Boys in the Fifth Form and 6.2 celebrated excellent results in public examinations in August, cementing our reputation as one of the country’s top schools for academic achievement and added value. At A-Level, 65% of grades were an A* or A, with almost half the year group securing a clean sweep of A and A* grades. On GCSE Results Day, 63% of grades were at grade 8 or 9 and 85% were grade 7 or above, an 8% increase on last year. Whilst grades do not define our boys or the College, they represent many years of dedicated hard work. They should all feel very proud of their achievements.
There are many outstanding stories to reflect on. Senior Prefect, Zach (6.2, J Social) is one of nine boys who secured a full set of A*s at A-Level. He will take up his place at Duke University in the USA on the back of top grades in maths, further maths, history and politics. Zach will be a Robertson Scholar at Duke, a programme with just 18 places that receives more than 21,000 applications.
Brayden (6.2, D Social) will study PPE at Christ Church, Oxford thanks thank to four A* grades in maths, further maths, politics and physics. Brayden spoke candidly about his Radley journey to the Oxford Times earlier this year, where he expressed a deep appreciation for his fully-funded place at the College. He was a member of the team who won the National Mace Debating Championships at the Oxford Union in May. We are sure he will enjoy visiting and debating in the Union’s famous chamber throughout his three years at Oxford.
Bernardo (6.2, H Social) takes up his place to read maths at Cambridge after also securing four A* grades in chemistry, classical Greek, maths and further maths. Bernardo, a talented musician, will be organ scholar at Trinity Hall from September. His friend and musical colleague, Kim (6.2, K Social) will follow him to Cambridge next year. His 3 A*s in Latin, maths and music and A in further maths confirmed his place at Selwyn College to read music and take up his role as organ scholar. He will spend his gap year as organ scholar at Portsmouth Cathedral and Portsmouth Grammar School, former stomping ground of Radley’s Director of Music, Mr Sam Gladstone.
Of the results, the Warden said: “I am very pleased with the outcomes our boys have secured at both GCSE and A-Level. It is important to remember that each set of numbers and letters is not just a statistic but an outcome for a boy. The overall picture is very encouraging, and I am particularly pleased by the upward tick in the number of As and A*s at A-Level and the significant rise in grade 8s and 9s at GCSE. At the top end, 24 boys achieved eight grade 9s or more, but the value added element – which is particularly visible in our A-Level results – shows Radley at its best.”
For boys in the 6.2 year who are progressing to the next stage of their educational journey, A-Level Results Day can bring a great deal of trepidation, however Radleians have successfully secured places at some of the world’s leading universities. 84% of UK university places are at Russell Group universities, which includes 10 places at Oxford and Cambridge. 33% of boys will take up a place at a university in the top 50 of the QS global rankings. 18 boys will take up places at universities in the USA, including five at Ivy League schools, 12 at universities in the top 100 of the QS global rankings and one at McGill University in Canada. Two boys will study medicine, and one has confirmed his place on EY’s prestigious degree apprenticeship programme. We wish them all well and welcome them to the Old Radleian community.
