Top universities are filling up with students from The Catholic High School, Chester, this summer as students receive their A level results.

Students with the highest grades are heading for Bristol, Durham, Manchester, Liverpool, York, Cardiff and many others.

Top achievers include twins Edwin and Martha Barnes. Edwin will take his two A* and one A grade with him to study medicine at the University of Manchester, while sister Martha will read French with French law at Birmingham University. The twins took their GCSEs at St Joseph’s, Wrexham, before transferring to the Handbridge school for their A levels.

Bristol University is a popular destination this year with Joe Beltrami (A*, A*, A) Georgia Erikson (A,A,A) and Joy Hunter (A*,A,A) taking maths, law with French and English respectively. Travelling north from Chester are Tom Spriggs (A*,A,A), studying theoretical physics at Durham and Hermione Burnett (A,A,A) reading history at York University.

Two more students who transferred from St Joseph’s to study A levels are Emma Kupski (A*,A,A) who will train as a dentist in Cardiff and Kira Maw (A*,A*,B) who will read psychology at Manchester Metropolitan University. Rhiannon Morgan also joined the school specifically for her A levels and will study philosophy at MMU having achieved A,A,B grades.

It all adds up for the mathematicians

All-rounder Hannah Salisbury, an excellent singer and saxophonist as well as a talented linguist, will take her A* grades in maths and further maths, along with her A in Spanish, to study mathematics at Leeds University. Another highly successful mathematician is Tom Donnelly, with A* and A in maths and further maths, as well as a B in computing. He will study computer science and maths at Liverpool University. Louise Evans has her A* in art, along with A and B grades in Spanish and French, and is taking her art foundation course at MMU.

The school is pleased with results across a broad range of subjects such as maths and further maths with similarly strong performances in French, history, theology and the sciences. Unusually, six students completed their A level equivalent in performing arts a year early, with Aaron Bladen, Maisie McMahon, Tom Greaves and Georgia Woods securing starred distinctions.

David Hussin, outgoing head of sixth form, who led the young adults through their final year, said: “This has been an exceptional year group. It was a delight to see them apply for their university places with such passion and commitment. I’m not at all surprised to see them do so very well.’

He went on to say that the school will be supporting any students who have not secured their first choice of destination. “We are very proud of the effort we put into looking after all our students,’ he added.

This year group felt the full force of changes brought in by previous education secretary, Michael Gove, with the abolition of units and modules that used to count towards the final grades.

Headteacher John Murray, himself a Bristol graduate, commented: “Despite all the changes that were made to the examinations, our students and their teachers have come through with real distinction. These young adults are more than ready for all the challenges of higher education and the world of work.”

Peter Devine, chair of governors, was buoyant following the release of the results, saying: ‘With three quarters of the grades falling between A* and C, we can be really confident that the school has excellent sixth form provision. I would like to congratulate each of the students, their parents and their teachers. Well done to them all.”

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