“I am absolutely thrilled for our talented Class of 2025 students who have not only consistently conducted themselves with integrity, humility and good humour, but have also achieved an outstanding set of A Level results. Against the national backdrop of A Level grades returning to the 2019, pre-Covid levels, the results this year were all the more impressive. Across all subjects, 35% of all grades were the gold standard A*. In total, 349 A* and A grades were secured by our hard-working cohort. 70 students achieved a clean sweep of grades at A or A*; 22 students achieved 3 or more A* grades: these are richly deserved and just reward for all their efforts. In addition, with numbers taking French and German still in decline, the RGS continued to buck the trend: our French, Greek, German and Spanish students achieved a clean sweep of A* or A grades.
It was – as always – the individual stories of the day which brought me equal pleasure: students for whom there have been personal challenges during their Sixth Form experience who have displayed such resilience and determination to achieve results of which they should be rightly proud; or students who have exceeded their own personal goals, even if they do not grab the headlines in the same way. For each student, fulfilling their own potential and preparing them for the next stage of their academic journey in a supportive environment remains our absolute focus, irrespective of the final grade.
Sitting high-stakes A Level examinations with the added pressure of securing challenging university offers is demanding in itself; to have secured such stellar grades is, however, just one part of our Sixth Form experience. This year group has embraced the culture of opportunity, aspiration and ambition. They have developed themselves personally as leaders and collaborative team members; they have nurtured their passion and thirst for learning outside the classroom; they have performed admirably in the co-curricular spheres; most importantly, however, they have consistently conducted themselves with pride and determination, energy and enthusiasm, and an infectious sense of humour. This is to their great credit and will stand them in good stead in the future. It is these aspects, as much as the excellent results themselves, which characterise an RGS education in the Sixth Form.
In terms of university entrance, of those preparing to study at UK universities, the students, almost without exception, secured offers on the most competitive courses at the leading institutions in the country, predominantly at their first-choice institution. This is all the more impressive as 94% of places already confirmed are to Russell Group or one of The Times Top 20 ranked universities with Bath, Bristol, Durham, Edinburgh, Exeter, Oxbridge, UCL and Warwick continuing to be the most popular destinations for our students. The Class of 2025 can now harbour the most ambitious aspirations and I look forward to following their progress with interest and excitement.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the phenomenal professionalism, inspiration and dedication of all the RGS staff who have done so much to prepare, support and reassure this particular year group. I am immensely proud of the spirit and sense of community at the RGS which allows our students to continue to excel and flourish.”