KENT GETS ITS RESULTS

A LEVELS 2016

2016-08-25 -

Many of the hundreds of A-level pupils leaving school across the district this summer will find their way into the world of commerce.

But one teenager has been putting his business brain to use since he was 14, when he set up a successful clothing company.

James Terry, who received a fistful of A grades at Simon Langton Girls Grammar School last Thursday, launched a streetwear brand called Phat Clothing, designing T- shirts and hoodies in his shed.

It went on to turn over £30,000 but he sold it two years later to move onto his next brainwave – an educational resource website for students, called Econitics.

James, 18, said: “I got the idea when I was working for my A-levels. The advice websites I looked at either seemed too simple or too intense.

“I thought there was a gap in the market and started with the subjects I was doing, which were economics, politics and sociology.

“Basically, I sell revision guides and reports and it seems to have been well-received by my peers so I hope to expand it with other subjects.”

James has a place to study economics at Leeds University, but plans to go travelling first.

Langton Girls head Jane Robinson said pupils had again excelled, with more than 58% of the grades achieved at A* to B.

Fifteen achieved straight A/A* passes and six of those have secured places at Oxbridge.

Teachers at the school have had to take more than a double take in the classroom because among their sixth form pupils have been three sets of twins.

Collecting their results on Thursday were Jomana and Gannat Abdelhalim, 18, who both studied biology, chemistry and maths and got near-identical top results.

Jomana said: “It helped that we did the same subjects so we could revise together. I’ve got a place at the Queen Mary University of London to study medicine. Gannat, who is also a talented singer, says she is undecided but hopes to study medicine too. Abby and Beccy Smith studied different subjects. Abby is taking her artistic talents to the University of Creative Arts while Beccy has a place to study classics and archaeology at the University of Kent. The other twins, Rosie and Megan Rutherford, were away on results day but both were high achievers, with Rosie planning to study medicine and Megan music.

Simon Langton Boys has moved to dispel the myth it caters for the privileged few.

This year the Canterbury school reports that 31% of all grades achieved by its A-level crop were As or A*s.

Head of school Ken Moffat says one in four pupils comes from “what would once have been called working class backgrounds”. He cites head boy Alex Milsom and deputy head boy Jack Reed as perfect examples.

Alex, a former Barton Court pupil who joined the Langton in the sixth form, lives in a single-parent household and frequently cares for his disabled younger brother.

The 18- year- old was twice excluded at his former school but is now celebrating two B grades and a C.

He told the Gazette: “I live on the London Road Estate. I’d

get off the bus and other kids would call me a posh ****.

“I’m not posh at all. I grew up next door to them. My dad’s an HGV driver and my parents are separated.

“People seem to think this is a posh school, for the children of millionaires, but there are lots that don’t have anything like that.”

Alex is hoping to land a place at Sheffield to study journalism through clearing, as he needed straight Bs.

He will be the first in his family to go to university.

Jack, 18, lives in Chartham and will also be the first in his family to go into further education.

His two A*s and an A have earned him a place on a history and politics degree course at Durham.

“My parents own a cleaning business and have worked hard all their lives,” he said.

“They’ve both been incredibly supportive of me. We don’t struggle but we’re certainly not privileged either.”

Barton Court grammar school, meanwhile, where pupils study either IB Diplomas or A-levels, is celebrating “truly inspirational results”, with 62% of grades at either A*, A or B.

Among the high performers was head girl Danielle Oliveira, who bagged two A*s and two As.

Danielle, 18, from Whitstable, will now study medicine at Imperial College, London.

Ella Gannon, 18, also from Whitstable, secured straight As in French, Spanish and geography and will study the two languages at the University of Surrey.

Archbishop’s School also had cause to celebrate.

Beth Lyttle, 18, from Canterbury, achieved an A*, an A and a B and will study criminology and social policy at Bristol University.

Head teacher at St Anselm’s School, Mike Walters, said pupils had produced another pleasing set of results with 53% of entries achieved at A* to B.

Among the top performers was Harry Routley, who got an A*, A and three Bs.

The 18-year-old, who also plays the clarinet, said: “I’m really pleased because I’ve got a place to study law at Southampton University and can now relax for

‘I would like to congratulate the sixth formers for all their hard work’

the summer.” Staff at Herne Bay High celebrated another successful year of A-level results after a record number of pupils landed a place at university.

More than 60% will be starting degree courses later this year, among them Sophia Latteu, who got three Bs and a C.

She joined the school in Year 10 as her dad was in the Army and will be studying law at the University of Kent.

Teachers at Community College Whitstable were also celebrating strong results, with a number of pupils set to take up university courses.

Head teacher Ana Gibson said: “I would like to congratulate all the sixth formers for their dedication and hard work and wish them every success in the next phase of their education and chosen careers. We are delighted that many students have secured their first choice university places.”

One of those students was Elise Bovis, who is heading off to Northumbria University to study psychology. She scored two As, a C and a D. “I am really passionate about psychology,” she said.

“It opened my eyes and I really enjoyed it. It is going to be huge for me to go to university because I usually just stay in Kent – it is going to be a big change.”

The pupils and staff of St Edmund’s School head teacher Louise Moelwyn-hughes was delighted with its performance.

She said “I congratulate most wholeheartedly our wonderful outgoing upper sixth year group and their teachers on the enormous effort that they have put into their academic work over the last two years.

“I’m delighted that all of our Oxbridge and Yale candidates secured their places and that so many of our pupils will now progress to their universities and courses of choice”.

The Abbey School in Faversham has seen improved results for the fifth year in a row, with more than 20% of students achieving As and A*s in all their subjects.

Of particular note were Cameron Hayes, with four A*s, and Leanne Armitage and Emma Tunbridge, who both earned three A*s.

Head teacher Catrin Woodend said: “I am sure that everyone in Faversham will share our pride in the achievement of these students and wish them well as they progress to the next stages in their career paths.”

The town’s other secondary school, Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar, also had cause to celebrate with a 99.4% pass rate and 9% of all grades at A*.

An impressive 30% of the total were A grades, with 60% of all entries securing a B or better.

Three pupils will be going on to study at Oxbridge.

Head teacher David Anderson said: “On behalf of staff and governors, I would like to congratulate our students on their achievements.

“We are very proud of them, not just the highest achievers but all who worked hard to meet or exceed their target grades.”