Felsted School achieves impressive A Level results

Felsted School pupils gained a very impressive set of A Level results, with 82% achieving A* to C grades and a 99.6% pass rate.

Key Highlights

• 92 students took A Levels at Felsted in 2019
• 82% of all grades were A* to C
• The pass rate was 99.6%
• 29 students took the International Baccalaureate Diploma with 100% pass rate. If IB results are combined with A Level grades, the A*-B percentage is over 70%
• Many subjects achieved exceptional results; Latin achieved 100% A*/A, with History and Classical Civilisation achieving 100% A*-B and Politics more than 80% A*-B grades
• English Literature, Drama, Chemistry, Music and PE achieved 100% A*-C

Headmaster Chris Townsend comments: “This is a very encouraging set of results, being the result of a great deal of hard work from students and teachers. I am particularly pleased to see so many Felsted pupils going off to some of the best universities around the world, as well as to take up some very exciting apprenticeship opportunities. When A Level and IB results are combined for this year group, over 70% of entries are graded at B or higher.

I am very proud of the hard work done by this outstanding group of young men and women and am particularly pleased that two of our top achievers were supported by the school with full bursaries.

Congratulations to everyone who took exams at Felsted, and the very best wishes for your future studies or careers.”

Felsted’s top performing boy is Jack Huang a full boarder from China. Jack scored an incredible 3 A*s in Maths, Further Maths and Physics, which he hopes will secure the place he has been offered to read Mathematics at Cambridge next year. Jack, who hopes to become a professor, held the school’s prestigious Wallis Scholarship, named after former Felstedian and Mathematician, John Wallis, who is most famous for inventing the infinity symbol. The Wallis Scholarship is awarded annually to a pupil who shows great potential and passion in Maths and intends to study this at the highest level at university and beyond. Jack balanced his studies by playing badminton, one of Felsted’s many co-curricular activities.

Felsted’s top performing girl was Shola Akindayini, age 18 from Braintree. Shola achieved a clean sweep of 4 As, exceeding her offer to read Medicine at Edinburgh. A school prefect, Shola took advantage of many opportunities during her nine years at Felsted, including being an active member of the medical society and completing her Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award. She comments “I would like to thank all my teachers for their support throughout my time at Felsted and I am so happy that I am one step closer to my dream career in Medicine.”

Head Boy Peter Hipkin, age 18 from Felsted, scored an impressive A* in History and 3 As in Economics, Latin and Spanish. Peter, an academic scholar at Felsted, will be taking up his first choice offer to read History at Durham. Peter was a 1st XI hockey player at Felsted and played a key role in the Model United Nations. Peter hopes to combine his passions for travel and work by pursuing a career in the Diplomatic Services.

Eric Xiao, age 18, a full boarder from China, also achieved 1 A* and 3As in Maths, Further Maths, Classical Civilisation and Physics respectively. Felsted was able to accomodate Eric in his unique combination of A Level subjects and provided the support needed in EAL (English as an Additional Language) to develop the essay writing skills required to pursue his passion for Classics. Eric will be accepting his offer to read Classical Studies at St Andrews.

Matthew Hudson-Lund, age 18 from Wickham Bishops achieved A* A A, securing his first choice place at Durham University to read Geography. Matthew was a keen sportsman at Felsted playing for both the Hockey and Rugby teams whilst fully immersing himself in all areas of school life. Matthew was delighted with his results and is looking forward to celebrating on holiday with his family before moving to Durham in September.

Elliot Reeve, age 18 from Writtle, achieved an A* in English, and 2 As in German and History, to take up his first choice place at Exeter to read History and German. Elliott is a keen public speaker and secured first place in the school’s recent Upjohn Declamation public speaking competition. Elliott was also fully involved in Felsted’s Model United Nations and was Secretary General for the 2019 conference.

Our other top performers include:

Agne Pasvenskaite, age 18 from Grays, gained 3 As in Economics, History and Psychology to study History at King’s College London. Since joining Felsted in the Sixth Form, Agne has taken advantage of many opportunities at Felsted including joining the charity team on a life-changing trip to Uganda in 2018. She was also Head of House in Year 12, a peer counsellor and member of the History and Academic Societies.

James Austin, age 18 from Dunmow, gained 3 As in Economics, French and Maths to study Economics at Southampton. A school prefect and keen thespian, James took a lead role in Felsted’s production of Les Miserables (School Edition) in 2017 as well as playing for the Felsted Rugby and Football teams.

Harry Sturge, age 18 from Chelmsford, has achieved 3 As and will be taking up his first choice offer to study Architecture at Bath. Harry, who has been at Felsted since Reception, is a school prefect and sports scholar. A keen rugby player, Harry is an England Academy Player for Saracens and is also on the Felsted 1st team who have just returned from their Rugby tour to South Africa.

Jonathan Hoile, age 18 from Tillingham achieved 3 As in Classical Civilisation, Government and Politics, and History. Jonathon, who has been at Felsted since Reception, has taken every opportunity Felsted has given him, achieving Grade 8 in cello and taking part in the Felsted production of Les Miserables (School Edition). He will be taking up his first choice offer to study Politics and International Studies at Warwick.

Head Girl, Sara Faraj Dellipiani, a full boarder from Gibraltar gained 1 A*, 1 A and 1 B in Government and Politics, Business Studies and Spanish respectively. She will be taking up her offer to read Philosophy and Politics at Leeds and hopes to pursue a career in Human Rights.

Leo Wang, age 18, a full boarder from China, achieved an A* in Maths, an A in Further Maths and a B in Physics and will be going on to study Maths at Bristol next year.

These results follow on from a 100% pass rate on the International Baccalaureate Diploma earlier this summer. Across all 174 individual subjects taken by the 29 students, more than three quarters of results were a Level 5 or better. 43% of examinations were awarded a Level 6 or 7. Five students secured 38 points or more, placing them in the top 10% of students globally.

Felsted’s top IB performer was Olga Adhikari, 17, an international boarder from Poland, who achieved a world-class 43 out of a possible 45 points. This secured her offer from Cambridge to read Asian and Middle Eastern Studies with Persian and Arabic. Other top performers included Lea Wolf and Amber Aitken who both achieved 39 points. Lea, age 18 from Germany, secured an academic scholarship to The American University in Paris to read International Business Administration (major) with Environmental Sciences/Global Communications (minor), whilst Amber, from Great Leighs, will be heading to the University of Birmingham to study International Business with French.