Today we are sending congratulations to our Class of 2023 on their A level success. At A level, we are delighted that our results have continued to rise by all measures despite the national trend reported over the last week in the press. Our A level results show a significant increase compared to 2022. Almost half of the grades achieved were A*-A which is a fantastic achievement. On top of our success at IB and CTEC, where all Sports results were Distinctions, we are so pleased with what this year group has achieved across all qualifications.
There are too many success stories in the cohort to mention everyone here. Stonyhurst recognises that Rhetoricians have contributed so much more during their time in the Ribble Valley than a set of grades could possibly represent. However, we cannot help but be proud of their achievements today. Hard work and teamwork have characterised this cohort. Everyone has supported each other to put in the hours demanded at A level and IB and to live out our ethos of ‘Quant Je Puis’, as much as I can, through hours spent in our beautiful libraries, in the labs and studios. We hope you are as proud as we are of all that you have achieved through hard work and perseverance.
University offers achieved have been truly extraordinary this year. Our 2023 Rhetoricians are taking up offers at the world’s top universities. UK places are being taken up at most Russell Group universities including St Andrews, Durham, KCL, UCL, Exeter, Newcastle, Oxford, Manchester and Edinburgh and many others. We have pupils going to many different universities across Europe including Paris, Barcelona, Maastricht, Milan, Leuven, Heidelberg and Glion. We have five pupils going over to the US, taking up offers at UCLA, UC San Diego, Wesleyan, Le Moyne and Notre Dame. Most popular this year have been courses in Engineering, Medicine/Biomedical Science and Computer Science this year, but the list of degree courses is hugely diverse. One of our pupils has gained a place at the Guildhall in London to read Theatre Technology. We are also incredibly proud of our cohort of Stonyhurst pupils going on to exciting degree apprenticeships at BAE Systems, Rolls Royce and GE Aviation amongst others. We are very pleased with the increased popularity in degree apprenticeships here at Stonyhurst. We hope many of our 2023 alumni will return in due course to inspire future generations.
Alice McNeill, Senior Deputy Head remarked ‘What the Class of 2023 have achieved is remarkable. It is clear that they are going on to courses which are perfectly suited to their gifts and talents. The Higher Line, Academic, Pastoral, Exams and Careers Teams here have worked so hard to support this cohort, who have been exceptional. Their achievements are made even more remarkable when we remember that they have been at school during an internationally turbulent time. Headmaster of Stonyhurst, John Browne added ‘I am struck by how much Stonyhurst pupils live out our Jesuit virtues and truly want to use their education to make a difference in the world rather than treading well-worn paths. We are so proud of each and every one of them.’