Six of the Best for Top Ashby Student
Ashby School is celebrating its best A level results ever – topped off by a record six A grade passes for Head Boy Ben Gregory.
Ben, 18, of Ashby, got top marks in Biology, English Language, Critical Thinking, French, German and General Studies to secure a place at Cambridge University.
Ashby's overall pass rate was 98 per cent – up on last year's 97 per cent – with a total of 137 A grade passes. The average point score per student was equivalent to every one achieving three A grades.
In all, an impressive 40.8 per cent of passes were at grades A and B.
Head Girl Rachel Folwell earned three A grades to guarantee her place at Cambridge University.
Results day was a double celebration for Craig Mann, of Coleorton, who collected his results on his 18th birthday, picking up three As and a B.
There was also success for best friends Gail Pounder and Anna Theaker, both 18 of Breedon-on-the-Hill. The girls each scored three A grade passes to secure places at Nottingham University.
Headteacher Mrs Vivien Keller-Garnett said: "These excellent results are the outcome of sustained efforts by students and staff. I am so pleased that the students have got what they deserved.
"Ben Gregory is the first student at Ashby to achieve six A grades at this level but his is only one of many individual success stories. More than 99 per cent of those applying to university have secured a place – and I am so proud of them all."
Clive Jones, Chair of Governors, said: "I am delighted with these results and I would like to thank the staff and congratulate the students on their outstanding efforts."
Six-cess for Ben
Head Boy Ben Gregory was shocked to discover that he had achieved six A grade passes at A level – the first student ever to do so at Ashby School.
His exam success has secured him a place to read Philosophy at Cambridge University.
Ben is also celebrating the news that he achieved one of the country's top five scores in his Biology A level, out of more than 9,500 candidates.
Ben said: "I didn't expect to get A grades in all six subjects. It came as a bit of a shock but it is great news."
Headteacher Mrs Vivien Keller-Garnett said: "Ben is naturally gifted and talented but also very hard-working. In the past, the maximum number of A grade passes at Ashby School has been five so Ben has broken all records."
Doctor in the House
Head Girl Rachel Folwell fulfilled her lifelong dream to earn a place at medical school when she achieved three A grades at A level.
Rachel, 18, of Ravenstone, will study Medicine for six years at Cambridge, before specialising in Paediatrics or Oncology.
She said: "I was afraid to open my results in case I hadn't got the grades I needed, in case I let anybody down. The most important thing is that I can train as a doctor which is all I have ever wanted to do – so I am very happy.
"My advice to anyone who wants to do well in their A levels is to work hard and aim high. If you have a dream or something you want to do, you can achieve it."
Many Happy Results
Birthday boy Craig Mann moved a step closer to his dream career in film when he collected his A level results on his 18th birthday.
Craig, who scored three As and a B, will now go on to do a degree in Film Studies at Sheffield Hallam University.
Craig, who studied History, English and Film Studies at A level, said: "The secret to doing well is simply to work hard. Getting these grades means that I can study for my chosen degree and hopefully an MA in Screen Writing, before carving out a career for myself in the film industry."
Best Friends Share Success
Best friends Gail Pounder and Anna Theaker were delighted when they each gained three A grade passes at A level – enough to earn them both a place at Nottingham Unviersity.
The girls, who are from Breedon-on-the-Hill, both attended Castle Donington Community College, before coming to Ashby School.
Gail, who got three As and a C, will study Psychology, while Anna picked up three As and a B. She will study Geography.
Gail said: "We are best friends so I am glad that we have both done so well."
Hard Work Pays Off for Matthew
Matthew Taylor, 18, of Hartshorne, near Swadlincote, managed to achieve four As and a B – in spite of missing two weeks' revision due to illness.
Matthew, whose revision schedule was interrupted by a series of hospital tests, said: "Now that I have my exam results, I am feeling pretty good and very relieved -especially as I was ill and wasn't able to revise for some of the exam papers.
"I'm glad that the hard work I managed to put in did pay off."
Straight As for High-Flier Tiffany
When Tiffany Webster, 18, of Newhall, got four A grades in her A levels, she secured a place to study Religion, Philosophy and Ethics at King's College, London.
After that, high-flier Tiffany plans to study for a PhD to become a Doctor of Ethics – and then to work as a university lecturer.
She said: "The only way to be sure of getting good results is to do lots of revision – stay up late and get up early! Now that I have my results, it has all been worthwhile."
Budding Journalist Reports Good Results
Aspiring reporter Louise Gaudern, 18, of Ashby, was delighted to get three A grades in her A levels.
Louise, who studied English Literature, French and Film Studies, will now read English and French at Warwick University.
She said: "Revision is the secret to success. You have to believe that you can do it – and, hopefully, you will."
Louise eventually hopes to embark on a journalistic career.
Friends Work Together to Boost Grades
Friends Uan Gohil and Martin Mahdoodi attributed their exam success to working together.
Uan, who got three As, said: "Martin and I did the same subjects so we worked together. If I had a problem, I rang him up – and vice versa. It seems to have worked because we have both got the grades we needed."
Martin added: "There was also a healthy spirit of competition between us and that spurred us both on."
Uan, 18, of Coleorton, will now take a gap year, while Martin, 18, of Ibstock, will study Accounting and Finance at Loughborough University.
Joe is Politically Correct
Preparation was the key to success for Joe Sanders, who secured an A and two B grades - and a place to read Politics at Manchester University.
Joe, 18, of Ashby, studied Politics, English and Geography at A level.
He said: "It's a good idea to get all your work in on time right from the beginning of Year 12 – it is all worth it in the end. A levels are like a rite of passage and it is important to do well. These exams can change the whole course of your life."
A list of this year's highest achieving A level students follows. This includes their forward plans, where known.
Rachel Barsby AAB Modern
Languages, University of Bath
Rachel Folwell AAA Medicine,
Cambridge University
Louise Gaudern AAA English
and French, Warwick University
David Gerrard AAAA English
Literature, Nottingham University
Uan Gohil AAA Maths
with Economics, Warwick University
Luke Gooding AABA Geography,
Lancaster University
Ben Gregory AAAAAA Philosophy,
Cambridge University
David Heaton AACCB Veterinary
Science,
Royal Veterinary College
Carly Hutchinson AABC Gap
year
Lauren Kavanagh AAA English
Language and Literature,
Sheffield University
Laura Keeling AAAA Modern
Languages, Birmingham University
Claire King AAB Biochemistry,
Liverpool University
Craig Mann AAAB Film
Studies, Sheffield University
Amy Marston AABB
Laura Phillips AAAA English,
Leeds University
George Ranson AAA English
Language, Manchester University
Gail Pounder AAAC Psychology,
Nottingham University
Ben Reeve AAA Mathematics,
Warwick University
Florian Ruberg AAAB Computer
Science
Scott Rush AAAA Economics,
Warwick University
Rachel Sharrod AAAB Maths
and Sports Science,
Loughborough University
Heather Sherriff AAAAA Medicine,
Newcastle University
Kathryn
Smoraczewska AAAC Modern
Languages, Oxford University
Nicola Smith AAB
Josie Stone AABC French
and German, Exeter University
Natasha Tait AAAB Business
Management,
Birmingham University
Matthew Taylor AAAAB Philosophy,
Sheffield University
Anna Theaker AAAB Geography,
Nottingham University
James Muller AAB
Peter Lawrence AAABB Medicine,
Newcastle University
Ruth Starkey AAAB Geography,
Durham University
Chloe Upson AAAC Philosophy,
Sheffield University
Tiffany Webster AAAA Religion,
Philosophy and Ethics,
Kings College London
Hannah Woolerton AABB
