Wycombe headteachers' praise over A-levels

3:01pm Thursday 14th August 2008

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HEADTEACHERS at community and voluntary aided schools in Wycombe heaped praise on their pupils as their A-level results came in.

Jane Everton, deputy head at Cressex Community School, Holmers Lane said provisional results showed the vast majority of pupils had passed.

She said: "We are pleased with the outcomes and the hard work and partnership between teachers and pupils and whole community.

"Results are improving and there is a determination to make sure students achieve and are successful."

Adnan Ashraf, 17, of Rutland Avenue, High Wycombe, got two Bs and an A to study business and finance at Brunel University.

He said: "I am very pleased. I got an A in IT which was a shock, I thought I would get a maximum of a B."

The pass rate at community St Bernard's Catholic School, Daws Hill Lane was 86 per cent for 31 pupils.

Headteacher Robert Simpson said of criticisms of the qualifications: "It happens every year and it is a bit tiresome really.

"Every year, when the students get good results they are shouted down by being told they wouldn't have had them 10 years ago."

Natalia Kryg said she was thrilled to achieve four As - as she could speak little English when arriving from Poland two years ago.

Natalia, who took geography, psychology, applied business and polish, said: "I feel just amazing. I didn't expect four As, I expected two As and a B. I am quite shocked.

"My predicted grades were E's but as my English progressed I started to get A's."

Highcrest Community School's Rajwant Sagherea, 18, of Windrush Drive, High Wycombe said she was relishing going to study English Literature at Queen Mary University of London.

She got A-grades in English Literature and Sociology and a B in philosophy and ethics and said: "I feel excited, I'm over the moon. I'm really happy with the results, it's been great here and I've enjoyed it thoroughly."

Pal Aimee Ashby, 18, of Micklefield Road, High Wycombe got the results she needed, an A in psychology, B in maths and C in biology, to study psychology at Birmingham University.

She said: "I thought they would be slightly better but I still got into the university I wanted so I'm absolutely ecstatic about it."

Chris Pryor, 17, of Dean Garden Rise, High Wycombe is taking a year out before joining the fire service.

He got 2 B's in P.E Btech National Diploma and a C in Business A-level. He said: "I feel very happy, all my hard work has paid off."

Maureen Oddie, deputy headteacher at the voluntary aided school, said: "We are delighted for the students, it's a true reflection of their hard work."

At Wye Valley School, New Road, Bourne End the pass rate for students taking two or more A-levels was 82 per cent.

Abby Beney, 20, of London Road, High Wycombe, left school after her GCSEs to become a hairdresser.

However, after two years of work she decided to return to Wye Valley for the sixth form, and has just received an A in media studies and a C in English literature.

She will now go on to study film and media studies at Manchester Metropolitan University.

She said: "I want to go to Boston University and do a master's degree in screen writing when I am finished."

Nick Turner, 18, got straight A's in English literature, religious studies and geography.

He said: "I enjoyed studying Shakespeare particularly. In religious studies it was the debating and the fact that there are no right or wrong answers - it's more abstract."

Acting head Jo Rockall said: "We had some really good grades in English literature, business, media and IT.

"It's difficult because we are a small sixth form, but we work on the principle that if the students have got the grades that they wanted then it's a great occasion for the school."

Headteacher Jon Howard-Drake of The Misbourne School, Great Missenden, said: "With some fine tuning and analysis still needed, our excellent A-level results will reflect pass rates again pushing towards 100 per cent.

"We are justly proud that all of our collective efforts are being reflected in our students' achievements.

"This is genuinely a time for celebration."