St Helen and St Katharine celebrates GCSE success

St Helen and St Katharine celebrates GCSE success

25 August 2022

Today, Abingdon-based independent girls school St Helen and St Katharine celebrates a fantastic set of GCSE results with 71% of students achieving 9–8 grades, and 89% achieving 9–7 grades. 41% of all grades awarded were 9s and over half of students gained at least eight 9 or 8 grades.

Thrilled with the outstanding results of this year’s GCSE students, Headmistress Rebecca Dougall commented: “I am very pleased for the students and staff who have worked so hard together to overcome all of the challenges of Covid and achieve a brilliant set of results. It has been a really happy morning of celebration with friends, parents and teachers and we are all extremely proud of the students; they can look forward to the excitement of sixth form with great confidence.”

It has been a long wait for results over the summer. For Carys and her family the wait is now finally over and they are delighted with the results. Carys’ mother Joyti, reflects on the journey: “With all the challenges this cohort has faced, a real achievement has been to get them all to the point of taking exams. We couldn’t have done it without the School: from the Exams team and the Nursing team to teachers and form tutors – they’ve all gone out of their way and provided fantastic support and kindness to overcome any obstacles. St Helen’s has a sensible, student-focused approach and works with parents, as well as a culture of independence which enables students to make the best of themselves.”

Emilia and her family are celebrating her excellent GCSE results and are no strangers to results days at St Helen’s – Emilia’s older sister, Lauren, left the School in 2015 and has since pursued a career in social enterprise. Emilia’s mother, Alison, said: “Both our daughters have really flourished at St Helen’s and the results speak for themselves. The School provides a foundation for girls to become strong, independent young women and allows them to be what they want to be. Students are always encouraged to do other things outside of the academic too, such as sport.” Like her sister, Emilia has chosen to study History and Biology at A Level, as well as Maths and Psychology as she moves into St Helen’s Sixth Form.

In addition to her academic study, another student, Matilda, has continued her dedication to rowing throughout her GCSEs. Having led Henley Rowing Club to victory in two major events earlier this year – setting a new course record in the process – Matilda has been selected for Team GB after achieving a gold medal in the GB vs France J16s match in July. Her mother expressed her thanks to Matilda’s teachers for all the support they had given, especially finding time to study between her rowing. Matilda reflected: “It’s so odd to think that your whole life revolves around your GCSEs and then suddenly it’s gone! And then it’s on to the next chapter with A Levels, and then university… Now that I’m back in school for my results, I can’t wait to start at St Helen’s Sixth Form.”

The students will soon join St Helen’s Sixth Form where they’ll be the first cohort to enjoy the School’s brand new Sixth Form Centre which is due to open later this year. The new building is dedicated to providing students with the space and opportunity to grow their interests even further in readiness for their future. With nine new classrooms, independent study spaces, a common room, a café and a flexible lecture theatre/performance hall, the building will echo the very best in higher education institutions.

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