Star pupil Bella Wells was the highest achiever at Taunton School as students collected their GCSE results today.
The 16-year-old achieved an astonishing ten grade 9s in her exams – equivalent to ten A*s in the old grading system.
Bella, from Taunton, said: “I am absolutely delighted with my results.
“My teachers have been amazing, especially during lockdown, and made sure that we were totally prepared for the exams. I’d like to say a big thank you to them and to everyone at the school who has helped me to achieve these results, and to my family too.”
Across the school 43% of GCSEs were graded at 9-7 (equivalent to A*-A), while 92% scored grades 9-4 (equivalent to A*-C), significantly above the national average of 73%.
25 students completed BTEC Level 2 Sport, with 43% achieving Distinction* or Distinction (equivalent to A*-A).
Taunton School’s highest achievers were:
- Bella Wells: 10x grade 9
- Elle Marsden: 7x grade 9, 2x grade 8
- Derek Cheung: 6x grade 9, 2x grade 8, 1x grade 7
- Jack Bollom: 6 x grade 9, 2x grade 8 and 1 x grade 7 and a grade 5
- Chloe Hims: 4x grade 9, 4x grade 8, 2x grade 7
- Orlando Jolliffe: 4x grade 9, 5x grade 8, 2x grade 7
- Kai Chen: 4x grade 9, 3x grade 8, 1x grade 7
Headmaster James Johnson said: “I am proud of the hard work and determination our Year 11 students have shown throughout lockdown and beyond.
“They have excelled themselves, showing commitment, perseverance and a desire to learn both through the pandemic and as we returned to classroom learning.
“Congratulations to the pupils and to all staff who have supported them and contributed to this success.”
Bella will be staying on at Taunton School to study Latin, geography, economics and psychology at A-level.
At Taunton School International, 49% of students achieved grades 9-7, with a 9-4 rate of 90%.
The top performing international students were:
- Beatrice Giolito from Sweden: 6x grade 9, 1x grade 8 and 1x grade 7
- Gala Sanchez Galabi from Spain: 5x grade 9 and 2x grade 8
- Yas Nabati Hassankiadeh from Iran: 5x grade 9 and 2x grade 8
- Kris Wong from Hong Kong: 5x grade 9 and 1x grade 7
- Eric Ying from China: 4x grade 9, 2x grade 8 and 1x grade 6
Camilla Bryden, Head of Taunton School International, said: “These results are exceptional considering the extreme disruption in education globally during the pandemic where a large number of our students started the year having been absent from school for the majority of the previous two years.
“All our teachers, tutors and house staff have been amazing, working tirelessly to give our students the individual care and attention they needed in order for them to approach their exams in the best possible position academically and with a positive and confident mindset to achieve results well above the national average.”
Categories: International News Senior Sixth Form
