Congratulations to our Year 11 and Year 13 students

This year, following the cancellation of exams, teachers awarded grades using evidence gathered internally. Grades were awarded against a national standard and underwent internal and external quality assurance processes. 

Mr Rainey, Principal of St Ambrose College, said, “We are immensely proud of the outcomes achieved by our students, both at GCSE and A level. Since their return in September 2020, following the first period of lockdown, they have demonstrated phenomenal resilience, focus, maturity and dedication to their studies. We are privileged to have worked with them and been inspired by how they’ve approached all that they’ve had thrown at them including periods of uncertainty and changing guidance. We are delighted that the vast majority of the gentlemen of Year 13 will be moving on to their first choice universities or looking forward to starting apprenticeships. In addition, we will be welcoming record numbers in to our Sixth Form in September.”

“I feel it is important to recognise the role and contribution of staff across the college. All in our community have worked tirelessly, diligently and selflessly to try to ensure that the events of the past 18 months  have not  impacted on the boys’ ability to attain the grades that they have received. Teachers have taken on an immense additional workload and done so with positivity and spirit and I can’t thank them enough.”

“After all that we’ve been through together, last week was very special. It was wonderful to be part of the celebrations and to see so many happy faces.”

A Level
Russell Group places have been attained by a large number of students and generally speaking, universities in Yorkshire and going west off the M62 have been popular choices with dozens of students who will begin studying at Leeds, Sheffield and Newcastle. 

All students have their own success stories including Niall Henderson who is now off to study Chemistry at Amherst College, Massachusetts. Niall achieved 3 A* grades (Religious Studies, Biology and Chemistry) and 1 A grade (Mathematics). It is the second year in a row that a student from St Ambrose has been successful in being awarded a place at a prestigious university in the USA.

Max Clarke who is off to Imperial College London to study Mathematics having attained 3 A* grades (Computing, Mathematics, Further Mathematics) and 1 A grade (Economics) said, “I will always look back at my time at St Ambrose fondly. It was an amazing 7 years. The college shaped me as a person as well as helping me to achieve my highest academic potential.”

Rahul Morrison who has accepted a place at the University of Sheffield to study Medicine having achieved 4 A* grades (Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics) commented that, “I was well supported with online lessons during lockdown. I have been very lucky to have had the teachers that I have had.” This view was echoed by Lawrence Leigh (also 4 A* grades in Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry) as he prepares to undertake a Mathematics degree at the University of Bristol. Lawrence said, “College was very supportive given the circumstances. This helped me to achieve the results that I have.”

Nathaniel Leake and Liam Hesketh are beginning degree apprenticeships – Nathaniel (A* grades in PE and Economics and A grades in Biology and EPQ) is working towards a career in Quantity Surveying through the University of Liverpool and a local company, and Liam (who also achieved A* grades in PE and Economics and A grades in Biology and EPQ) is beginning a business-related degree apprenticeship through Price Waterhouse Cooper. Liam has enjoyed the wider curriculum on offer at St Ambrose College, “particularly all the sporting opportunities” and James Waller (4 A* grades in Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Biology & Chemistry) who is taking a gap year before pursuing a career in Medicine, added that, “My time at St Ambrose has not only helped me succeed academically, but has shaped me in to the person I am today.”

Other students who attained an average points per grade of 55 or higher (in other words A*/A average or better) include:
Lucas Patterson-Gutierrez (The University of Edinburgh – Economics and Maths)
James Hurst (The University of Edinburgh  – Medicine)
Tymoteusz Kavu (University of Bristol – Aerospace Engineering)
Joseph Garforth (Imperial College London – Mechanical Engineering)
Luis McCormack (University of Sheffield - Medicine)
Daniel Xiberras (Durham University – English Literature)
Matthew Quirke (University of Sheffield – Politics and History)
Finn McDonnell (University of Leeds – Economics)
Max Marston (University of Bristol – Economics with a year abroad)
Thomas Rogan (University of Sheffield – History)
Oran McGowan (University of Leeds – Law)
Jacob Holmes (University of the West of England, Bristol – Paramedic Science)
Nicholas Dillon (Degree Apprenticeship Northumbria University - Quantity Surveying)
Ryan Bancroft (Lancaster University – Fine Art and Design)

GCSE
Results at GCSE level have been strong once again with a number of students achieving the top grade of 9 across a range of subjects. The following students are just some of those who scored 85 Attainment 8 points or above (maximum of 90):
James Allen 
Felix Blakemore
Mele Gadzama
Mathew Johnson
James Richardson
Samuel Ridgway
Rory Smyth
Matthew McCabe
Christian Villaruz
Frederick Tickle
Thomas Noble
Thomas Amanuel
Daniel Kemball
Chukwudumebi Ijeomah
Barnaby Simpson

We wish all our students the very best of luck in their next chapters, particularly the A level students off to pastures new. They will always be Ambrosians and we look forward to staying in touch and working with them as they inspire current and future Ambrosians.