Leighton Park’s IB Students Celebrate
Leighton Park’s IB students were excited to receive their International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBDP) results yesterday. Their top flight marks will see them taking full advantage of this internationally recognised qualification, accepting their places at UK, European and international universities.
Robert Beckett, who lives in Reading, was delighted to receive his results. With 37 points he will be heading off to Tilburg University in the Netherlands to read Economics.
Lillie Sokolski will also be studying abroad, joining another Leighton Park student, Finty Grace Kelly, at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York for an immersive two-year, performance-based course which prepares students for a professional career on stage and screen. Head of Drama, Geraint Thomas, commented, “The American Academy is one of the most famous drama schools in the world and is certainly on a par with our best; RADA, Central or the Bristol Old Vic etc. It is so great for an international school like ours to be placing students in prestigious places all around the world.”
Max Jennings, whose 40 points are taking him to Falmouth College for his Art Foundation course before he selects a creative degree course in his preferred medium, told his Art teacher, Elaine King, “I’m so happy with my results! I have the overall grade requirements so I can go to any uni I choose, thank you so much for all your help during the last two years!”. Another of Elaine’s students, Liza Gargarina, achieved the highest possible subject mark in the IB with a 7 in Art. Liza’s talents and her fantastic results will see her applying to the prestigious Slade School of Fine Art at UCL next year.
Marijn Vuijk, who achieved 38 points and is going to be studying in the Netherlands next year, has spent the last month volunteering at a local primary school in Guatemala. Marijn was awarded £300 earlier in the year as part of Leighton Park’s Travel Scholarship programme, enabling her support Niños de Guatemala, a charity offering education to children from low-income families.
Nigel Williams, Head, commented “In the uncertain climate in which we find ourselves, it is very reassuring that Leighton Park students have performed so well in an internationally recognised rigorous Diploma programme, that will give each student the option of continuing their studies in the UK, the EU or anywhere in the world. The IB curriculum is unanimously praised by universities; who appreciate its breadth, academic rigour, and preparation for students to become lifelong learners. It is a natural fit with the ethos of Leighton Park where we look to ensure our students develop as internationally minded and caring global citizens who are better prepared to be a positive influence in a very challenging world”.
Leighton Park students averaged a score of 35 against a world-wide average of 30. Five students also gained a bilingual diploma. Just under a quarter of students achieving a point score of 40 or more against a maximum of 45, including Head Boy, Finbar Aherne. Fin, who has been spending the summer so far surfing in Newquay with a dozen of his fellow Sixth Formers, took time out of his relaxed schedule, to celebrate his excellent results with some fish and chips washed down with champagne! “We are so proud of him” said Fin’s mother, Joanna, “The teaching staff at Leighton Park are excellent and Fin responded brilliantly to their teaching. He worked so hard; he really put the work in and now he has reaped the rewards.” Speaking from the beach, Fin commented, “I was really happy to get my results. I felt like it was well deserved; I put so much effort into it and I’d been aiming for a 40. It’s an amazing feeling!”.
Deputy Head (Academic) and IBDP Co-ordinator at Leighton Park, Karen Gracie-Langrick, added, “The IB Diploma Programme has been the gold standard in International Sixth Form education for over 40 years. At Leighton Park the IB has continued to grow and now, in its seventh year, I am delighted that this year’s students have maintained an excellent average point score of 35 which will see them attend leading universities across the globe. I am extremely proud of our students and congratulate them on their well-deserved results, which is a testament to all their learning and hard work and to the dedication and professionalism of our academic team.”
Leighton Park School, located in 65 acres of beautiful parkland, opposite the University of Reading, offers Sixth Form students the opportunity to choose between studying A Levels and the IBDP. IBDP students follow a diverse and interesting curriculum across six core subjects in addition to an extended project, and modules in Theory of Knowledge and Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS). In addition to the IBDP, Leighton Park also offers a rigorous one-year Pre-Sixth Form course primarily for international students seeking an intensive programme of study prior to Sixth Form.
The school is offering Year 11 students the opportunity to learn more about the IBDP at their Sixth Form evening on Monday 10th October 2016, 6.00pm.