Challoner's students welcome new A* grade

Aug 19 2010 By Hannah Williams

BUevans

THE introduction of the new A-level A* grade was welcomed by least three students at Dr Challoner's Grammar School - who clocked up six of them each.

Steven Evans (pictured) of Great Kingshill, Will Phillips from Gerrards Cross and Mazda Rustomji of Bellingdon achieved half a dozen of the top marks in the first year they have been available.

Will, 18, of Milton Avenue said: "I am delighted, it's amazing. I thought I would do reasonably well but I certainly didn't expect the last A*."

Despite his haul of A*s, including in three maths-based subjects, Will said he had not been able to access the UCAS website as it had been too busy to check whether his dream of studying maths at Cambridge would be realised.

The aspiring engineer added: "I think I was lucky I had a good set of subjects I really enjoyed doing. I think the A*s are a really good idea, you can discern a bit more out of the rest. It probably gave me more to work for."

Harry Billimore, 18, of Mill Lane, Gerrards Cross, was predicted two A grades and two Bs but ended up exceeding them and scored one A* and three As.

He said: "I'm shocked really. I just worked really hard. I made sure I did two good hours a day of studying then watched some TV then did a bit more."

He had planned to go to York University to study maths and economics but is going to rethink to see if other options are now available after his outstanding results.

And with increased pressure on university places this year, not all students found getting into the place of study of their choice easy, despite high predicted grades.

Mike Bath, who achieved three A*s in maths, further maths and biology, and an A in chemistry, said: "I got predicted near the top grades but I just couldn't get interviews at medicine schools." Despite the struggle, Mike, 18, from Chorleywood, has now clinched a place to study medicine at Leicester University and hopes to one day become a doctor.

Mark Fenton, headteacher of the school in Chesham Road, Amersham, said the new A* grade will help give better recognition to the efforts of the most able students.

Dr Fenton said: "As a new feature of the exam system we weren't entirely sure what to expect but as it turned out 20 per cent was exactly in line with our predictions. I am sure the introduction of the A star grade will help reassure people A-levels are still a very demanding qualification and will give universities, employers and the public a better picture of what students have achieved."

The school had an overall pass rate of 99.6 per cent with 92.4 per cent achieving the top A* to C grades. Its average point score was 434.