Excellent A Level & BTEC results

Downside School celebrates excellent A level and BTEC results

Downside School warmly congratulates this year’s Upper Sixth pupils on their excellent examination results. As a cohort, they have made an exceptional contribution to the school community while making the most of the calm and purposeful environment found in the new Sixth Form Centre. They set an excellent example by immersing themselves in subjects for which they had a genuine passion, and these results reflect their determination and commitment as well as their diverse interests.

Downside’s philosophy has always been to ensure that pupils make full use of their talents, whether in the classroom, in the creative arts, in leadership, on the sports field or in other arenas. This year, there have been some truly remarkable performances: one fifth of the year group achieved three or more grades at A*/A (or equivalent) in their examinations. Overall, 30% of all grades awarded were A*/A. Further Mathematics pupils excelled, with 80% achieving A*; Religious Studies pupils achieved 100% A*- B; and BTEC Sports Diploma pupils achieved 100% Distinction*- Distinction. The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) continues to thrive at Downside, with 88% of candidates achieving an A* or A for projects ranging from the small boat crisis and fast fashion, to ancient Chinese jurisprudence and the Penlee lifeboat disaster. For the second year in a row, entries included a musical composition, this time a concerto based on the last three days of Christ’s life.

Retiring Head, Andrew Hobbs, said, “I want to congratulate all this year’s cohort on their incredible achievements and wish them every success in their next steps. Their contribution to Downside has been wonderfully positive and I know that they will continue to enrich the lives of those around them in the future. A final word of thanks must, of course, go to the teachers and tutors who have worked so hard in support of our pupils to achieve these results.”

Interim Head of Downside School, Mike Randall, said, “This is an excellent set of results, not only in the grades themselves, but in the character and commitment that have led to them. In particular, I would like to acknowledge Charlie’s success in securing his place to read Economics at Cambridge University, Ella’s place to read Medicine at Leeds University, Oliver’s place to read Veterinary Medicine ,and Alberto’s outstanding achievement in being awarded four A*s in Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Biology and Chemistry. The achievements do not stop there. This year, as usual, Downside pupils have won places to study a wide range of subjects at leading universities, including Law at Durham, Geography at Exeter, Sports Management at Bath, English at York, Social Anthropology at Edinburgh and History at Newcastle, to name just a few. We also acknowledge that not everyone has achieved the results they had hoped for, and it is important to recognise their feelings and provide them with support. Examination results are significant for each individual’s journey but, as we all know, they do not define a person. These young men and women have navigated extraordinary challenges in their education and have embraced every opportunity to develop their talents. They now leave Downside ready to contribute with energy, skill and purpose to the world beyond school.”

The whole Downside community joins in congratulating this year’s leavers and wishing them every success in the next stage of their journey.