More than a hundred Year 13 students at Taunton School received their A-Level or BTEC results this morning. The overall picture is encouraging with a small rise in grades compared with last year, and the majority of students having the grades they need to progress to their next step.
At A-Level, 36% of Year 13 students had A* or A (33% last year).
62% had A*-B (61 % last year) and 84% A*-C (79% last year). The A*-E pass rate was 100% (98% last year).
Taking all three courses (A-Level, BTEC and IB combined), two thirds of our sixth form leavers achieved A*-B grades or equivalent.
62% of Upper Sixth leavers have secured their first choice of UK University. This figure is likely to increase as more places are confirmed over the comings days. 31% achieved higher than the grades they originally needed for their first choice of UK University.
Taunton School is proudly diverse and, as usual, a number of students will continue their studies in different countries across the globe. This year, Spain, Canada, Italy, Hong Kong, Russia and USA are among the destinations, as well as top universities in the UK.
At A-Level, 13 (same as 2019) students achieved AAA or better, with a further 25 (same as 2019) achieving ABB or higher. Of the 29 (30 in 2019) subjects offered, there were particularly strong performances in Art, English, Maths, Further Maths and Modern Foreign Languages.
BTEC Sport and Exercise Science Extended Diploma results were once again outstanding, with students surpassing the grades they needed for their first choice University offers. 73% of grades were Distinction* (equivalent to A* at A level), the rest Distinctions (equivalent to A at A-Level). BTEC Sports Scientist of the year, Conway Gilbert, will be heading to Exeter University to study Sports Science.
In its first year at the school, BTEC Business was also a scene of success for the 15 students who took it. Results ranged from PP (double pass grade) to D*D* (double starred distinction, equivalent to A*A* at A-Level) with six students getting DD (equivalent to AA) or better.
Deputy Head Academic, Damian Henderson said: “Once again I am bowled over by the results of our BTEC students, and I am so pleased that BTEC Business has enjoyed a successful first set of grades. The dedication of BTEC students and their teachers is impressive and I look forward to a strong intake of ambitious new students in Year 12 in September for both pathways.”
At A level, among the top achievers were Jack Kerslake achieving 3 A* in English, Latin and History and Daniel Lloyd-Jones achieving 4 A* in Maths, Further Maths, Latin and Physics. Jack has met his offer requirements to study History at Oxford while Daniel is off to Imperial College London to read Physics.
Also bound for Oxford are Paddy Doherty (St Anne’s, Engineering), Julian Müller (Magdalen, PPE) and Ellie-May Vohra (Corpus, Classics) who left in 2019.
And it’s not just A-Level and BTEC students who have been waiting for today. The Taunton School International Baccalaureate (IB) cohort received their results in early July, but some universities had delayed confirming places until all results were known. Some successful re-mark appeals have pushed the average points score per candidate up a notch to 33.5 (out of 45) with 7 students now scoring an impressive 40 or above. Astrid Thomas has now joined Maria Parada as top scorer with a world-class 43 points and further appeals may see yet more improvements.
Categories: News Sixth FormHeadmaster Lee Glaser said: “In a year in which there has been so much uncertainty, these results pay testimony to the hard work and resilience of our fabulous students and the whole of our community. I am so proud of their efforts despite the fact that their opportunity to shine in the exam room was taken away. They deserve great credit. The uncertainty surrounding the assessment methodology has not helped and I very much hope that every student across the country will eventually be awarded the grade they deserve.”
