A-Level results: St Philip Howard students celebrate success

Students at St Philip Howard Catholic High School have '˜surpassed all expectations' with a stellar set of A-Level results.
SPH students celebrating top resultsSPH students celebrating top results
SPH students celebrating top results

Once again the Year 13 pupils bettered results from previous years, with more than 20 per cent of all exams sat by the Barnham school students attaining either an A* or A grade.

More than half achieved A* to B grades (54 per cent), with 82 per cent A*-C, and a number of high achievers are celebrating after opening their results today, Thursday, August 18.

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Among them were Catherine Aldridge and Jess Carter, who both gained three A* grades.

Catherine is to study mathematics at Oxford University and Jess, engineering (ship science) at Southampton University.

Elizabeth Holmes did brilliantly to achieve straight A grades in maths, English literature and music, and is going to Cardiff University to read music.

She said: “I’m very happy and surprised how high my grades were, I needed ABB but the fact that I got three As means I get a scholarship.”

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Other students to achieve three or more As included Ray Baquiran (theology, Durham), Katie Dowell (chemistry, Reading), and Dominic Neill (mechanical engineering, Southampton).

There were a number of students who secured two A grades.

These included Jessica Daley, Briony Eldridge, Charlie Finniear, Sam Heffernan, Monica Hetherington, Peter Hetherington, Freya Hind, Hope O’Grady, Elise Price, Isabella Samuels and Natalia Siemens.

Briony was delighted to get AAB in maths, English literature and chemistry. She said: “I am very happy, I got into Southampton Uni so that was my aim.

“I might defer a year and maybe travel a bit but I haven’t decided. When I rang my mum she cried.”

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It wasn’t just those who achieved As and Bs who were celebrating.

Tyler Van Zijal said: “I got CCD at AS-Level and I’m really pleased because I had to re-sit the year.

“It’s taken me a while to get used to A-Levels but SPH have helped me massively to improve getting the words in my head down on paper.”

Praising the efforts of his students, SPH head teacher Dave Carter said: “After many years of hard work and weeks of waiting for their results, it is wonderful to witness our students celebrating results today.

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“It is not just about those who get the top results. We are extremely proud of all our students, regardless of the grades they received.

“Being well qualified is important; being a good person is even more so.

“I am delighted that our students leave us so well equipped on both fronts and we wish them well in the future.”

There are a number of other students pursuing science and engineering degrees.

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These included Alexandra Towler, who will be studying chemistry at Bangor University.

Alexandra spent a challenging week at the US Space and Rocket Centre earlier this year, having been selected from hundreds of applicants for their Leadership Academy.

Alexandra experienced astronaut training, a realistic shuttle mission and rocket building and she hopes to pursue a career in this area.

Daniel Newton-Young will study Aerospace engineering at Liverpool University and Georgia Walsh, genetics at Sussex University.

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Leon Hogan, head of Sixth Form, added: “We are an inclusive Sixth Form community and welcome all students from within SPH and those who come from other schools.

“We are delighted with the achievements of all our students; they have again risen to the challenge.

“We look forward to September and a new cohort arriving.”

Anyone wishing to join the Sixth Form at SPH is welcome to contact the school www.sphcs.co.uk with enrolment on Thursday, August 25.