GALLERY: Talented A Level students reach for the stars

Hardworking students at The King’s School Chester are celebrating top A Level grades and prestigious university places in the first year of results following the return of formal exams.

Eighty per cent of students secured their first-place university place and an impressive 49% of students achieved straight A*/A grades, despite this year group having faced the disruptions of pandemic lockdowns. Overall, 67% of grades were A*/A and 86% A*/B.

There was double the reason to celebrate for twins Alice Pearce (A, A, A) and Eve Pearce (A*, A*, A) and Daniel Keily (A*, A*, A*) and Anisa Keily (A*, A*, A*).

Six students guaranteed their Oxbridge places.

• Itsie Oyedeji (A*, A*, A, B) – Law at Mansfield College, Oxford
• Avi Sengupta (A*, A*, A*, A*) – Medicine at Brasenose College, Oxford
• Lily Kenningham (A*, A*, A*) – Chemistry at St Hilda’s, Oxford
• Maria Rich (A*, A*, A*, A) – Economics and Management at Pembroke College, Oxford
• Charlotte Scott (A*, A*, A*, A*) – Land Economy at Trinity Hall, Cambridge
• Adam Harris (A*, A*, A*, A*) – Engineering at Emmanuel College, Cambridge

Congratulations also go to 2021 leaver Freja Davis who will take up her place to study Geography at Oxford.

Departments and subjects celebrated across the board, with particular success in Politics and Physics with 53% of grades in each subject at A*. In Art, 90% of grades were A*/A.

Head of Sixth Form, Josh Carter, said: “Looking at these results, it’s easy to forget that these are the first formal, national exams that this year group has taken. Not having the opportunity to sit their GCSE exams was a huge blow to them and could easily have put them on the back foot, but these results show their determination to prove themselves, as well as being a testament to their resilience and focus throughout periods of real disruption.

“We worked hard all year to prepare them for the reality of exams and seized every opportunity to boost their confidence as A Levels approached. I am delighted that this has paid off for them, and I wish them all the very best as they take the next, exciting steps.”

Headmaster George Hartley added: “We are all rightly proud of the character that these young people have shown in overcoming the various challenges of the last couple of years. Their resolve to get the most out of their time at King’s never faltered and today’s results are the outcome of that tenacious attitude.”

Separately, there were also outstanding results in for the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)* with 53% of students achieving an A*. Each EPQ carries the weight of half an A Level* and when included in overall data brings the percentage of A*/A to 69%. 

The following students achieved four straight A* grades:

Charlotte Scott, Adam Harris, Henry Banfield, Jacob Georgis and Avinandan Sengupta.

The following students achieved at least three A* grades:

Anna Crossley, Molly Ellis, Sophie Gwyther, Lily Kenningham, Anisa Kiely, Isla Plass, Maria Rich, Louis Adams, William Burrows, Toby Ellis, Hugh Hudson, Daniel Kiely, Matthew Leitch, Jake Liddle and Partap Shergill, Aryan Agarwal, Elinor Wilson and Alexander Crees. 

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