Herts and Essex High School A-level results day

Every single Year 13 student at Herts and Essex High School is heading for their chosen university or other destination after getting the A-level results they needed today (Thursday).

This year’s cohort once again kept the Warwick Road secondary’s motto of Sic Itur Ad Astra close to their hearts and ‘reached for the stars’.

The vast majority of students achieved the top grades of A*, A or B, with 17% – one in six – achieving A*. The school is celebrating the fact that 46 students – a fifth of the cohort – achieved at least three A-levels at A*-A.

The standout result was by Elizabeth Hannant, who achieved five A-levels, all at A*. Four other students got three A*s, including Amelia Hendy, Etiene Inyang – both of whom also got a B – and Oscar Sortwell.

The following achieved two A*s and two As: Millie Tsang (who also got a B), Grace Frankham, Francesca Hammonds, Sophie Pegrum, Bethan Seath and Joe Thomas.

Other high achievers were: 2A*, 1A, 1B – Maria Carter and Elizabeth Winter; 2A*s, 1A – Emily Brock and Martha Gray; 1A*, 3A – Abbie Sheridan and Francesca Vittori; 1A*, 2A, 1B – Katie Andrews, Daisy Armitage, Josh Brown, Hanna Khan, Carys Rees and Atikan To; 1A*, 2A – Grace Beadle and Sabrina Man; 1A*, 1A, 2B Ashley Man; 1A*, 1A, 1B – Harry Milsom and Sophie Stewart; 1A*, 2B – Grace Mason and Olivia Stokely; 4A, 1B – Jake Travis; 4A – Steffi Chapman; 3A, 2B – Ruby Esterbrook; 3A, 1B – Lexi Johnson, Talia Kucharek, Eleanor Robertson and Toby Sloan; 3A – Mia Bundy, Liah Darby, Yasmin Delport, Paige Hill and Annabelle Lawrence.

Six of the cohort have confirmed Oxbridge places. Elizabeth Hannant (maths), Sophie Stewart (history) and Joe Thomas (veterinary medicine) are off to Trinity Hall, Cambridge; Francesca Hammonds will be reading French and Spanish at Lincoln College, Oxford; Martha Gray will be studying classics and English at Corpus Christi, Oxford; and Maria Carter will be doing Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic studies at Cambridge.

Executive headteacher Cathy Tooze said: “I am delighted with this fantastic set of results; we are incredibly proud of our students who have worked tremendously hard. Our recent full Ofsted inspection identified Herts & Essex Sixth Form as ‘exceptional’, which is fully reflected in these outstanding outcomes.

“Every single grade achieved by every single student illustrates the dedication, energy and commitment of staff, students and families over the last two years, providing the incomparable standard of teaching and support available here and the vital encouragement from home. This combination really does pay off and means that Herts & Essex sixth formers leave school empowered to achieve their highest aspirations.”

Caroline Lewis, director of sixth form, added: “Our Year 13 cohort has been a fabulous year group. I’ve enjoyed working with them immensely and it’s been a privilege to watch them develop and thrive not just academically, but also as they grew in confidence, independence and maturity.

“I am so pleased for them today. Congratulations and thanks go both to the students and the staff for all their hard work, which is the basis of such achievements.

“This year’s Year 13 cohort has secured some fantastic destinations, including many of the best universities in the world. The range and diversity is impressive.

“Both in relation to grades and destinations, this year’s Year 13 has done even better than last year’s – wow!”