Outstanding results for Newcastle students

Newcastle’s students may have gone through difficult times when their education was affected by the pandemic, but it didn’t stop them from achieving some outstanding results in their A Levels.

The students at St Mary’s, which is a member of the Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust, are celebrating a 100 per cent pass rate, with 39 per cent of A Level results an A or A*, 67 per cent A* to B, and 86 per cent A* to C.

---

​In addition, 74 per cent of Vocational A Level results at the school were Distinction or Distinction*, and 99 per cent were Merit or above.

Among the high achievers were Lucas Colley, who achieved four A* grades and will be reading computer science and philosophy at the University of Oxford, Anss Muhammed, with three A*s and one A, who will be studying mathematics at Durham University, and Isaac Howell, who is off to Cambridge to study natural sciences, having attained four A*s.

Lucas said: “It was a big relief to get my results and nice to see it went well. I was quite fortunate, as covid managed to hit when I was doing my GCSEs and had an impact on the start of A Levels, but then we managed to get back to some sort of normality.”

“I’m mainly relieved,” said Isaac, “as it’s been so long since we did the exams and I had a 25-minute walk into school with everything playing on my mind!

“I’m rather excited about going to Cambridge, and think St Catherine’s college seems very friendly and welcoming and will fit well with my ethos.

“St Mary’s has been really good and there was a whole Oxbridge process, which was one of the more helpful aspects of Sixth Form.”

Fellow student Emily Cass achieved three A*s and will be studying marine biology at the University of Southampton, while Matthew Hill (also three A*s) is heading to Durham University to read mathematics, and Edmond Kelly (three A*s) will study biochemistry at Newcastle University.

Pico Mingstones achieved two A* grades and a Distinction* and will be studying fashion design at the University of the Arts London, Mariam Ali (two A*s and one A) is off to study medicine at the University of Sunderland, and Eleanor Yellowley achieved three A* grades to study medicine and surgery at Newcastle University. 

“I was very happy when I saw my grades,” said Eleanor, “and quite surprised and relieved! I knew I’d done OK but didn’t know I’d done that well.

“I’m looking forward to studying medicine at Newcastle, and think I’m just going to see how the degree goes and then decide what direction to take after that.”

“We are very proud of our wonderful students for their exceptional A Level results,” said head teacher Emma Patterson. "The students have demonstrated tremendous commitment and hard work throughout their studies and fully deserve these outstanding results.  

“Despite the many challenges that students have faced over the last two years due to the pandemic, they have continued to work very hard, with a determined approach, and have been richly rewarded for their efforts.  

“We could not be prouder of our students, and we are thrilled to see them progress to a wide range of excellent universities for the next stage of their education, including Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, Newcastle, Manchester, Liverpool, Queen’s College Belfast, UCL and Bristol.  Many thanks also to our superb teaching and support staff team for supporting our students so well”.

Others celebrating their successes at St Mary’s included Josie Bramhall with two A*s and one A, who will be studying nursing at the University of Nottingham, Isabella Dowden (two A*s and one A), who will study human, social and political sciences at Cambridge, Elisha Ewing (two A*s and one A) who is off to study occupational therapy at Northumbria University, and Emma Massingham, who achieved two A*s and one A to gain a place at the University of Manchester to read philosophy and politics. 

“I’m very satisfied with my results,” said Emma, “and felt it matched all the effort I’d put in. I’m looking forward to my course at Manchester, as it will allow me to choose subjects as I go. I want to see how I feel, and try lots of things until I find what’s right for me.”

Archie McConnell achieved one A* grade, one A and one Distinction* to study business management at the University of Liverpool, while Aleksander Vuletic (two A*s grades and one A) will read physics and astronomy at Durham University, Emilia Wheatley (two A*s and one A) will read history at Queen's College Belfast, and Ruby Wilson is off to study English at the University of Bristol, having gained two A*s and one A.