Another year of impressive A level results for St Helen’s Girls

Girls from St Helen’s School in Northwood were today delighted to receive impressive A Level results which will enable them to embark upon the most competitive courses at the most prestigious universities, including Oxford and Cambridge, and go on to become leaders in their professions and communities.

In a year that has seen huge changes to the A Level system this continuity of success is particularly noteworthy.

Continuing the school’s strong track record of academic excellence, 19% of all A Levels awarded were A*s, while an impressive 80% were graded A*- B.

St Helen’s prides itself on being a school where girls are encouraged to choose subjects which inspire and challenge them and where exceptional teaching enables students to be bold in questioning and enquiring, and creative and original in their thinking. This approach enables girls to achieve academic excellence in a very broad range of academic disciplines. Particular success was achieved in Modern Foreign Languages with 100% A*- B grades, and in a range of Humanities subjects (English Literature, History, Geography and Religious Studies) with 86% of girls achieving A*- B grades. Maths and Further Maths results were also impressive with 83% achieving A*- B grades, as were results in Business and Economics with 86% of students achieving A*- B grades. Students also achieved highly across STEM subjects with many girls going on to take Science, Medicine and Engineering courses at university.

At St Helen’s, excellent academic results are only part of the story. Through the extensive co-curricular programme girls are given opportunities to expand their horizons, to discover their talents for sport, music and performing arts, and to make a rich contribution to the wider community.

Emma Brown has achieved an outstanding set of results with an A* in Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and Physics. She will take up a place to read Mathematics at Brasenose College, Oxford. Emma has made a rich contribution to the life of St Helen’s through her role as Head Girl and represented St Helen’s with distinction at numerous Mathematical competitions. She balanced the demands of her Head Girl role with her academic studies with exceptional commitment and ambition.

Ria Gaglani has achieved an excellent set of results with A* grades in Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics and an A*grade in her Extended Project. Ria will take up a place to read Medicine at Imperial College. Ria’s outstanding ability combined with her commitment to her learning and passion for Medicine have inspired her to go beyond the curriculum and navigate her way through her A level subjects alongside her role as Deputy Head Girl with scholarly tenacity and dedication.

Abi Mowlem has achieved an exceptional set of results with A* grades in English Literature, History and Religions Studies and she has been offered a place to read History at Bristol University. She has worked with total dedication and focus and combined her academic studies with other commitments at St Helen’s such as leading the Philosophy Society with endeavour and enthusiasm.

Dr Mary Short, Headmistress of St Helen’s, commented: “At a time of rapid and sweeping change across the A Level landscape it is fantastic that students from St Helen’s are continuing to achieve outstanding academic success and combine this with a broad range of co-curricular interests and disciplines which give them the confidence and vision to make their mark on the world and be leaders of the future. Their academic achievements are testament to their sustained, hard work and commitment as well as to the exceptional teaching, support and facilities which we are able to provide at St Helen’s.”