UPDATED: Wirral students celebrating A-Level results

Aug 14 2008 By Lorna Hughes

HARD-WORKING teenagers across the borough were celebrating record A-Level results today.

Nationally, the pass rate soared above 97pc for the first time with 25.9pc of exams awarded A grades, up from 25.3pc last year.

WEST KIRBY GRAMMAR SCHOOL

The average point score including AS Levels was 413.09, while 67 per cent of the grades awarded were top grades (A or B).

Twenty students gained four subjects at Grade A, with four awarded the national top five marks award by the Examination Board.

Headteacher Glenice Robinson said: "All of the students are to be congratulated. They and their teachers worked hard to achieve these excellent results. We are very proud of their achievement."

HILBRE HIGH SCHOOL

The school said particular success stories were Hannah Poland, who achieved A grades in all exams, Sian Andrews, Caroline Fisher and Sophie Tucker.

Headteacher Jan Levenson said: "We are delighted by these results which are a testimony to the hard work and commitment of the students and their teachers. We congratulate our young people on their considerable achievements and wish them well in the future."

WIRRAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL FOR BOYS

The school said sixth form students had produced "superb" A-Level results. 30pc of all grades were A's and 53pc were A and B. The average number of points per student was 936, an increase of 30 points from 2007. All students gained at least two A-Level passes.

John Ramsay from Bebington gained a six A grades and will follow a Master’s course in Engineering at Birmingham University. Four students were successful in gaining places at Cambridge or Oxford University:

Robert Woodward, Matthew Eccles and Joseph Hales all gained five straight A grades. A further 15 students gained 4 straight A grades, while 8 gained 3 straight A grades.

Headteacher David Hazeldine said: "Our A-Level students have once again produced a superb set of results. We are absolutely delighted for them. The results reflect enormous credit both on the students and their teachers and continue the school's proud tradition of academic excellence."

WIRRAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

The school achieved a 100pc pass rate (96.34pc including General Studies). The average point score was 437.4 and 73.73pc gained A and B grades (not including General Studies, 63.37pc including General Studies).

Olivia Coombs, Anya Gopfert, Sumaiyah Hayat, Nicola Oakley, Laura Pinnington, Maitreyi Shivkumar and Emma Gray achieved five A grades each.

A further eleven students achieved four As each: Amy Clarkson, Alice Hailwood, Claire Hetherington, Emily Jones, Elizabeth Munro, Louise O'Toole, Rhian Perry, Katy Seedhouse, Elizabeth Watts, Alice Wilson and Kathryn Wood.

Another 21 students achieved three Grade A passes.

Headteacher Elaine Cogan said: "These tremendous results are a true testament to the hard work, commitment and dedication of both pupils and all the staff, and also the continued support of their parents."

BIRKENHEAD SCHOOL, OXTON

Students achieved a 100pc pass rate this year, with 71pc of grades at A or B. A third of students walked away with three or more A grades.

Out of 28 results in Mathematics and Further Mathematics, 19 were at grade A and further 7 at B. Lewis Robinson of Bebington and Siôn Owen of Heswall each sat 12 modules in Maths and Further Maths, with Lewis achieving an average of 98pc (seven modules at 100pc) and Siôn 97pc.

Headteacher John Clark said: "This is challenging stuff and these are absolutely first rate students who have earned every one of these marks.

"What pleases me even more is the fact that their time at school has involved so much more than just academic work – amongst other things, Siôn was Captain of the School 1^st XI Hockey team and Lewis has just returned from Barbados where he was part of a very successful 1^st XI cricket team playing in the Sir Garfield Sobers International Tournament."

MOSTYN HOUSE SCHOOL

Headteacher Suzi Grenfell said 75pc of all results were at Grade C or higher. She said: "We have a small mixed ability sixth form and all of the students have worked really hard for their success. 

"We have shown, yet again, that, in the right environment, students of a wide range of ability can achieve high grades at ‘A’ Level.

"Many of the students will now be heading for prestigious university courses, but I suspect they will be allowing themselves at least one night of moderate celebration before turning their minds to academic study again!"

WEATHERHEAD HIGH SCHOOL

There were 344 passes out of 347 entries for A2, giving a 99pc pass rate. The attainment grade for passes at A-C was 63%.

Key successes were Lucy Purnell, who attained straight As in Maths, Further Maths and Physics and a grade B in Chemistry and has secured a place at Bristol University. Lyndsey Green attained 4 straight As in Maths, Biology, Media and Art & Design and will study Art at Manchester University.

Wendy Gibson and Jacqui Kearney both attained straight As; Wendy in Film Studies, Media and English Language and Jacqui in English Language, Textiles and Sociology. Eleanor Sharples achieved straight As in Maths, Physics, Biology and a B in Chemistry. Danielle Williamson, who is going to Glasgow University to read Politics, had straight As in English Language, English Literature and Sociology.

Headteacher Neil Dyment said: "The results showed the exceptional quality of the 6^th Form at Weatherhead. Students set and achieve high standards for themselves and the very dedicated team of support staff and teachers ensure students are given every opportunity to succeed.

"I am thrilled for both our students, staff and parents. My congratulations and best wishes to all the students and I wish them every success for the future."

BIRKENHEAD SIXTH FORM COLLEGE

Twenty-eight subjects had 100pc pass rates, while Jenny Davies and Sarah Morris achieved four A grades. Many students achieved three A grades plus other high grades, including Sophie Almond who will study Law at Sheffield, Angela Luk who has a place at Brunel University to read Design Engineering and Josh Elliot who will start a degree in Chemistry at the University of Liverpool.

Other high achieving students were Phillip Wiggins, who will study Mobile Computing at degree level after achieving a double A grade in Applied ICT, Grace Everest and Sara Smethurst, who will read Politics and Philosophy at Sussex and International Business with French and Spanish at Aston respectively, and Daniel C’Ailceta, who will study for a degree in Mathematics.

Principal Kathryn Podmore said, “The staff and I would like to congratulate the students on their achievements and wish them well in the future. Many of our students will now be able to progress to universities or jobs, which will enable them to pursue interesting and excellent careers.”

NESTON HIGH SCHOOL

THE school is celebrating a 100pc pass rate and record numbers achieving grades A and B. Headteacher Steven Dool said: "Most pleasing about this year's performance are those students who have achieved beyond their statistically predicted grades.

"We at Neston believe that it is important for students to be aspirational in setting targets for themselves and students have clearly risen to this challenge. I should like to congratulate the students on their success, to thank parents for their continued support and the teaching staff of Neston High School for their hard work and commitment. What better way could there be to celebrate 50 years of learning at Neston High School than this?”

Top performers included James Annakin-Smith (3A), Pippa Buist (3A), Michael Farrell (3A), Tom Rafferty (3A), Chris Ridgeway (3A 1B), Olivia Stone (2A 1B), Helen Williams (2A, 1B), Lauren Christensen (2A, 1B) and Jessica Edge (3A).

UPTON HALL SCHOOL

A-level pupils achieved a 99pc pass rate.

Olivia Hesketh achieved five grade As and will take up a place at Oxford to study Geography. Katherine O'Donnell achieved 4 grade As and will be studying Natural Sciences at Cambridge.

12 pupils achieved 4 Grade As. A-level Art and Design candidates all achived an A in the subject. Their art work has been on public exhibition this year alongside that of professional artists and a selection of Upton Hall pupils' work is now on permanent display at Arrowe Park Hospital in the Maternity and Neo natal wards.