IB results: at least 70% of St Leonards pupils get their first choice university place
The exam results are in for International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma students at St Leonards.
And they make for extremely happy reading for the Upper Sixth Form (S6) pupils, with a record set of performances meaning that at least 70% of them have gained their first choice university places.
The students scored an average of 34 points, equivalent to 479 UCAS points and more than the 2010 worldwide average of 29 points.
Even more impressively, more than 20% of the 52-strong cohort achieved the minimum entrance requirements for Oxford and Cambridge Universities of 38 points.
Almost one third of the group, the fourth from St Leonards to complete the highly regarded two year qualification, also gained Bilingual Diplomas, indicating fluency in at least two languages.
Having come through their final exams with flying colours the youngsters will now begin preparing for life at the universities for which they are headed, with destinations including Oxford, Cambridge, St Andrews, Edinburgh and Durham.
Delighted with his results was Michael Overend from St Andrews, who, after scoring 39 points, is now set to study Medicine at Dundee.
He said, “The IB teaches you to think outside the box compared to other exams.
“I think it definitely helped with university entry!”
Eva Dumann from Hannover was also celebrating after notching up 43 points, just two shy of the maximum possible score of 45 and enough to put her in the top 0.64% of candidates worldwide.
Eva, who is going to Cambridge, also to study Medicine, said, “I was really surprised when I actually got the initial offer because, thinking of the fierce competition, I had kept my expectations low while just going for it.
“When it actually happened I was jumping up and down!”
The IB Diploma is widely seen as the ideal preparation for university and Headmaster of St Leonards, Dr Michael Carslaw, is understandably delighted with the performance of his pupils.
He said, “I’m thrilled with the set of results which our students have achieved. It’s a record performance for St Leonards and a tremendous reward for all of the hard work put in both by the pupils and their teachers.
“The IB really has opened up opportunities for our leavers who are now going on to study a fantastic range of subjects including Economics, Computer Science, Classics, Engineering, Law, Medicine and various languages.
He added, “The university offers received by St Leonards students demonstrates irrevocably that an IB Diploma makes a student stand out from the crowd.
“Our leavers are now fully equipped for the demands of university and have gained skills and an understanding that will stay with them for life.”