Three Benenden students are celebrating after each achieving a clean sweep of the top GCSE grade.
As the School marks another excellent year of results, students Isabella, Izzy and Elizabeth are celebrating a remarkable achievement: a clean sweep of Level 9s, the highest possible grade at GCSE.
These individual successes form part of a strong set of results across the year group. In total, 78 per cent of all GCSE grades at Benenden were awarded Levels 9-7, with 38 per cent at the very top Level 9. More than one in ten students achieved at least nine Level 9s.
For Isabella, the results came as both a relief and a surprise. She said: “I’m over the moon about my results, and I’m so relieved to see that the revision paid off. I was really pleasantly surprised as I found a lot of the exams really challenging, and was quite nervous afterwards.”
She was quick to credit her teachers for their guidance: “All of my teachers have been so amazingly supportive throughout the past two years, and especially in the exam period where they were always on hand to answer any questions or offer emotional support when needed.”
Looking ahead, Isabella is excited to begin her A Levels in September, choosing Politics, History and Latin. While she has not yet decided on her career path, she is eager to explore these subjects in greater depth. For now, she is celebrating with friends at Reading Festival.
Izzy was equally delighted with her results, describing them as “better than expected”. She said: “I am really pleased but quite surprised. It’s nice to see my hard work pay off. I was unsure how I’d done in a couple of the exams, so to get all 9s is amazing.”
Izzy emphasised how valuable the School’s support had been in preparing her for the exams: “I would definitely advise everyone to use your teachers as that’s what they’re there for, and utilise all the clinics you’re offered. I especially found the Geography clinics useful.”
She will be studying Geography, Economics, Psychology and Maths at A Level, and is considering a future career in Law.
Elizabeth was excited to receive her results today: “I’m absolutely thrilled but still taking everything in. It feels surreal getting my results after what felt like a long few months of preparation”. She is considering her future career options which include studying Law or Classics at University…. “or continuing my studies in music at the Royal Academy of Music, where I am currently studying as a flautist in their Junior Department. Nevertheless I’m really excited to see what opportunities lie ahead!”.
Headmistress Rachel Bailey congratulated the trio on their exceptional achievement: “To achieve a full set of Level 9s is an extraordinary accomplishment and I am immensely proud of these students. Their success is testament not only to their hard work and determination, but also to the support of their teachers, who are always committed to helping the girls achieve their very best.
“At Benenden we are committed to fully preparing our students for the workplace and life, and while exam results are of course very important, we look forward to the vast majority of these students moving into Benenden’s Sixth Form where they will embrace our renowned Professional Skills Programme and the opportunity to fulfil leadership positions in School.”
In the Sixth Form – which has just won the Muddy’s Awesome Sixth Form Award – all students complete the Professional Skills Programme, a two-year course teaching the skills needed to thrive in the workplace and beyond, including modules such as financial literacy, psychometric testing and the Enterprise Challenge in which teams launch their own businesses.
Benenden School is regarded as one of the leading girls’ schools in the UK and for the past three years has been included in the Spear’s Global Index of the world’s 100 best schools. Benenden is holding a Sixth Form open event on 11 September and several open days throughout the Autumn Term. More information and booking available at www.benenden.school/opendays