Jewish schools buck the trend and show up with strong A-level results

For this year’s A-level cohort, it was their first experience taking public exams as they were prevented from sitting their GCSEs because of the pandemic. (Their GCSE grades were allocated by teachers).

At JFS, 88 per cent of pupils passed at grade B or above and 98 per cent at C or above.

At the private Immanuel College, the A* to A yield was 57 per cent, with the “vast majority” of students now proceeding to their first higher education choice including two top ten American universities.

Every art and design A-level candidate at Immanuel achieved the top possible grade of A*, compared to the national average of 13 per cent, while 62 per cent of economics candidates secured A or A* marks compared to a national average of 29 per cent. Overall, 86 per cent of girls achieved A* to B in their subjects, compared with 71 per cent of boys.

As well as A-levels, 37 students also did an Extended Project Qualification, all gaining A* to A.

Headmaster Millan Sachania said students showed “strength, imagination and limitless potential. Each of them an individual, our students continue to stretch themselves beyond expectations and deserve hearty congratulations.”

One in five grades achieved at the Hasmonean High School for Girls was an A*, with 50 per cent at A or above, earning places for pupils at universities such as LSE, UCL and Oxford.

Student Dalya Levine, who achieved A*s in biology, mathematics and politics, said Hasmonean played “an essential role in instilling values of both Torah and secular education” in her, and she “loved every moment”.

Rochele Rodal was “extremely thrilled and happy” after attaining three starred distinctions in her health and social care vocational course.

Nearly threequarters of A-levels, 73 per cent, were passed at grade B or above by Hasmonean Girls, compared with two-thirds at the Hasmonean High School for Boys.

Hasmonean Boys passed 43 per cent of their A-levels at grade A or above, with several attaining three or four A*s.

Nochi Zajac achieved the remarkable feat of attaining five A* grades, in biblical Hebrew, computer studies, maths, further mathematics and physics.

Ami Jacobs, who gained four A*s in biology, chemistry, maths and further maths, said “the [school’s] rebbe and teachers really cared and helped at every stage. I have just arrived at Yeshivat Hakotel [in Israel] and look forward to applying to university next year.”

At Yavneh College, 28 per cent  of all A-level students achieved all A or A* grades, while 93 per cent of vocational students achieved at least three distinctions; 50 per cent of A-level grades were at A or above, 82 per cent at B or above and 97 per cent at C or above.

High-fliers included Hannah Adam and Avi Hyman who both achieved four A*, and Noah Grose, Ben Hirschfield, and Ellie Fishman with at least three A*s. On the vocational track, Josh Harris and Sophie Marsh each achieved three starred distinctions.

Yavneh’s executive headteacher Spencer Lewis said the high percentage of A grades and BTEC distinctions was “a real testament to the hard work of the students and the dedication and commitment of the staff, who deserve a huge amount of thanks”.

At JCoSS the share of A and A*s, or top grades in their vocational equivalents, accounted for 52 per cent of all grades; at A-level, 77 per cent were at B or above, while 28 per cent of vocational grades were at the highest, a starred distinction.

Natan Boyd led JCoSS’s honour roll with four A*s, while Ben Freedman, Samuel Gassner, Jaime Grogan, and Michaela Jackson all achieved at least three A*s.

Mimi Plaskow, Scott Silver and Eden Tivon all gained three starred distinctions, while Yuval Oren attained two starred distinctions and an A.

The “great majority” of students in the year group will now embark on university courses including maths, economics, engineering and medicine at prestigious institutions around the country.

JCoSS headteacher Melanie Lee said she was “thrilled and privileged” to announce the results in her first year as head. “Despite the promise of tougher grading this year, our students have achieved even better outcomes than the pre-Covid 2019 results.”

At King David High School in Manchester, headteacher John Dalziel hailed the school’s “exceptional” results as 100 per cent of year-13 students passed their A-levels, with nearly a quarter of grades at A or above and more than half at B or above.

Half of candidates in the most popular subject, history, achieved an A orA*.

Saluting “resilient and determined” students, he said: “Their results will open the doors for their future studies, and we wish them well as they continue to go from strength to strength and realise their potential.”

King Solomon High School in Redbridge welcomed a “significant improvement in results” compared to the pre-pandemic year of 2019. “It has been a very stressful process for many students who have never sat formal external examinations before because of the Covid pandemic,” the school said.

Students will go on to study subjects ranging from law, nursing, engineering, economics and computer game design at universities such as Nottingham, UCL, Bristol, Durham and York.

At King David High School, Liverpool, more than a third of grades, 37 per cent, were passed at A* or A and 53 per cent at B or above.

Deputy head October Wright, said, “As proud as we are of the incredible results these students have achieved, it’s what lovely young people they have developed into which gives us the most joy. They have set such a strong example to their younger peers and we know they will continue to inspire others as they move on to the next exciting chapter.”