Today, Year 11 students at New Hall School jumped for joy, with news of their record-breaking results.  76% of grades were at 6-9, 53% at 7-9 and 31% at the top grades 8/9.

New Hall’s top performer, Ned B achieved a clean sweep of eleven grade 9s.  Ned said: “I’m really happy with my results. I’ve decided on Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Further Mathematics for my A Levels. I’m really looking forward to starting boarding at New Hall with all my friends – Sixth Form will be great!”.  In Year 10, Ned took two Level 3 qualifications (three years’ early), gaining a grade A* in his Level 3 EPQ and the highest grade, A, in the FSMQ in Additional Mathematics.  In 2024, Ned also achieved a Distinction in the UKMT Maclaurin Maths Olympiad 2024, and 95%, the highest score in School, in his Grade 7 Communications Skills, as part of his co-curricular Trinity Drama examinations.

This was closely followed by a group of students with nine or more grades 8/9: Maximilian P, with ten grades 9s and an 8; Stanley B, Aurora N and Eriaanuoluwa S, all with eight grade 9s and three grade 8s; Sarah E and Maximilian A, both with eight grade 9s and two grade 8s; Iya N-K, with six grade 9s, four grade 8s and one grade 7; and Darcey C, with six grade 9s, three grade 8s and one grade 7.

Aurora N is a weekly boarder, diocesan scholar and this year’s recipient of the Principal’s Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement. Aurora is excited to be studying Mathematics, Biology and Chemistry at A Level, as well as a DELF Diploma in French. “I joined New Hall in Year 7 and have really appreciated the support system available in the boarding house. I’m looking forward to my A Level lessons at New Hall – my ambition is to be a psychiatrist, so I’m hoping to study medicine at university,” Aurora shared.

Particular subjects were celebrating outstanding results at the very top grades. New Hall’s Biology results saw 57% of grades at 8/9.  Almost half of students studying French GCSE gained the top grades 8/9.  In Greek, the largest ever cohort were awarded 63% of grades at 8/9, with 88% at 7+. In Latin, 68% of grades were 8/9, with 50% at grade 9.

Mrs Katherine Jeffrey said, “We are all so proud of all our Year 11 students.  In my 22 years as Principal, this day has never ceased to be one of the most joyful occasions of the academic year. Our students have worked incredibly hard and it is exciting to share this moment with them, as they receive this recognition for their achievements. New Hall’s GCSE records come hot on the heels of last week’s record A Level results at New Hall, with 81% of grades at A*-B and 52% of grades at A*/A.”

New Hall operates the diamond model structure, with students educated in co-educational classes up to age 11 and again at Sixth Form. From 11 to 16 they are taught in single-sex lessons, enabling the School to tailor pastoral and academic provision during the GCSE courses.

“Each year, we are proud to see the success of the diamond model, as we challenge and overthrow the notions of gender stereotypes in school subjects and teaching. Evidenced by this year’s results and our students’ choices of A Level subjects, we see the positive effects of single-sex teaching on adolescents’ unconscious bias. The co-educational A Level lessons in the Sixth Form will help to prepare them for further education and life beyond school,” commented Dr Paul Tiffen, Vice Principal.

Students are now confirming their A Level subjects: popular choices include Mathematics, Economics, Business, Biology, Politics, Psychology and Theology.  This talented cohort also includes a number who will be studying Latin and Greek at A Level.

Head of Sixth Form and Oxbridge classicist, Mr Paul Goulding, said: “We are delighted with this news of the students’ academic successes. They will be progressing to New Hall Sixth Form at an exciting time, with our new Sixth Form Business & Languages Centre opening in September 2024, providing university-style facilities, alongside our Sixth Form Boarding Houses. This will also be the first cohort to have the option to study BTEC Sport at New Hall, after this vocational course, equivalent to two A Levels, was added to the Sixth Form academic provision. We continue to welcome applications for Sixth Form until early September, due to the expansion of our provision this year.”