ExamNews September 2009 Headmistress’s Letter Yet again City girls demonstrated their personal determination and commitment to their education by achieving excellent results in AS and A level exams, GCSE's and Key Stage 2 tests. Their successes are fully deserved and confirmation of the hard work and dedication they apply to reaching their full potential. We are all very proud of their achievements. The girls have the benefit of an education that not only enables them to prove their abilities under examination conditions, but has also enabled them to prove themselves across many other areas of school life. They are first class leaders, team players, sportswomen, musicians, actors, fundraisers, debators, mentors, magazine editors and contributors. Their excellent results are not only a credit to the girls' focus and energy towards their studies but also the professionalism and inspiration of the teaching staff and I thank each individual for their dedication and care. Their guidance and commitment to our students encourages every girl to work their hardest, set goals and perform to the best of their ability. These results are also testament to the support and encouragement of our parents who play a key role in the success of their daughters during their education. Our Upper Sixth leavers are all prepared to start the next chapter of their lives at University and to make the most of opportunities that will be open to them. All the girls will be going to top UK and US Universities and a number of girls have chosen to take a gap year before beginning their courses. They will be studying a wide range of subjects including History, Classics, Medicine, Drama, Modern Languages, Chemical Engineering, Law, Economics and Natural Sciences at a range of Universities including Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Durham, Edinburgh, Oxford and Sussex. We wish them every success as they begin University. Miss Diana Vernon Headmistress Amazing A Levels Once again A level students at City of London School for Girls have received amazing results. This year the girls achieved an outstanding 97.8% A-B grades and 84.8% A grades. We were also delighted that 100% of girls who studied Art, Further Maths, German, Government and Politics, Latin and Theatre Studies were awarded A grades. 52.7% (38) of the Year 13 girls achieved at least three A grades each and 16.6% (12) of girls achieved 4 As. Great results! Well done girls! GCSE Top Marks Our Year 11 girls have achieved a fantastic set of GCSE results this year. 94.4% of the total grades achieved were A*or A grades and nine girls were awarded a remarkable 11 A*s. All girls who took GCSEs in Chinese, German, Greek, History, Italian, Latin, Religious Studies, Theatre Studies and Turkish were awarded A* or A grades. A tremendous achievement! In Art, Chemistry, English, French and Product Design, over 95% of girls achieved an A* or A grade. With celebrations in full swing and friends supporting and congratulating each other, some of this years Year 11 gave their reaction to their wonderful results. Jennifer Shaw, who received a phenomenal 11 A* commented, "I am really pleased and so relieved". "I am so surprised and pleased. I wasn't really nervous more curious about seeing my results" exclaimed Faith Barker who will be celebrating her 10 A*s with friends at the Reading Festival. Eleanor Yorke couldn't stop smiling, she explained "I did everything I could to distract myself yesterday, I went out for dinner and had a sleepover with friends so I wouldn't think about today. I am really pleased." Eleanor received 5A* and 6 As. "I can't wait to celebrate. I was so nervous coming in that I made my Dad come in with me for support. I am delighted with my results." Eve who achieved 11 A*s hopes to take 5 AS levels next year. She is going to go to the Edinburgh Festival with her friends to celebrate. Congratulations girls and good luck in Year 12! Key Stage Two Girls in the Prep were overjoyed with their Key Stage Two Results. Every child in Upper 2 scored Level 5 in English and Mathematics in these externally assessed tests. This means that the girls had attained the national expectation for thirteen year olds two years early. In Science, all but one of the girls gained Level 5 and and the pupil who narrowly missed out on that award gained a high Level 4 score. We were particularly pleased that 55 papers were assessed at 85% or above, of which an astonishing 15 scored 95% or more. Mr Brough, Head of the Prep said, "This demonstrates that our method of preparing for tests only in the three weeks immediately before the examination period is the best one. We put emphasis on a broad, balanced and creative curriculum throughout the Prep and classes are certainly not "taught to test" - even when we are looking at examination techniques, we continue our curriculum of day trips, residential visits and our wide range of extra-curricular opportunities including sports, music, drama and languages." The variety of experiences that the girls have during their time in the Prep is a core ingredient in the deep enjoyment of learning which is at the centre of all aspects of the girls' school experiences. It is this philosophy that enables the children to perform to exceptionally high standards under examination conditions. Results Reactions This year's A Level students were awarded excellent results. Their dedication and hard work have enabled them to achieve the grades needed for Universities both in the UK and abroad. Relieved that the waiting was finally over some of the girls gave their varied reactions to the contents of their results envelope. "I'm so relieved, I've achieved one more step on my career goal of becoming a Dentist," commented Farah Kanji who is going to King's College London to study Dentistry. Ashma Paul who will be studying Social