Highams Park Students’ Stellar Success
Students
in the 6th Form at Highams Park School have achieved incredible results this
year in the face of untold levels of disruption to their post-16 education.
With COVID-19 restrictions forcing school closures, online learning, amended
assessment structures and, for many, repeated requirements to isolate as close
contacts of a positive case, our Year 13 cohort have stuck to their task,
demonstrating outstanding resilience, to earn some of the best results our
school has seen.
Indeed, five of our Year 13 students
have achieved a clean sweep of A* grades in their A levels, which is a truly
outstanding feat. For all five students, these grades represent the culmination of
their hard work and dedication from Year 7 through to Year 13 in
Highams Park School.
Omar Ahmad and Shameer Ashraf have both gained three A*s in Maths,
Further Maths and Computer Science and will take up places at King’s
College London to study Computer Science and University College London to study
Statistics, Economics and Finance respectively. Continuing our success in STEM
subjects, Joanne Primrose’s A*A*A* in Chemistry, Maths and Physics see her onto the
Physics with Astrophysics course at the University of Glasgow. Martha Wakefield, who will go on to study
Economics at the University of Warwick, attained straight A*s, this time in Computer Science,
Economics and Maths, alongside an A* in her Extended Project Qualification.
The
final student to achieve straight A*s – in Maths, Further Maths and Physics –
is Head Boy Max Garner, who has managed to combine outstanding academic achievement with
sporting success, completing his Diploma in Sporting Excellence as part of a
small number of elite athletes selected by England Hockey. Max has earned a
place on the Mathematics course at the University of Durham.
The
success of this year’s cohort is by no means limited to STEM subjects, as
illustrated by Oxbridge entrant Albert Smyth, who has achieved A*A*A in French, History
and Politics and takes up his place to study French at the University
of Oxford in September. Daniel Caves San Jose also achieved A*A*A
in History, Politics and French and will go to King’s to read History and International
Relations. Kirsty Greaves will go to Leeds after gaining A*A*A in Business
Studies, Psychology and Computer Science, Rosa Bell will go to Exeter
having attained A*A*B in English Literature, Sociology and Philosophy and Shaheer Ashraf will go to LSE with
his A*A*A achieved in the same subjects as his twin brother Shameer.
Our
BTEC results have been equally outstanding this year, with Ruby Peprah gaining a
D*D* in her Health and Social Care BTEC, alongside A*A in Sociology and
Psychology A levels, and moving on to study Social Work at the University of Kent.
A superb achievement. Tommy Craddock achieved D*D* in his Sport BTEC, with an A in
Business A level, and Harley Golledge got D*D* in her Business BTEC, with an A in
Sociology A level. Both students have university and apprenticeship options open
to them.
One student with an apprenticeship place already confirmed is Caitlin Evagorou who beat off stiff
competition to win a place on the prestigious KPMG apprenticeship programme.
In
addition to the achievements listed above, a number of students gained at least
one A* grade in their A levels or at least one D* in the BTEC qualifications.
We are equally delighted for each and every student and proud to see so many
take up places to study Veterinary Science, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Pharmacy,
Occupational Therapy and Sports Therapy. We also have five students who will
study to be primary school teachers and others looking forward to courses
as diverse as Ethical Hacking and Cybersecurity or Archaeology and Ancient
Civilisations.
Phil Grundy, Principal of Highams Park School, said: “Every single
student should be proud of their achievements in the face of so many challenges
and changes during their 6th Form careers. They have shown outstanding drive
and determination to succeed. Equally, I would like to pay tribute to their
teachers and all of our support staff at Highams Park, all of whom have worked
tirelessly to give our students the best chance of success. We celebrate these
results together and wish our students every success in their future
endeavours.”
Our Head of 6th Form, Danielle Stephens, added: “It has been a
pleasure to work with such a dedicated and ambitious group of students. Not
only have you achieved so well academically, but you have grown as people and
supported one another magnificently. You have done yourselves and your school
proud and will always be welcome back to tell us about your successes.”