PUPILS from schools across Ascot, Sunningdale and Sunninghill had cause for celebration as they proved that the exam reforms were no match to their incredible work ethic.

The area's top schools saw results rise on previous years, despite fears that tougher exams could have an effect on top grades.

Cllr Natasha Airey, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead's lead member for children’s services, said: “It is always a very exciting, but sometimes apprehensive time getting exam results. A lot of hard work has gone into them and pupils should feel very proud of their achievements, whatever the results. Well done!”

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Charters School

A number of students are heading to Oxford after gaining the A Level results they needed from Charters School.

One in ten students at the Sunningdale school scored an A*, with the number picking up A*, A and B grades up to 62.5 per cent.

Tomek Seier picked up a hat-trick of A*s, and will go on to study Medicine after taking a gap year.

Joshua Taylor is heading to Brasenose College, Oxford to study Philosophy and Italian, Hani Elias will go to Lady Margaret College to read Music, while Anna Wiles will study French and Spanish.

Harrison Hedges scored three A*s and an A to read Maths at Bristol, and Benjamin Adams is off to Loughborough to study Product Design Engineering after picking up an A* and two As.

Co-headteachers Richard Pilgrim and Martyn Parker said: “We are extremely proud that the hard work of students, teaching and associate staff has produced some of the best results we have ever had.

"This is particularly significant against the backdrop of tougher qualifications and real terms funding cuts of 20 per cent in school sixth forms.

"We would like to pass on our warmest congratulations to all our students as they embark on the next stage of their life after Charters.”

Ms Olimpia Morrison, Director of Sixth Form said: "Congratulations to all our Year 13 students on their fantastic results. Their hard work has been rewarded and the excellent grades have resulted in an even larger number of students being accepted on to their first choice of university. A significant number of our students will be going to Russell Group universities including five students who have secured a place at Oxbridge.”

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Heathfield School

Tougher exams did not phase the students of Heathfield School, who saw an improvement on last year's grades.

Thirty-two per cent achieved A* to A grades, and over two thirds (70 per cent) gained all A* to B grades. Nearly nine in ten students (89 per cent) gained all A* to C.

Every student who sat the Maths exam scored an A or a B, and every student who took Latin scored an A*.

Evie who secured an A* in French, an A in Psychology and Spanish and an A* in her EPQ will be heading off to study Psychology at the University of Exeter, while aspiring vet Eva, who also achieved highly with an A* in Latin, an A in Biology and a B in Chemistry will be studying Veterinary Science and Medicine at the University of Surrey.

Asuka, who was unable to speak English when starting at Heathfield, secured an A in Maths, an A* in Japanese and a C in Chemistry and plans to study Maths and Philosophy at the University of Bristol. Although a beginner when joining Heathfield, Asuka is now an accomplished Grade 8 Cellist and Pianist and gained an A in Music A Level which she studied and sat in just one year.

Commenting on the results, Mrs Gardiner Legge said: “This year in particular we have demonstrated the diversity of talent as our Sixth Formers leave us for a fantastic range of courses spanning Medical Sciences, Veterinary Science, Law, Economics, Art and Design and Textiles and Fashion at universities including Bristol, Durham, Edinburgh, Exeter and Newcastle.

Our students worked extremely hard to realise their potential and have done so well as a result. Building on excellence, these results continue to reflect the hard work of our students and the tireless efforts of the staff, hand-in-hand with our parents. We are so very proud of all their achievements.”

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The Marist School

The Marist School, in Sunninghill, celebrated record results this year with over half of Year 13 girls receiving straight A* and A grades.

This year, an incredible 77 per cent of students have been offered places with Russell Group Universities, including Dione Gowing who received one A* and three As to read Maths at Warwick.

Marist students proved they have the gift of the gab with 100 per cent of students achieving A* and A grades in Spanish and German and 100 per cent A to C in French.

Some of this year’s top achievers include Olivia Anderson, Natasha May-Bowles and Jessica Hancock who each received two A* grades and one A grade. Olivia will advance to study English at Royal Holloway, University of London while Natasha will study English Literature at Durham University.

This year’s Head Girl, Eleanor Taylor, who is also an accomplished musician, will go on to study Modern Languages and Cultures at Durham University after receiving an A* grade and two A grades.

Mr Karl McCloskey, Principal of The Marist School said: “I am absolutely delighted with the A Level results this year, which are the highest since the A* grade was introduced in 2010. Furthermore, I am immensely proud of the girls who have worked exceptionally hard to achieve their results and with 100 per cent progressing to Higher Education, we can expect to hear continued great things from them in the future.

"Behind the letter grades and subject scores are individual students with personal stories whose minds have been expanded, whose hearts have been enriched and whose hope-filled future lives have been formed, in a distinctive Marist manner. They now have a world of opportunity and professional career prospects ahead of them.

“Brooke Tinniswood is a further example of Marist entrepreneurship as she not only achieved superb results (two A grades and a B), she also started her own patisserie business whilst working towards her A Levels. This has led her to follow a new style of degree called a Degree Apprenticeship in conjunction with Unilever. Brooke will be commencing a Research and Development Refreshment Degree Apprenticeship at Nottingham in September. ”

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LVS Ascot

Students at independent school LVS Ascot celebrated an increase in A* grades amongst their A-level results, rising to 5.7 per cent from 4.6 per cent last year.

The school saw a high level of progress amongst students, particularly in economics, history and philosophy with improvement of over half a grade per student based on their expected grades when they began A-Levels.

Riley Thrower won a prestigious sponsored degree with Santander in London, having passed a seven-stage interview process which over 10,000 people applied for. Having made it to the final 48, he subsequently was awarded one of only a handful of level 7 apprenticeships in corporate investment banking. Riley, who joined LVS Ascot on a sports scholarship, enjoyed results including an A in graphics and a B in business studies.

George Alcock, 18, received A*AB and will be going to Newcastle University to study Business Management, whilst Head Boy Oliver Bonnett is going to study Product Design at Bournemouth University.

LVS Ascot Principal Christine Cunniffe said: “The first year of results under the A-level reforms has proven to be, as expected, very difficult for students with a drop nationally in the overall pass rate and the proportion of students achieving grade C or above. We are delighted that despite this LVS Ascot’s proportion of A* results has risen, and that our students have stood up well in the face of a more demanding challenge."

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St George's School

Girls at St George’s School in Ascot celebrated after achieving a 100 per cent pass rate in a diverse range of subjects.

Eighty-seven per cent of grades at the independent girls’ school were awarded A* to C, and 35 per cent were graded A* to A.

Top marks at the school went to Renata Aynetdinova, who was awarded an A* and four As along with an A* grade in her Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), and has accepted a place to read Medicine at University College London.

Head Girl, Lily Caines, and Deputy Head Girl, Chloe Horswell both achieved A*, A, A grades. Lily has been accepted into the Guildford School of Acting to study Musical Theatre, and Chloe will read Business with Marketing at Edinburgh.

Headmistress, Liz Hewer said: “These engaging, confident and capable girls have worked very hard over the past two years, supported by our committed staff, to produce an impressive set of A Level results. At St George’s we believe in encouraging the girls wherever their talents and interests lie, and we are very proud of these girls who have shone in subjects as diverse as Maths, Modern Languages and in the Arts as well as embracing all the opportunities a St George’s education offers.

"Perhaps more importantly, they leave St George’s with the confidence and sense of self to succeed and be fulfilled in later life."

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