QE announces its best-ever A-level results

Queen Elizabeth’s School has announced its best-ever A-level results, with strong grades across all subjects. For the first time, the proportion of A*, A and B grades achieved at the School rose above 98%, reaching 98.5% – up from 97.7 % in 2011.

Neil Enright, who became Headmaster in September last year, said: “I am extremely proud of our Year 13 students: their hard work and dedication has been well rewarded. To have improved significantly on last year’s very good results is a formidable achievement, particularly at a time when examination boards nationally have taken steps to end ‘grade inflation’.

“In the wake of the Olympics, there has been much talk about the value of competition: at QE, we unashamedly promote excellence throughout the School: competition is at the very heart of what we do. I believe our excellent academic results can be directly attributed to the combination of our meritocratic ethos with a balanced curriculum that plays to the strengths of boys.”

The number of A* grades held up, while the School recorded a 4% jump in the combined proportion of A* and A grades, which reached 88.5%.

Twenty-six boys among the Upper Sixth have offers from Oxford or Cambridge. These are in a wide range of subjects, from Engineering (five boys) to the famous Politics, Philosophy & Economics (PPE) course at Oxford.

All Year 13 boys have university places for 2012 or are taking a gap year. Nineteen boys have been offered places to read Medicine and 8 for Dentistry.

“One of the aspects of this year’s results that is particularly pleasing is that there are no weak links among the School’s departments,” added Mr Enright. “Our scientists and mathematicians have excelled themselves, but it is worth noting that all seven of our Art A-level students gained an A*, while 61% of English A-levels were given this top grade, and the History results were also very strong.”

The results represent many individual triumphs. Several boys are following in the footsteps of high-flying elder brothers who are already at university, such as Harry Peto, who is taking up a place at Clare College, Cambridge, to read Politics, Psychology and Sociology, while his brother, Tommy, has just completed the second year of his PPE course at Brasenose College, Oxford.”

“As part of our mission to produce young men who are confident, able and responsible, we encourage all our boys to pursue extra-curricular activities, so I am pleased to note that among our straight-A* students this year are the captain of our First XV rugby team, Drew Williams, and talented musician Janaka Sumanasekera,” Mr Enright concluded.

Top State School, The Daily Telegraph – Friday 17 August 2012

Top State School, The Times – Friday 17 August 2012

The Times – Friday 17 August 2012

Daily Mail – Friday 17 August 2012

The Barnet & Potters Bar Times – Thursday 16 August 2012

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