AB Sixth Formers celebrated outstanding successes in today’s A Level and AS Level results, marking yet another year of excellent academic achievements for students at the school.  

The A level results show a stunning 75% achieving the top two grades of A and B, and an overall pass rate of 98%. This is the first year of the A* grade and 11% achieved this, well above the national average, with two students achieving A* in two of their chosen subjects. The AS results were equally impressive with 45% achieving Grade A. These results score well above the national average all round and show a further improvement on last year’s successes at the highest grades.           

The vast majority of pupils achieved their first choice places at Universities and courses which include: Architecture, Business Management, Chemistry, English, Law, History and Politics, Medicine, Biochemistry, Biological Sciences and Geography. AB girls will be going on to study at some of the very best UK Universities including; Oxford, Birmingham, Exeter, Leeds, Bristol, Cardiff, Nottingham, Warwick and Lancaster.  A record number of students achieved straight A grades including Hannah Price, who has secured her place at Oxford University where she will be reading German and Philosophy and Emily Wong who will be continuing her ballet studies at the Royal Academy of Dance having achieved six straight A Grades.  

Head Girl Lindsay Smith from Ellastone, near Ashbourne also achieved straight A grades at A Level, including one A*, securing her place at Exeter University to read English. She said: “I’m really proud of all the AB girls as we’ve all done exceptionally well. AB has brought out the best in all of us and I’m really excited about starting the next chapter of my life.” 

Parent and former pupil of the school Mrs Graham said: "AB really does allow girls to achieve their full potential.  I am so proud of my daughter Cass's academic achievements but am also particularly delighted with the person she has become." Mrs Graham’s daughter, Cassandra (18) achieved three straight A grades, including an A in Chemistry and two A*’s in History and Maths and will be going on to study History at Leeds University. 

Headmistress, Mrs Trish Woodhouse said: “Abbots Bromley School for Girls is unashamedly non-selective and these spectacular results exemplify the dedication and excellence of our teaching staff within a nurturing and supportive environment. Students are given personally dedicated expert advice when choosing and preparing for their University places. The School’s continued reputation for academic success also reflects the substantial development of our Sixth Form provision over recent years with enhanced facilities, a broadened curriculum and enriched extra-curriculum programmes. Each student can expect to leave the school with an excellent education and the satisfaction that she has achieved her personal best. We are enormously proud of the girls and their outstanding achievements and we wish them every success in their future studies.” 

Abbots Bromley School for Girls offers an excellent all round education for girls aged 3-18 years and Sixth Form Scholarships and Bursaries are available for entry this September Term.

Roch House Preparatory School recently presented a cheque for £600 to the Acorn’s Children’s Hospice after a series of enterprising fund-raising initiatives by pupils at the School.  

Acorn’s is a Midland’s based Charity which offers a network of care for over 500 life limited and life threatened children and young people and provides support for their families across the heart of England. The vulnerable youngsters cared for by the Charity are not expected to reach adulthood and require specialist care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.   

To raise money the pupils held a whole school non-uniform day encompassing both Roch House and the senior school; Abbots Bromley School for Girls and also staged a sponsored ‘penalty shoot out’ event at Roch House’s football-themed ‘World Cup Day’. Pupils at Roch House chose the charity as one of the families at the school is supported by Acorns and a cheque for £600 was presented to Mr Vic Schuck, a representative of Acorn’s Hospice, during a special assembly in the school’s Chapel.  

Mrs Ann Johnson, Head of Roch House said: “Acorn’s is a charity very close to our hearts. We have been delighted to raise such a significant amount which we know will be used for the benefit of families in the Midlands region.”

 AB is celebrating this year’s outstanding results in the Edexcel BTEC Performing Arts examinations with a 100% pass rate in both the BTEC First and National Certificates. 

The results show remarkable achievements for all the students who were awarded the equivalent of 10 GCSE A*’s and 8 A grades at the First Certificate level, and 5 A-level A grades at National Certificate level. 

The vocational BTEC Performing Arts courses are run by the school’s dance department; the Alkins School of Dance which has an international reputation for excellence and offers both recreational and vocational courses, giving students the opportunity to study for Dance and Performing Arts examinations while completing their GCSE and A Level studies. The Edexcel BTEC Performing Arts course was introduced by the school two years ago and develops skills in dance, drama and musical theatre alongside related contextual studies.  

Headmistress Mrs Trish Woodhouse said: “We’re absolutely thrilled with the results of the BTEC First and BTEC National Certificates which reflect the dedication of our Y11 and Y13 students and also the exceptionally high standards of the School’s dance department. The BTEC courses run alongside GCSE and A Level studies allowing students to combine academic learning with nationally respected dance and drama examinations.”

The School Council are delighted to announce the appointment of Mrs. Julie Dowling as the next Headmistress of Abbots Bromley School for Girls. Mrs. Dowling will take up her appointment in January 2011. 

Mrs. Dowling is currently the Director of Boarding/Resident Deputy Headteacher at Badminton School, Bristol; a school with an impressive record in the national academic achievement tables. 

She holds an MA in Modern and Mediaeval Languages awarded by the University of Cambridge; a PGCE from Bristol University; taught Modern Languages in three schools (one at Head of Department level) before becoming a Deputy Headteacher in charge of Academic Studies & Head of 6^th Form prior to her current post.

 The impressive record of her achievements in all these posts made her an outstanding candidate and The School Council is looking forward to welcoming Mrs. Dowling and her husband in the New Year.   We are confident that the future of Abbots Bromley is now assured and that its development in academic and social provision within the framework of the school’s very special ethos is in excellent hands.