Following a strong performance in A Level results last week, pupils at Lancing College can celebrate a successful achievement in their GCSEs. 2018 has seen Lancing students take the revised 9-1 graded GCSE examinations in a wide range of subjects. Considerable success has been achieved with nearly 20% of grades awarded at the coveted Grade 9. Well over a third of all examinations in the new grading system were at Grades 8-9 and 53% at Grades 9-7.
This year’s highlights include:
- 31% of the year group achieved eight or more GCSE passes at Grade 7/A or above
- 21 students achieved five or more Grades 8s and 9s in the newly reformed examination subjects
- 11 students scored five or more Grade 9s
- Lancing’s fine tradition of musical excellence is reflected in this year’s results, where nearly 80% of Music grades achieved were at Grade A*-A
- The Mathematics Department remains a great strength: nearly 70% of all grades achieved for the Year 11 GCSE Mathematics cohort were at Grades 9-7.
Commenting on the results, Dominic Oliver, Head Master, said:
“2018 saw our pupils in a large scale transition to the new 9-1 graded GCSE for the first time. Lancing has continued to take the A*-E IGCSE curriculum in a few subjects where we believe that this offers the most challenging and stimulating curriculum for our students. Our pupils have performed exceptionally well in this challenging qualifications environment and should feel proud of the results that they have achieved.
“We are especially delighted to see further evidence of our strengths in Maths and the Sciences and this follows our excellent performance at A Level last week. At Lancing we aim to nourish the mind and nurture a love of learning. We don’t simply ‘teach to the test’ – our students are inspired to explore, challenge and build on current knowledge. Our academic results are again excellent but we place the highest premium on self-expression and independent thought: Lancing students challenge formulaic thinking with precision, imagination and wit.”
There were some remarkable individual performances within this impressive year group:
Poppy Hawkins of Felpham, West Sussex was the winner of Lancing’s Intermediate English Prize. She hopes eventually to study English Literature at Cambridge, joining the College’s Head Girl who learned last week that she would be studying the subject at King’s College, Cambridge. Poppy’s aspiration seems well founded, having attained a Grade 9 in English Literature to join her A* in English Language and a further five Grade 8s and 9s and two Grade 7s.
Lohith Konathala of North Lancing, West Sussex achieved an extraordinary nine Grade 9s along with a Grade 8 in French, an A* in English Language and Religious Studies along with the highest grade possible, an A, in the post-GCSE Additional Mathematics qualification. Lohith will continue to the Lancing Sixth Form to study Mathematics and the Sciences, and will join the prestigious Lancing Medical Society in preparation to study Medicine at university.
Cecily Moorsom of Blandford Forum, Dorset scored an incredible sweep of eight Grade 9s, a single Grade 8 along with A*s in English and Music and the highest grade possible, an A, in the post-GCSE Additional Mathematics qualification. She goes on to the Lancing Sixth Form as one of the College’s leading Music Scholars where she will study the subject among her A Levels.
Angus Ngan achieved seven Grade 9s and a single Grade 8 to join three A*s and the highest grade possible, an A, in the post-GCSE Additional Mathematics qualification. He continues on to the Lancing Sixth Form where he wishes to work particularly with our outstanding History and Economics departments with aspirations to study those disciplines at a top university.
Yana Murateva, originally from Bulgaria and working in her second language, scored a clean sweep of Grade 9s in all numerically graded subjects in addition to an A* in English Language and the highest grade possible, an A, in the post-GCSE Additional Mathematics qualification. Yana will continue to the Lancing Sixth Form to study Mathematics and the Sciences, and will join the prestigious Lancing Medical Society in preparation to study Medicine at university.
Nathaniel Oliver of Lancing, West Sussex scored a clean sweep of A*s, Grade 8s and 9s. He progressed to the College from Lancing Prep Hove and will go on to the Lancing Sixth Form where he will specialise in the arts and humanities with a particular emphasis on literature and the modern languages.
Aidan Strong of Hove, East Sussex achieved an excellent collection of GCSEs, featuring three A*s along with a further six Grade 9s and the highest grade possible, an A, in the post-GCSE Additional Mathematics qualification. He progresses to the Lancing Sixth Form where, as an outstanding musician, he will study that discipline alongside Mathematics and the Sciences.