A Level Students Celebrate Extremely Strong Results In A Return To Pre-Pandemic marking

Published by Sir William Perkins's School on Thursday 17th of August 2023

84% of grades achieved were A* - B grades

· 51% of grades achieved were A* / A grades

· 97% of grades achieved were A*- C grades

Students at Sir William Perkins’s School in Chertsey are celebrating well-deserved A Level results this year. 84% of all grades achieved were A*- B and half of grades awarded were A*-A. Such continued excellence is reassuring, as this year grading makes a return to pre-pandemic standards.

Success at A Level this year is notable given that this is the first time this cohort has sat external examinations. “In 2021, these students’ GCSE examinations were cancelled owing to COVID. This year group has been incredibly hard-working and much preparation has gone into supporting them through their first set of public examinations. They very much deserve their successes.” commented Headmaster Mr Chris Muller. “We should like to congratulate our students not only on their impressive A Level results, but also for the resilience and dedication they have demonstrated.”

The educational context is worth noting: we are now firmly in the realm of grading for A Levels returning to pre-pandemic levels, and the media has been vocal about the ‘tougher’ nature of the marking this year. “Given that it is most meaningful to compare this year’s results with those achieved in 2019, students should be delighted with their outcomes, which are comparable with those grades achieved at the school in pre-pandemic times four years ago.” said Mr Peter Forrest-Biggs, Deputy Head Academic. “We are delighted that the majority of our students will have again achieved their first-choice university place; many of our leavers are going on to Russell Group universities. This year all our Oxbridge students met their offers, and a number are going on to study Medicine, Veterinary Science and Dentistry. Alongside this, it is wonderful to see the wide range of exciting degree courses SWPS students will be undertaking next term, from Aeronautics and Astronautics to Politics, Philosophy and Economics.”

In STEM subjects 53% of grades achieved in Biology were A*-A. 63% of grades awarded in Chemistry were A*-A. 75% of grades were A*-A Computer Science and 55% of grades were A*-A in Maths, with 83% of grades being A*-A in Further Maths. In Physics, 83% of grades were A*-A. Overall 62% of grades in STEM subjects were A*-A. There have been notable achievements in certain subjects.100% of grades were A*-B in Art & Design, Business, Computer Science, German, Latin, Physics and PE.

Mike Bannister, Chairman of the Board of Governors at Sir William Perkins’s School, commented, “I should like to extend my, and the Governors, congratulations to all of the students for yet another impressive set of results. Staff and parents should be very proud of their considerable achievements. It is with immense pride that I pass on the Chairmanship of our school at an exciting time, as Mr Chris Muller hands over the leadership of the school to Ms Debbie Picton, with such positive examination outcomes.”

Sir William Perkins’s School prides itself not only on excellent academic outcomes but also on the achievements students make and the experiences they have outside of the classroom. “We are proud that many of our 2023 leavers have been so keen to develop themselves through the opportunities outside of the classroom in our co-curricular programme.” Said Mr Muller. “This is so important as they prepare for life beyond school.”