There was much to celebrate at St Ambrose College with the release of A-level results today.  With a return to pre-pandemic grading arrangements, a drop in the number of top grades was expected, yet numerous ‘high-flying’ students achieved grade A*/A in all of their A-level subjects, with many achieving straight A*s: a fantastic achievement.

Individual success stories include Brian Chen, who achieved a superb 4 A* grades and is due to fly out to the United States this weekend to take up his offer to read Computer Science at Princeton, New Jersey.  Congratulations too to Matthew McCabe who is off to New College, Oxford to read Natural Sciences.

Other students who attained straight A* grades include Tom Noble, who will take up his offer to read Natural Sciences at Durham, where he will be joined by Rory Smyth, who is reading Mathematics.  Matthew Johnson and Daniel Kemball both take up their place to read Economics and Mechanical Engineering respectively at Warwick, while Thomas Amanuel will read Chemical Engineering at Imperial College, London.

Other notable successes include Dumebi Ijeomah, who is looking forward to taking up his offer to study Medicine at Birmingham University, and Mohammed Ayub, who will study Dentistry at Imperial College, London.

Principal Dermot Rainey commented, “It has been a really positive morning seeing so many smiles and elated students. Given some of the recent press articles about the drop in the number of high grades this year, we know that some students were understandably anxious about receiving their results but we are so pleased with their achievements. As ever, there have been some remarkable individual achievements but given that this cohort didn’t sit public exams two years ago, it is only fair to credit each of them for how they’ve approached their exams and for the outcomes achieved.”

In spite of tough competition, the vast majority of students secured a place at their first choice of university.  Students are set to take up places at a wide range of prestigious universities across the country including St Andrews, Durham, the London School of Economics, Bristol, Nottingham, Sheffield, and Warwick among others. 

Mr Rainey added, “We wish those going to university every success with their new courses, but know that all of our students, regardless of their next steps will continue to carry the Ambrosian values with them. For example, it was nice to hear Brian, who leaves for New Jersey this weekend, comment earlier that Princeton’s motto of ‘in the service of humanity’ aligned with our own ethos of aiming to develop compassionate and empowered young men who will make a positive impact in the world. We are proud of each and every one of them.”