STAFF and pupils at Woodhouse Grove School, based in Apperley Bridge, are once again celebrating the outstanding A Level success achieved by Year 13 students today with an A Level pass rate of above 97 per cent and the average UCAS points per candidate at 132 – the equivalent of between ABB and AAB at A Level.

Over 37 per cent of students attained grades ABB or better and the school achieved an excellent 37.1 per cent A*/A pass rate.

Woodhouse Grove is highly regarded for the holistic, ‘all-round education’ it offers to pupils, encouraging individuals to participate in a wide variety of co-curricular activities, alongside their academic studies. By giving importance to the individual strengths, motivation and talents of each student, pupils gain in self esteem, confidence and resilience, preparing them for ‘real life’ after school. Academic success inevitably follows as students become independent learners, motivated to explore methods of working that best suit them and develop genuine enthusiasm for their subjects. This ethos helped the school achieve the highest ranking of “Excellent” in its last Independent Schools Inspectorate inspection.

There were some outstanding performances from a number of Woodhouse Grove’s students including:

Joshua Binns (A*A*A*A* plus A in finance) who has a place at Imperial College, London, to study Aeronautical Engineering

Alex Dalton (A*A*A*A*) who will be studying Natural Sciences at Peterhouse College, Cambridge

Samuel Halstead (A*A*A*) who is going to Manchester University to study Physics with Philosophy

Robert Mitchell (A*A*A*A* plus A in Finance and As in his AS levels) who will be studying Economics at Newcastle university

Charlotte Proctor (A*A*A plus A* in her EPQ) who will be studying Dental Surgery at Leeds University

Kaitlin Smith (A*A*A*) who is going to Newcastle to study Medicine

James Lockwood, Headmaster said: "The Sixth Form at The Grove is very much about preparing for life after school – not just for those who will venture into further education but for all our young people, wherever their potential lies. Whilst many of our pupils have excelled academically, I am equally as proud of those pupils who may not have attempted Sixth Form at any other school – but who made the most of the opportunities and programmes available at The Grove to obtain valuable qualifications that will give them a head start in the workplace. The success of all our students is both a true reflection of their conscientious approach and determination to succeed and a testament to the dedication of our excellent and experienced teaching staff. I wish them all the very best for their future and look forward to seeing what these Grovians will achieve in years to come."