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29 August 2017
King Edward VI High School for Girls celebrates record GCSE Results
King Edward VI High School for Girls is celebrating yet another set of outstanding GCSE results; girls achieved 82% A* grades and 97% A*/A, outperforming last year’s record results, which had in turn broken the previous year’s record results.
In a year group of 75 pupils, 35 girls achieved 10 or more A* grades, a truly remarkable feat, particularly given the range of academic subjects taken by these girls, many of whom excel in so many other ways, whether on the games field, in a concert hall, on stage, in debates, Olympiads and competitions.
Principal Ann Clark said: ‘It has been an absolute pleasure to work with this year group who have contributed to the life of the school in so many different ways. These exceptional results are a testimony to their strong academic focus, excellent work ethic and the dedication of their teachers. We are extremely proud of the girls and delighted for them, their families and all members of the school community who have played a part in their success.’
Against a climate which has seen numbers of Modern Linguists drop dramatically at all levels, girls achieved 100% A* in Spanish, 100% A* in Greek and 92% A* in French (a core subject for all 75 girls). Performance in the separate sciences was equally impressive; all girls took all 3 sciences achieving 76% A* in Biology, 79% A* in Physics, and a stunning 93% A* in Chemistry.
There has been much talk in the media in recent months about the impact of the new GCSEs in Mathematics, English Language and English Literature. Fortunately, girls and staff at KEHS have been shielded from the level of uncertainty and Angst brought about by the introduction of the new grading system this year, as our pupils have taken the IGCSEs (International GCSEs.) We feel that these challenging examinations offer excellent preparation for A Level and beyond for able girls like ours. Next year, most of the GCSE subjects taken at KEHS, will be graded numerically under the new system. This will be new territory for young people and teachers across the country and will undoubtedly increase levels of anxiety for all. I am determined to manage the expectations of girls and their parents in the light of these changes. Concern has also been expressed about whether the new Grade 9 will be statistically sound. Sally Collier, the chief regulator of Ofqual, took the unusual step in June of writing to all headteachers to explain the impact of new qualifications and to highlight concern about volatility. The most important thing is, of course, to acknowledge and celebrate the commitment, hard work and enthusiasm of our young people.’
Among KEHS’s highest achievers was 16-year-old Jessica Tedd from Stourbridge, who scored an impressive 12 A*s including Astronomy. Her father Dr Bernie Tedd is Head of Physics at King Edward VI High School for Girls and founded the school’s Astronomy Club which has gained a cult following with many girls opting to take Astronomy GCSE. “I was relieved and very happy with my grades,” said Jessica. “I love Astronomy – it runs in the family I suppose. Long term I’d like to study either Maths or Physics at Oxford.” Jessica is also a talented violinist and dancer, playing in the CBSO and Dudley Youth Orchestras plus the school’s Symphony Orchestra. She has also achieved her Advanced level in Acrobatics and Intermediate tap and ballet.
The family has double cause for celebration as elder brother Joe, a pupil at KEHS’s brother-school King Edward’s School scored an outstanding 41 points in his International Baccalaureate. Following in the family tradition, Joe will now read Geo-Physics at Durham University.
Talented actress Clara Harrison, 16, from Shenstone near Lichfield achieved 10 A*s (in Maths, English Lang, English Lit, Chemistry, Biology, French, Latin, Drama and Spanish) plus an A in Physics, to the delight of her family who last week celebrated her elder sister Emily’s excellent A level results which gained her a coveted place to read Geography at Keble College, Oxford. Clara, who acted in the school’s senior production of ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ at the school’s state-of-the-art Ruddock Performing Arts Centre, was among the school’s first group of girls to sit GCSE Drama (all but two achieved A*s) She will now take Drama, English, French and RS at A level, with a view to a career in the creative arts.
Twins Antarjot and Antarpreet Mahon, 16, from Edgbaston were celebrating 10 A*s and 7 A*s respectively and celebrated with fellow-twins Sebastian and Benjamin Bellavia from KEHS’s brother-school King Edward’s School. Sebastian and Benjamin also from Edgbaston, each achieved 10A*s and an A. The Mahons whose elder sister Upjeet this week won a place to study Medicine at Birmingham University are likewise eyeing careers in Medicine, keeping it in the family as their father is a doctor.
Aaliyah Wallace, 16, a West Midlands hockey star from King’s Norton is celebrating a full house of 11 A*s and hopes to follow her elder sister Chanelle into investment banking. Aaliyah also excels at Netball and Drama, has achieved Grade 8 at the Piano and is also a talented ballroom dancer.
“I’m thrilled to have got these great results” she said. “KEHS backed me every inch of the way and encouraged me to fulfil everything I was capable of – in sport and the artistic world as well as in my academic studies.”
Yashasvini Gosavi, 16 from Sutton Coldfield, an outstanding dancer and actress, achieved 10 A*s and an A and hopes for a career in Archaeology or Medicine. “My family are ecstatic with my grades,” she smiled. “I absolutely adore Dance and Drama and love doing them to a high level. KEHS do great plays and Dance Productions and taking part has really helped me prepare for the exams as it helps you let out all the stress and show your creative side.”
Sneha Pimpalnerkar, 16, who has also represented the West Midlands at Hockey, scored 11 straight A*s in English Language, English Literature, Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Latin, Spanish, French, Geography and History. Sneha from Four Oaks near Sutton Coldfield, is also a talented netball player and hopes to study Medicine, following in the footsteps of her parents who are both doctors. She recently undertook a charity skydive from 15,000 feet to raise funds for the cancer charity Macmillan. “This school has been absolutely brilliant for me,” she smiled. “All your needs are catered for – sport, arts, anything you’re interested in – not just the academic side and it’s an incredibly friendly, supportive place. The teachers always go the extra mile for you and it really feels like a big family.”
KEHS BACKGROUND
High-performing King Edward VI High School for Girls, Birmingham is among the top girls schools in the country and one of the two independent schools in the historic King Edward’s Foundation. It is a selective independent day school with around 570 girls aged 11-18, drawn from all over the West Midlands and reflecting the area’s diverse mix of nationalities and cultures.
The School is proud of its rich extra-curricular activities, excelling in music, drama, sport and community service. In April 2012, KEHS and KES and opened an £11m Performing Arts Centre which regularly stages professional-standard productions.
Distinguished alumnae include: Anita Harding, neurologist
Actresses Lindsay Duncan, Lucy Davis, Natalie Haynes
Historical novelist Clare Davis Reeta Chakrabarti, BBC political correspondent and newsreader,
Sally Jones, TV sports and news presenter, Karthi Gnanasegaram, BBC presenter
King Edward VI High School for Girls, Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham B15 2UB
Tel: 0121 472 1834