Anthropology at LSE exclaimed " I'm ecstatic to be going to University. Doing better than you thought is the best feeling, I want to scream." Ashma achieved 3 A grades in Government and Politics, Theatre Studies and Religious Studies. "My parents met me at the airport three hours ago with a laptop so I could check my results online. I then just had to come to the school and celebrate with my friends and teachers. I'm confused and tired but on a natural high," commented Jessica Sandelson who landed back in London that morning following a two month trip to Ecuador, Costa Rica and Colombia. After receiving 3 A grades in Art, History and Spanish she will read History at Cambridge in 2010. Charlotte Baughen, who is going to study Medicine at Cardiff, was overjoyed, "I'm so excited, I can't believe it. I was in a complete panic when I logged onto UCAS, it's such a relief to have achieved my goal." Charlotte achieved A grades in Biology and Government and Politics and a B in Chemistry. "I'm thrilled with my results, all the hard work was worth it in the end. I can't wait to celebrate," exclaimed Liz Levitz who will be studying Liberal Arts at University of Pensylvania. She was excited about starting her studies and gaining exposure to a wide variety of subjects before choosing her speciality. Liz achieved 4 A grades in Spanish, Latin, Maths and Physics. Rebecca Schofield was busy looking for her favourite teacher to thank him. "I got full marks in my comparative study and really didn't want to let him down, the teachers are so dedicated. I need to thank him," she explained. Achieving 3 A grades in English, Art and Classical Civilisation Rebecca is going to Oxford with her best friend from CLSG to study Classical Archaeology and Ancient History. Exam Tips While celebrations spread among this year's leavers, a few took time to offer advice and exam tips to future candidates. Emma Knowles, who received 3 A grades in Classical Civilisation, History and Government and Politics advised girls to "stretch yourself and ensure you have a study life balance. Apply where you want to go and not where you think you will get accepted, this way you will have no regrets." Emma will be reading History and Ancient History at Oxford. "Work hard at AS level as these are just as important and study around your subject, gaining valuable background knowledge. Remember to have fun and gain a balance between studies and some relaxation time," was the advice Phoebe Janner offered. With 3 A Grades in Art, Theatre and English Literature Phoebe plans to attend Manchester University where she will study Drama. Tanisha Onyenaoha said "the best advice is to work hard all year and acknowledge that some sacrifices have to be made during exam preparation time. It is definitely worth it in the end." Tanisha who was awarded 3 A grades in History, French and Spanish is going to take a Gap year working as an Au Pair in Italy until Christmas and then plans to travel in South America. She hopes to go to Bristol and study Languages in 2010. Emily Austin who said she tried to remain calm throughout the exams told future candidates to "keep going even when you feel it's too much, believe it will sort itself out." Emily is going to study Classics at Cambridge after receiving 3 A grades in Greek, Latin and Politics. " I know it sounds simple, but be organised and work hard," was the advice Jennifer Ho offered. Jennifer was awarded 4 As in Biology, Chemistry, Music and Maths and is going to study Medicine at Nottingham. Thanks for the tips! Edited by Sharon McParland Layout by Matt Curtis Leavers' Destinations Almost all of our Year 13 girls were accepted at their first choice University. They have chosen Universities across the UK and abroad. Philippa Deacon will be reading Theology at Cambridge, while Alice Gleeson will study German at Bristol. Jackie Johnston will be studying Chemical Engineering at Imperial while Isabel McCormack will attend Edinburgh to read Economics. Travelling further a field Mikaela Green will study Liberal Arts at New York University and Alice Conway will attend The British University in Paris where she will study French. Katherine Griffiths will study Liberal Arts at Tufts University, Boston. Rosalind Bannister and Nahin Jannatul will enjoy the creature comforts of home for a little while longer, studying Chemistry and Neuroscience respectively at UCL. Isabelle Dann will study English Literature at Manchester while Florence Tully will attend Sussex where she will study Molecular Medicine. Four of our Year 13 girls are going to study Medicine at University. A number of this years leavers have decided to take a gap year and defer their University places until 2010. The Universities that attracted the most girls this year were, Cambridge (10) + (2 - 2008 leavers), Edinburgh (7), Oxford (4) + (4 - 2008 leavers), Leeds (6), Bristol (4) and Imperial (4). The leavers' destinations quoted here are taken from a cross section of girls who received their A2 level results this year. Please note that some of the statistics quoted here for GCSE, AS and A Levels may differ from those stated in other publicity materials, following receipt of remark grades. AS Level Achievements All girls study at least four AS subjects in Year 12. Once AS Level studies are complete, girls go on to take at least three A Level courses in Year 13. This year, the girls achieved 89.6% A or B grade in their AS subjects. 24.3% (18) of the girls received 5 A grades and 25.6% were awarded 4 As. We are delighted that 100% of girls who took Art, Design Technology, Further Maths, Geography, German, History of Art, Latin, Religious Studies and Theatre Studies were all awarded A-B grades. All of the girls taking exams in German and Design Technology were awarded A grades. Congratulations and good luck with A Levels next year, girls!