Epsom College enjoys record-breaking A-level results for second consecutive year, and bucks national trends around the newly-reformed examinations.


-    86% of A-levels graded A*-B
-    A*-A grades twice the national average
-    Epsom’s girls match boys for top grades – despite girls falling behind nationally
-    Top grades in reformed A-levels rise, despite UK-wide dip


Epsom College students have enjoyed a record year of A-level results, with 86% awarded A*-B grades - higher than any previous year at the College.

The results buck national trends, which show that subjects with reformed A-levels - which awarded fewer marks for coursework and placed greater emphasis on final examinations - have recorded fewer top grades than last year.

Epsom's overall pass rate was - once again - 100%. Across the UK the pass rate among reformed A-levels has fallen by 0.5 percentage points.

Nationally, A* and A grades were awarded to 26.3% of entries. At Epsom the figure this year is 53%. 
Headmaster, Jay Piggot, commented, "To enjoy record results against the backdrop of changes to the A-level syllabus reflects admirably on the hard work and application of our students, allied to the quality and efforts of our teaching staff at the College.

It is also gratifying to see strong performances recorded across all subjects."

The sciences - Biology, Chemistry and Physics - had an average of 82% of A-levels awarded A*-B. In the arts, Art, Music and Theatre Studies all recorded 100% A*-B grades.

Humanities fared equally well. 96% of the Cambridge Pre-U English Literature exams were awarded D1-M2, the equivalent of an A-level A*-B.

Within the context of an outstanding year, there are some notable individual performances:
Eva Smiley earned two A* grades, in Economics and Mathematics, and a D1 (judged by most to be higher than an A*) in her Pre-U Mandarin. Eva will take up a place at Oxford University to read Economics and Management.

Lucy Marquand - another star performer - received an A* in both Art and History, and a D1 in Pre-U English Literature. Lucy has been offered an unconditional place on the prestigious Art Foundation at Kingston University.

This year's results also highlight Epsom College's continued success in delivering an outstanding co-educational programme.

The changes to A-levels this year have seen a rise in the performance of boys across the UK - with girls faring worse for the first time in seven years when it came to achieving top grades.

However, Epsom's girls have not conformed to these national trends - with Epsom's value added scores showing boys and girls performing equally well this year.

"We are delighted that the performance of Epsom's female students confounds these expectations," said Mr Piggot.

Among the boys, performances of note include Scott Davidson, Chek Yan Lo, Seungwoo Lee, and Daniel Richardson.

Scott earned three A* grades, in Business Studies, Economics and Government and Politics. He is due to take a place at Bristol to study Management. 

Seungwoo Lee is another triple A* student, with top grades in Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics. A place at Imperial College awaits him to study Chemistry. 

Also heading to Imperial is Chek Yan Lo, where he will study Mathematics, he earned three A* grades (Mathematics, Further Mathematics and Physics) plus an A in Chemistry. 

Dan Richardson, meanwhile, shone in the arts and humanities, with an A* in French, an A in Theatre Studies and a coveted D1 in Pre-U English Literature. Dan will take up a place at Durham University to study English Literature.

This year has been a very successful one for university offers. By mid-morning 93% of our UCAS applicants had their university places confirmed.

The most popular destinations for our students are Nottingham (13 students), Durham (9), Birmingham (9), closely followed by Bristol, Imperial College, King's College London, University College London and Warwick.

Five students - Tim Chan, Michael Anyanechi, Omar Zakieh, Will Jenkins and Chris Lim - have been awarded places to study Medicine at Imperial College, Liverpool and Newcastle Medical Schools.

Ellie Stacey-Stevens has been awarded a place to study Veterinary Science at the Royal Veterinary College.

Article supplied by Clare Sender