Ratcliffe students celebrate outstanding A-level results

Many of the youngsters at the Ratcliffe on the Wreake school are today (Thursday) celebrating outstanding results, with three-quarters of the current cohort achieving grades ranging from A* to B, 37 per cent gaining A* or A and 99 per cent attaining at least a pass grade.

Headmaster, Jonathan Reddin, commented: “Given the extremely challenging circumstances created by the pandemic and the massive disappointment of not being able to sit their examinations after working so diligently, I am both pleased and relieved that so many of our wonderful Year 13 students have been able to accept places at their first choice university. 

“This is testament to their resilience, hard work and dedication prior to lockdown and the professionalism of their teachers in the awarding of Centre Assessed Grades. 

“Many students achieved exclusively A and A* grades, and we congratulate them for achieving such outstanding grades and success on gaining places on the most competitive courses.”

Among the top students were Hebe Jackson - the first Sir Thomas White Scholar to gain a place at Oxbridge - who will read modern and medieval languages at King’s College, Cambridge, and Jacob Dawe, who proceeds to The Queen’s College, Oxford, to read physics. 

Mia Baker, Ben Cook, Tom Neuberg and Jade England have places to study medicine and veterinary medicine. 

Samuel Offer achieved 3 A*s and is taking a gap year ahead of applying to study medicine next year. 

Linguist, Eduardo Robinson, achieved 3 A*s to study law and German at Bristol University, whilst music scholar, Richard Pullan, also achieved the very highest grades in all subjects and takes up his place at Edinburgh University to study mathematics and music. 

Head Girl, Eve Millward, achieved the same grades and will be studying English literature at King’s College London.

Mr Reddin added: “For those students who are disappointed with their grades, the school will continue to work with them, where appropriate, towards a successful appeal, so that they are not disadvantaged in the future by circumstances beyond their control.”

The headmaster also paid tribute to the way some of his students had helped the community during the coronavirus pandemic.

They volunteered to deliver food parcels, produced large quantities of PPE for hospitals and care homes, supported the coronavirus testing process and helped with others’ emotional well-being by keeping in touch with elderly and housebound people. 

Students have also excelled across a wide range of co-curricular activities and initiated some invaluable charitable activities. 

Mr Reddin added: “It is our hope that the class of 2020 will not be defined by the impact of coronavirus but, instead, by the values they have embraced at Ratcliffe College. 

“We wish them the very best as they move forward, with confidence, to higher education and successful careers in the future.”