9:15am Thursday 16th August 2007
By Ruth Holmes
A-level students across the borough are collecting their exam results today and some of Barnet's schools are expected to be among the highest achievers in London.
Queen Elizabeth's School, in Queen's Road, Barnet, held its position as the highest performing state school in the country.
The boys' school enjoyed a 100 per cent pass rate, with 97 per cent achieving As and Bs and twenty students winning places at Oxford or Cambridge.
Henrietta Barnett School in Central Square, Hampstead Garden Suburb, was another top performer, with 100 per cent gaining A to E passes and 93.5 per cent getting an A or B grade.
Headteacher Oliver Blond said: "This is a testament to the hard work and enthusiasm of the pupils, the support of the parents and the dedication of the teaching staff.
"We are very proud that the girls leave with such excellent grades.
"These results reflect their many talents and also their commitment to the broad educational vision we encourage at HBS, which aims to develop their independence of mind, thinking skills and their own interests beyond what is required solely for exams."
Jo Velleman, the school's development director, added: "It is a very happy day and a very sad day; it is a very small school so we are going to miss them all terribly when they are gone, but we are thrilled for them. They really deserve it after two years of hard work."
Star pupil
Gidon Shirazi, a student at Hasmonean High School, Hendon, celebrated an incredible 7A grades today and a place to study Natural Sciences at Cambridge Univeristy.
In between his studies the 18-year-old from Edgware found time to deliver the Edgware and Mill Hill Times, earning money to help fund his future university career.
His string of As were in Maths, Further Maths, Additional Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Biblical Hebrew.
The school on Holders Hill Road had 129 pupils sitting exams, of which all got A to E passes and 80 per cent achieved an A or B grade.
Two students stacked up five As at A-level, seven managed four and 15 obtained three As.
Highest marks in the country
At Finchley Catholic High School, on Woodside Lane, 98.8 per cent managed an A to E pass, while 48 per cent gained A or B grades.
James Madden, a pupil at the school who lives in East Finchley, was celebrating today after two As in Geography and Business and a B in Economics secured him a place at Manchester University to study Economics.
He said: "I picked Economics at Manchester because I thought it was achievable but things don't always go your way in exams so it was a big relief."
Two pupils at the Finchley school, Chris Nickolls and Sean Murray, obtained the highest marks in the country in AS-level Financial Studies, a course run by about 40 schools.
Unsung successes
At Queen Elizabeth Girls' School, in Queen's Road, Barnet, 99.4 per cent achieved an A to E pass, while 47 per cent earned A or B grades, with four girls achieving straight As.
While the school did not score as highly as others in the borough, Deputy headteacher David Jones said it was expected to perform well in terms of 'value added'.
He said: "We are very pleased with the results and the girls are going on to do a whole range of subjects at university.
"We have taken girls this year who maybe wouldn't have had a place elsewhere. Some of our successes are ones that perhaps wouldn't make headlines but they really are successes to us."
'Hard work and committment'
Copthall School, in Pursley Road, Mill Hill, had only 78 pupils sitting exams but these covered 23 subjects.
The school had a 98 per cent pass rate, with 57 per cent achieving at least a B grade.
Headteacher Jane Beaumont said: "Our congratulations to students on an excellent set of A-level results, matching the highly successful results of 2006 with regard to A and B grades. This achievement reflects the hard work and commitment to learning exhibited by our students, the excellent standards of teaching delivered by staff and the support given to students and the school by parents. They also represent excellent added value in what is a truly comprehensive school."
Gaining at least three A grades at A-level were Tomi Aridegbe, Nicola Hadjipavlou, Andrea Michael and Jennifer Monu.
Post-exam advice
Students across the borough are able to pick up their results from schools and colleges this morning, some from as early as 9am.
Bernard Canetti, principal of Brampton College, an independent sixth form college on Lodge Road, Hendon, has compiled some advice for those who don't get the results they were hoping for.
He warns students not to get caught up in the 'clearing frenzy'.
He said: "Clearing forces students who don't achieve the grades they need to make hurried decisions.
"For some an alternative university course is the right approach while for others a period of reflection to consider options, such as resitting their A-levels, a gap year, or a complete rethink of the chosen subject, may well be more beneficial in the long run."
To find out more, click here.
The Times Series website will be publishing results from schools across the borough throughout the day.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.times-series.co.uk