Malvern St James is delighted to announce this year’s A Level results and university destinations for Year 13 students.

44% of grades were at A* and A, and more than one in six students achieved a clean sweep of A* and A grades, with one girl achieving 3 A*s and 2 As; another, 3 A*s, 1 A and an A* in her Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). Almost 70% of students have achieved A* or A in their EPQ.

As with previous years, there has been a strong performance in STEM subjects, with almost 50% of the year group intending to study STEM-related courses at university. One student has been awarded a scholarship to study Biochemistry at Manchester, and another will study Biomedical Engineering at Imperial; and across the board, courses as wide-ranging as Economics at Warwick, History of Art at UCL, Architecture at Nottingham and Bath, Geography at Loughborough, and Law at Durham. Several girls are holding offers from US universities.

Lara Maylor-Wrout, a day girl from Worcestershire, has achieved a clean sweep of A*s in Biology, Chemistry and English Literature and an A* in her EPQ about Down’s Syndrome and genetic screening. A bursary scholarship student, awarded a place at MSJ in Sixth Form, Lara has proved herself academically and is an exceptionally talented chorister. Lara achieved a Distinction in the prestigious Music Diploma, the next step up from Music Grade 8 and is head chorister at the Worcester Cathedral choir, having sung with them for the past six years. She has a place to study Medicine at Cardiff University. Lara received the MSJ Founders’ Awards scholarship which recognises girls with exceptional academic, extra-curricular and leadership skills.

Across STEM subjects, 71% of candidates achieved A*-B in Mathematics and 80% in Further Mathematics; 71% scored A*-B in Chemistry; 73% in Biology and 67% in Product Design.

Strong performances are recorded in Humanities and Expressive Arts. 91% of candidates received A*-B grades in Art, with almost half (46%) attaining an A*. In Drama, there was a 100% attainment rate at A*-B. In Modern Foreign Languages, 100% of pupils studying Spanish achieved A*-B and in French 75%. In Geography and History there were 100% and 90% respectively A*-B grades.

BTEC Physical Education also remains a strength of MSJ with 90% of results achieving a Distinction*, the equivalent of an A Level A*. Eleanor Houlbrooke, from Ledbury, will study Sport, Coaching and Physical Education at Loughborough University. Eleanor has combined her career at MSJ with sport and dance, and has represented Team England at the world championships in America and regularly competes in several dance disciplines nationally and internationally.

Headmistress, Mrs Olivera Raraty, commented, “I am really delighted by these results and some exceptional personal triumphs by girls who have achieved so much through the course of Sixth Form. It’s been a good year for the Extended Project Qualifications, too, with many achieving A* and A, and I believe that these are becoming good markers of ability for universities who like this independent study qualification. It’s not all about results, of course – I am just as pleased to see that MSJ girls are likeable, well-rounded individuals. They have all sorts of different talents, interests and dreams for their future and it is a pleasure to spend time with them. I wish them the very best in the next phase of their life: they have a lot to bring to the world and I will follow their progress with interest.”