The summer is a period of intense anticipation of what lies ahead for school leavers and today, Royal High School Bath (RHSB) A-Level students join teenagers around the globe to learn their results and destinations for the next stage of their lives.
This year, an impressive 20.5% of grades secured by Royal High School Bath students were the top A* grade, with a quarter of the cohort receiving at least 3 A*/A grades; five students achieved straight A* grades across all their subjects. Given the context that not only are these the first public examinations sat in the traditional way for this Covid-impacted cohort, but also the media coverage warning of a drop of nearly 95,000 A* and A grades compared to last year this is a very pleasing result.
These results follow those of the IB Diploma Programme students whose results were published in July. The IB is marked out of 45 with girls studying six subjects each of which can be awarded a maximum of seven points with an additional three points for the Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge. The RHSB IB cohort achieved an impressive 35-point average which is significantly above the global average of 30 points with students securing places at prestigious universities including Kings College London, University College London, Edinburgh and the University of Nottingham. RHSB is the only school in Bath to offer this choice of IB or A Level pathway at Sixth Form.
The spirit and individuality of Royal High School Bath students is demonstrated perfectly by the range of destinations and variety of the subjects they are going on to study. These include:
Maddie W, former RHSB Poet Laureate, shortlisted for the BBC Young Writer of the Year and whose 3 A*s and A* Extended Project Qualification and a Level 6 for IB Standard Level French have ensured her place to read English at Cambridge.
Isabel W secured 4 A* and is heading for Trinity College, Oxford to study Chemistry. Isabel was involved in the World Dance Championships, is a virtuoso pianist and singer and shone as Maria in last year’s production of The Sound of Music.
Amber R-B epitomises the modern polymath and is heading to Ecuador supported by a Royal High School Bath Friends’ Travel bursary where she will teach English before an art foundation course followed by Liberal Arts at Durham.
STEM subjects continue to be popular choices for students with Sybil W, studying Physics at Imperial, and Evelyn L securing 4 A*s for UCL to study Biomedical Sciences. Toby W, RHSB sustainability prefect is heading for Bristol to study Medical Microbiology, and Megan O moves to study medicine at Aston University, and promises to continue her exceptional musical talent which has earned her several accolades including runner up in the prestigious Bath Young Musician of the Year.
Students are encouraged to consider the best career path for them, as demonstrated by Florence D who is taking up an apprenticeship at a London hospital where she will be sterile services technician with the option of a paid degree on completion of her apprenticeship.
Drama continues to be a strength at RHSB, with all candidates attaining A* grades – Miranda P, the RHSB Drama Ambassador and lead in many school productions is on the waiting list for RADA. Last year’s leaver Tilly B will start at Mountview Drama School this September.
Mrs Kate Reynolds, Head, said, “It has been a delight to watch these students grow in every aspect of their lives. We celebrate not just their exceptional academic achievements but also their embracing of opportunities that have given them the skills for the future so much in demand by employers and entrepreneurs. This extraordinary cohort is set to make their mark on the world beyond School and we wish them every success and happiness as they leave Royal High School Bath.”