Mayfield girls celebrate GCSE results

Mayfield, the leading Catholic independent day and boarding school for girls, is celebrating an impressive set of GCSE results. 

In the year that saw students return to sitting public examinations for the first time in three years, Mayfield’s girls excelled in creative subjects, including drama, music and ceramics, alongside traditional STEM subjects, languages and humanities. 

Almost all of Mayfield’s Year 11 students who took Drama achieved a grade 8 or 9, including Yaa, a London boarder, who was awarded the top grade, having earlier this year been invited to join the National Youth Theatre. Yaa said: “I am especially proud of my grade 9 in drama. With thanks to my inspiring drama teacher Mrs Gerstmeyer. I cannot wait to continue my Mayfield journey as I enter Sixth Form in September.” 

As ever, Mayfield’s excellence in creative arts saw girls rewarded by outstanding grades in both Art and Ceramics, including budding ceramicist Sophie, who achieved the top grade, amongst a haul of ten GCSEs, six at grade 9 and four at grade 8. 

Once again Mayfield’s GCSE students excelled in Maths, with 44% of those taking Further Maths achieving a grade 9, and many will go on to study Maths at A level – it is one of Mayfield’s most popular subjects in the Sixth Form. 

Local girl Cosima achieved the top grade in all eleven of her GCSEs, including three languages: French, Latin and Greek. Cosima is a talented member of the School’s debating and Model United Nations teams. 

Isabella, from Tonbridge, also achieved eleven grade 9s, including Maths and Further Maths. She is both a Sport and Academic scholar at Mayfield and represents the School in Athletics and Netball. 

Elizabeth, from Ticehurst, achieved ten grade 9s, to go alongside her impressive sporting achievements, which includes representing Sussex in County Cricket, as well as Mayfield, in her age group. 

Cherrie, who relocated to Tunbridge Wells and only joined Mayfield a year ago, having previously attended school in Hong Kong, achieved an outstanding nine grade 9s. Cherrie is an accomplished musician who plays the violin, piano, and ukulele, and has been awarded a Sixth Form Music Scholarship at Mayfield. 

Headmistress Miss Antonia Beary commented: “We are delighted by the performance of Mayfield girls in their GCSEs, after what has been a challenging few years for everybody. I am confident that the resilience and adaptability they have had to practise during their Middle School years can only be advantageous to their continuing success.

“I applaud all those who have coped so well with the inevitable disruption and distress caused by COVID to achieve outstanding grades across the board. Whether it be Drama or Physics, Ceramics or Classics, girls have worked hard and been rewarded by the best possible results. All credit too, to the staff who have calmly supported and challenged them throughout the months of uncertainty.

“However, we do not measure the worth of a Mayfield girl by the grades she receives, impressive though they may be this year, but on how she uses her skills and talents for the good of others. As they move into the Sixth Form, the girls have many more opportunities to flourish and build on all their strengths and to take the lead in different aspects of School life: each girl can and is encouraged to make a tangible difference in her own way.

“Our Sixth Formers are the jewels in the Mayfield crown and the Sixth Form reflects the best of the Mayfield experience. Girls enjoy greater independence and autonomy in their learning, inside and outside the classroom, in addition to expert teaching in whatever subject choices are best for them. This helps ensure that not only do they achieve the highest grades but also have the best possible preparation to make the most of life after school be that university, degree apprenticeships or going straight into the world of work.

“I look forward to watching the new cohort of jewels enjoy the best years of their school lives!” 

Mayfield offers an extensive Sixth Form curriculum, spanning the range of traditional academic subjects and a wide selection of creative and performing arts disciplines. Girls follow an individually tailored programme of study and, reflecting the rounded nature of a Mayfield education, many will balance a combination of arts and sciences. Mayfield has a tradition of cultivating academic excellence. Class sizes are small and inspirational teaching, from highly-qualified and dedicated staff, enables girls to flourish and excel. 

Sixth Form students also benefit from a complementary specialist Enrichment Programme, which promotes critical and independent thought, and intellectual enquiry beyond the curriculum, as well as a Life Skills course, which prepares girls for the future through the development of key employment and practical skills. Personalised higher education and careers advice and guidance is provided by specialist advisors to support girls in making excellent informed choices and a strong alumnae network offers a range of opportunities for mentoring and work experience. 

To find out more about Sixth Form life at Mayfield please contact Mrs Shirley Coppard, Registrar, at registrar@mayfieldgirls.org