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15 August 2019
Teenage sailor and race ace Matilda Nicholls, 17, from Portsmouth High School GDST, is celebrating today with a tremendous set of A level results. Matilda received grades of A*A and B and has proven why she’s been earmarked as ‘one to watch’ as she sailed to victory at the Laser Radial Youth World Championships earlier this month.
The International Laser Class Association (ILCA) is a worldwide sailing club specifically for owners of Laser sailboats and people interested in the Laser.
Matilda, was crowned youth world champion after a week of intense action on the waters of Kingston on the shores of Canada’s Lake Ontario. The 17-year-old from Durley, Southampton, won by 13 points over Australia’s Paige Caldecoat, with Ireland’s Eve McMahon coming next. The result is the latest in a run of victories for Matilda, who will now join the British Sailing Team and compete against the world’s best Olympic athletes.
‘It’s been a very tough past year having to both study hard for A Levels and train hard both on and off the water for my sailing. However I am so lucky that Portsmouth High School has been so accommodating and helped me balance both my school work and sailing so much so that at the end of this summer I have come out with the title of Under 19 World Champion and three really good grades. I would like to give a massive thank you to all of my teachers who have been so supportive and worked so hard to allow me to do what I have done this summer.’
‘We are extremely proud of Matilda, and all the other girls receiving their results today,’ said Headmistress, Mrs Jane Prescott. ‘Alongside their academic work, the girls are encouraged to keep up their activities and hobbies and this holistic approach leads to Portsmouth High School continually providing high quality education to girls in Portsmouth and the wider area. We also understand that the school isn’t just about results but about preparing the girls for the next stages of their adult lives.’
‘We credit our success to the hard work of our specialist teachers, disciplined classes and highly regarded, traditional courses, which give our girls a firm foundation for academic excellence.’
