ONCE again Bucks’ A-Level results were full of success stories as pupils celebrated yet another high-achieving year.

Nationally the overall pass rate rose to 98 per cent, although top A*/A grades at A level fell nationally by 0.4 per cent.

But optimism remained unstifled across south Bucks as sixth formers gathered to see how well rewarded they had been for their efforts.

At Wycombe High School the pass rate was 99.8 per cent, with 17 per cent of girls achieving all A*s and half having all A* and A grades.

That led to the highest ever number of pupils getting in to Oxford and Cambridge, and also saw an increase in those studying medicine.

Headteacher Sharon Cromie said: "They have shown great dedication and commitment. They have got the grades they deserve, which means they can go to the university or into the employment they want.

"The students have worked so hard and the staff worked extremely hard to support them. We had our Ofsted in July and they rated us outstanding - these results reflect why."

Miss Cromie said more pupils than ever before were doing maths at university and she said: "Success stories like that are important and I hope will inspire future generations to take maths at university."

Among those celebrating were Rakheedhor Ajiwala, who got an A* in chemistry and A grades in biology and Latin, and will now study biochemistry at Cardiff University.

She said: "When I did the exams I was prepared to fail all of them. Biology was the worst of the exams - after it I was like, shoot me now.

"I'm really surprised, I wasn't expecting it."

She collected her results with pals Charlotte Robins - who said she was shocked at getting an A* in politics - Sophie Floyd and Katie Hale.

Over the road at John Hampden Grammar School it was a similar success story as 70 per cent of pupils achieved all A*-B grades.

Gifted sportsman Jack Lane - who last year hit seven sixes in an over for the school's cricket team - showed he was just as good in the classroom as an A in geography and Bs in French and business studies got him onto his first choice course, business management at Cardiff.

He said: "It's mainly relief, but it's a really good feeling to celebrate with everyone else who's done well."

Friend Nick Gorham was also relieved as an A in geography, B in chemistry and C in maths got him into Liverpool University to study environmental science.

He said: "I'm massively relieved. I was on the Ucas site at 12, I woke up at four and tried again, and at 7.30 when I was finally able to log in."

At the Highcrest Academy all A Level subjects bar one achieved a 100 per cent pass rate and everyone who took the Level 3 BTEC passed. A huge 74 per cent of pupils achieved the highest BTEC grades and 61 per cent took top marks in A Levels.

Principal Sheena Moynihan said: "The students are very happy collecting their results this morning and this success is down to all the hard work by both the pupils and the teachers."

At the Royal Grammar School a total of 16 boys passed entry exams for Oxbridge as 70 per cent of pupils achieved all A*-B grades.

Rocky Fan picked up five A*s and two As while Tom Crawley also achieved five A* grades. A further four pupils achieved all A* and A grades in the five exams they took.

Princes Risborough School exceeded its A level and BTec targets, with a 10 per cent improvement in A*-B grades from 2011, meaning nearly half of all students achieving in that band. Headteacher Peter Rowe said: “This is real proof that our best pupils excel in their studies; they will now move on to top universities. We congratulate all our students and teachers.”

Chesham Grammar School said it had been a 'record year’ for its A Level pupils, with 75 per cent of grades at B or above.

Among the star performers was Hatty O’Mara, from Great Missenden, who felt "horrendous" in January after getting an E grade at her first attempt at the English Literature exam, but scored 100 per cent second time around.

Dr Challoner’s High School said its results were broadly in line with last year, with 95 per cent of grades between A* - C.

The percentage of A*s was slightly down on previous years, matching the national trend, but headteacher Ian Cooksey said the figures were still strong.



Chiltern Hills Academy , which grew out of Chesham Park Community College, was reporting its first ever A level results this morning.

Headteacher Kevin Patrick said there had been a "significant improvement" on the results achieved by its predecessor, with 58 per cent of the grades between A* - C.

This compares with 49 per cent at the Chartridge Lane school last year. Of the thirty pupils in Year 13, Mr Patrick said 22 had applied for further education and had all achieved their offer targets.

The Misbourne School in Great Missenden shone in its artistic specialism as it sees off two of its students to prestigious London art schools.

Jonathan Blackmore will attend Camberwell College, London after gaining two A*s and an A, and Florence Hafter-Smith, who achieved an A* in Art, goes to study at Central St Martins.


John Fletcher, Head Teacher of The Beaconsfield School , said this year’s figures were beyond expectations.

The students with grades A* to C have gone up 10 per cent. Mr Fletcher added that 85 per cent of the students applying to universities have managed to get accepted on their first choice.

At Beaconsfield High School , the feeling of ‘mission accomplished’ was contagious as head teacher Annette France lauded the pupils’ " exceptional achievement".

A total of 85per cent of their pupils achieved A*, A or B grades. The pass rate was 99.39 per cent, exceeding their 2011 performance.

At Wye Valley School , in Bourne End, Head Teacher Jonathan Oliver was also pleased with this year’s 96 per cent pass rate.

However, he highlighted there has been a great reduction of students applying to universities.

"We need to remember this year’s tuition fees have gone up too", he added.

A total of 26 per cent of their pupils got A* to B grades.