St Leonards- Mayfield School is proud to announce that its A Level results have improved for the fourth consecutive year, with almost 60% of its Year 13 students achieving A* – A grades. This is particularly impressive given that the school’s intake is not highly selective. There was a 100% pass rate with 94% scoring between A* and C grades and 84% achieving at least one A*/A grade.
Results in Maths, Chemistry, Physics and Biology – subjects traditionally viewed as a male preserve – are particularly impressive. Half of the year 13 girls taking Mathematics were awarded A* with 80% also attaining A* in Further Mathematics. 75% of Physics grades were A*. Mayfield’s outstanding Ceramics department also had another successful year, with all of its candidates recording A* or A and the consistently strong department of Geography saw 85% and English 84% of students achieving the highest grades.
All of the six Mayfield girls offered Oxbridge places have succeeded in meeting or surpassing their target grades and are looking forward to taking up their places:
Sixteen year old Moji Agboola attained a remarkable 5 A* grades and will be reading Engineering at Peterhouse, Cambridge. Clearly she has proved worthy of the two Scholarships the College and the University awarded her! Julia Laskowska also achieved 5 A* and will be reading Economics at Sidney Sussex College. Ellie Cox , winner of a Nuffield Scholarship and a finalist in the UK Young Scientist of the Year, (who joined Mayfield in the Sixth For) attained 4 A* and is taking up her place to read Medicine at Emmanuel College. Jenny Shepherd (4A*) from Five Ashes will be reading Engineering at Emmanuel College and Ella Strudley (3A*) from Stone Cross near Crowborough will read Natural Sciences at Clare College. Both girls joined in Year 9. In addition to scientific endeavours all three have played a leading role in the Orchestra and wider musical life of the school.
Deputy Head Girl Hannah Gilliland (2A*, 2A) from Stonegate, who has been at Mayfield since Year 7 and a stalwart of school netball and hockey teams will read Human, Social and Political Science at Newnham College. In addition, our congratulations go to Head Girl Catriona Franck (3A*) (from Tunbridge Wells, and now Switzerland), will be reading PPE at Warwick University. Flora Hickish (2A*, 1A) from Hailsham will read Biological Science at Durham. Marianna Balzarelli (2A*, 1A) from Wadhurst will be reading Medicine at Birmingham. Crystal Zhang (3A*, 1A) is reading Maths at Imperial College, London. Nina Bolger (2A*, 2A) from Mayfield is reading Veterinary Science at Bristol. Elsa Lao and Christine Ling are both going to the London School of Economics
Headmistress Miss Antonia Beary comments:
“I am delighted that yet again Mayfield girls have bucked the trend! This year’s results reflect the continuing improvement in performance, in every subject, which is particularly pleasing in the light of the media’s predictions of a fall in grades nationally. While I know the new Sixth Form Centre has had a positive contribution, these grades are a tribute to the hard work, creativity and commitment of each of our girls, allied to the expertise and dedication of our teaching staff. They confirm our Sixth Form as an outstanding preparation for Higher Education as our girls go on to the best universities.
“At Mayfield there is no debate about the importance of creativity in a good and rounded education. It is an intrinsic part of our provision and undoubtedly contributes to the girls’ academic success. The outstanding performance of Mayfield girls is not to be measured simply by those who have achieved straight A*s but reflected in those who strengths lie in areas other than the academic. They have worked hard and I am delighted that they too have been rewarded by excellent grades. Each of our girls has far more to offer than just examination results: they are interesting rounded individuals and we are immensely proud of them.”