once
again, many of them exceeded their expectations and
their results reflect the hard work and determination
they have shown over the past years.
We saw the highest ever number of A*s achieved at A Level. 38.3% of
all exams taken by our U6 pupils were awarded the top grade, making
A* the most common grade achieved by Bancroftians this year. A
fantastic 69.5% of exams were graded at either A* or A. Twenty nine
pupils claimed three or more A*s each, with 14 of these gaining four
A*s and an ecstatic two being awarded an amazing five A*s.
The majority of pupils have achieved places at their chosen
universities. With 23 Bancroftians taking up their places, this was
a record year for Oxbridge. Amongst other popular destinations
are Nottingham, Durham, Exeter, Birmingham, King’s London and
UCL. Congratulations must go to Rebecca Leung who has a piano
scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music. Two of our
artists have places for art foundation courses, Tyler Ward-Bagnold is
off to the Royal Drawing School while Nina will continue her studies at
the prestigious Central St Martin’s School of Art.
Apart from their undoubted academic success, this is a year group
which has always thrown itself wholeheartedly into the co-curricular
life of the School. Throughout the past seven years, they have
made an invaluable contribution to music, sport and drama. School
productions, such as
Sweeney Todd
and
Les Miserables
, have been
enriched by their talent and enthusiasm. Twenty two of the U6 have
achieved their Gold Award in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme
and are looking forward to having their awards presented at St James’
Palace. The members of the School’s Combined Cadet Force have
shown fantastic examples of leadership with Tom Walton, the Head
of Contingent, and Josh Sekhon, Head of the Army Section, both
awarded Sixth Form Army Scholarships.
Head, Simon Marshall, said, “Our U6 was an exceptionally hard-
working and talented year group and they have coped admirably with
being the first year to experience the new A Levels. As guinea pigs
for these tougher A Levels, it has been an extremely stressful and
uncertain two years for them, and, therefore, their achievements are
all the more significant. They have been supported by our extremely
dedicated and hard-working teachers (for whom these last two years
have been no less stressful) who also deserve congratulations for
their dedication and inspiration. As ever, we are as proud of those of
our pupils who worked hard to achieve B and C grades as we are of
those who worked equally hard and achieved A* grades.”
Our Fifth Form also saw that their hard work had paid off in their terrific
set of results. A huge number of pupils exceeded their expectations
and we were delighted to see so many individual success stories.
Over half the exams (56%) taken were awarded an A* and 89.3% of all
GCSE exams were graded at A* or A. In total fifteen pupils achieved a
magnificent clean sweep of ten A*s, with 47, more than a third of the
year group, achieving 7 seven or more A*s.
Simon Marshall, said, “This is an excellent set of results from a year-
group which has been perhaps a little slow to realise their academic
potential. It was great to see so many of our pupils express real joy
(and relief) with their achievements. I am sure that this is a year-
group which will now grow in intellectual confidence on the back of
these great results and approach their A Levels with real ambition.
This is the final year for this type of GCSE exam, and it is great to see
our Fifth Form sign them off so well.”