‘GIRL power’ was very much in evidence when students at Shebbear College received their GCSE results last week. 

Among the outstanding performers were Hana Fletcher with ten A*s, Tabby Kirkwood with eight A*s to add to the two A grades she achieved last year and Connie Bromhead who achieved seven A*s and five As. The talented trio join five others — boys and girls — who achieved at least nine A* and A grades each in one of the school’s best ever set of results. Several departments enjoyed very strong results and in the separate sciences there was a 100% pass rate with two thirds of all grades being A* and A. The school’s strong reputation for art was also reinforced with 17 out of the 25 art students achieving A* or A.

Headmaster Simon Weale said: ‘This is a very encouraging set of results and it is fitting that this super year group will be the first to move into our new Sixth Form building. We are a deliberately small and non-selective school and we celebrate those who have achieved five good passes to get into the vocational course of their choice just as much as those with stellar results. 

I am delighted that our pass rate for A*to C is almost 20% above the national average and this reflects the many advantages our students enjoy at Shebbear’.