A-Level results: Excellent results for Felsted students

Twelve students achieved all A* or A grades and Oxford and Cambridge places were secured by Lucy Stuchfield and Stephanie Byrne.

Lucy gained a place at St Edmunds Hall on the demanding PPE course at Oxford, while Stephanie also secured a competitive place to read History at Trinity Hall Cambridge. Lucy’s achievement is all the more remarkable in that she is a year young for her age group and is not 18 until September.

Felsted students sustained a percentage of A* grades (introduced from 2009 onwards and therefore first awarded in 2010) above the national average, at 9 per cent.

One third of the Felsted cohort’s grades were A or A* grades overall (32 per cent).

Some 56 per cent of all grades were A* to B grades, and the overall pass rate was yet again sustained at a very high level (97 per cent). The school has also sustained excellent ‘value added’.

The school’s headmaster, Dr Mike Walker, said ‘These are excellent results and we are extremely proud of all of our students, who have done so well. They have such great support here from all of our staff. They have worked so hard for this success and thoroughly deserve it!

“This year group have not only achieved academically, but they also have done great things in so many other ways – they are really rounded and confident young people who are the leaders of tomorrow, will have a terrific positive impact in society, and have so much potential.

“I wish them every success at University and as they go on in their careers. Well done.”

Twelve students gained three A grades or more:

- Stephanie Byrne from Little Baddow

- Beth Elms from Nairobi

- Edith Hancock from Barnston

- Adam Jones from Mashbury

- Kim Jun Hwan from Korea

- Olivia Roberts from Little Baddow

- Alex Rorison from Great Leighs

- Barney Savill from Navestock

- Madeleine Seacombe from Wethersfield

- Emma Searle from Felsted

- Lucy Stutchfield from Felsted

- Alec Young from Terling

Felsted’s top performers were Emma Searle and Stephanie Byrne who both achieved 3 A*s. Emma, 18, did particularly well as she missed years seven, eight and nine, due to illness. She worked really hard to catch up, took only six GCSE’s but gained A* in all six subjects.

“I am overjoyed. I cannot believe it. I am going to take a gap year to decide what to do next,” she said.

Stephanie Byrne (three A*s) and Lucy Stutchfield (two A*s, 1A), great friends since year seven, were both delighted to achieve their results and secure their places to Oxford and Cambridge. The application process is incredibly demanding which makes their achievements all the more praiseworthy.

However, their intellectual accomplishments are only one of the many strings to their bow. Stephanie was an NCO in the School’s Cadet Force, while Lucy is an articulate public speaker and was one of best cricketers and hockey players in her year group.

Adam Jones gained better than expected grades, with one A*, two As and one B. He is going to read Economics at Exeter University. Alex Rorison achieved a fantastic 3 A grades in Geography, Psychology and Spanish and is going to study at Psychology and Law, also at Exeter next year. Alex is now going to take a well deserved gap year travelling to Australia and Asia with three fellow Felstedians.

Tom Coleby, Felsted’s Head Boy, gained the grades he needed (two As and one B) to study Real Estate at Reading University, with future career aspirations in commercial property.

He said: “I am going to celebrate with friends at the V Festival in Chelmsford this weekend. I have had a fantastic school life at Felsted over the past ten years and will really miss it.

“My tutor, Mrs Megahey, has been really supportive and I am really grateful to her for helping me through my A Level years.”