Kendrick School - Pupils 'euphoric' over A-level results

Pupils at Kendrick School in London Road, Reading, have spoken of their 'joy' and 'excitement' as they received their exam results, with the majority getting into their first choice universities.

A total of 94 per cent of students received A* to C grades, about 16 per cent above the national average this year.

A respectable 35 per cent of pupils received A*s, while there was a 70 per cent achievement rate for those who got A* and A grades.

Maria Symeonidis, 18, achieved four A*s in maths, further maths, economics and chemistry.

She has secured a place at the University of Oxford to study economics and management.

She said: "I felt very happy and a bit surprised. It was the best case scenario. It is what I was hoping for but it's impossible to know exactly what happened from the exams.

"I was a bit stressed after some of them as well so I'm really happy."

Maria said she was really grateful for the support from her teachers and worked tirelessly organising her notes in preparation for exams.

She said: "From the start of Year 12, I tried my very best in everything to make it as easy as possible for myself to sit the exams.

"I wanted to do something where I could apply all of my maths knowledge as well, particularly statistics and I love all the real world application of it."

Maria opened her results accompanied by her mum, dad and younger sister, who spoke of their pride and awe of her commitment.

Joy Yip, 18, from Bracknell, will study English language at the University of Oxford after achieving 2 A*s and an A in biology, chemistry and English.

She opened her results accompanied by her friend Wincy Ho, also 18.

Joy said: "I had a bit of a change of course so I wasn't super decided on what I wanted to do until Year 13 but then I really found that English was my big passion and I went for it.

"I was definitely nervous going into the English exams because those the ones that I did not want to mess up."

Joy said she 'didn't actually expect to be accepted' into the University of Oxford, but wanted to try her luck.

She said: "To be honest, I never expected it get in.

"I went for it with the expectation that I was going to go for it and try at it, because I had five choices for my UCAS and I wanted to just try to see if I could get in.

"That was always a challenge for me but getting in, it feels rather surreal now."

Joy added that Oxford was the one place she 'really, really' wanted to go due to the professors she met for the subject, with it being world-famous for its English Language and literature programme.

Wincy Ho will go on to study maths at Royal Holloway at University after achieving A* B B in maths, further maths and computer science.

She said: "It was exactly what I was predicted by the school so it was quite accurate.

"I definitely wish I got some more As but I'm not surprised, I kind of expected it after walking out of the exams.

"I actually studied a lot for this so I am really pleased."

Elise Shaffer, 18, from Reading, will study medicine at the University of Cambridge, having clinched an impressive four A*s in biology, chemistry, maths and geography, which she said she didn't expect.

She said she will celebrate this evening with her friends at a party.

She said she found out her grades first from checking the UCAS website.

Elise said: "I checked the website and it had confetti and everything. I felt a bit excited.

"It's something that the family has been talking about since I had an interview at Cambridge. I didn't expect these results at all.

"I shook so much when I saw them.

"I was literally quivering. When I told my mum my results I cried so she cried but they're really happy for me because they have been anxious as well."

Katharine Lee, 18 achieved three A*s and an A and will go on to study Physics at the University of Warwick.

She said: "I was terrified when I opened it but it but it was a big relief after looking at it.

"The ones I got A*s in I was quite confident with and I'm still over the moon with that A. "

She said she loved physics since studying it at GCSE and begun doing more of her own research.

Headteacher Christine Kattirtzi said she was delighted with the results from their cohort.

She said: "I'm more delighted with the fact that students are getting their first places and going to do what they want to do.

"It's just a credit to my staff. They have worked so hard with them to help them get to this point. It makes me so proud because we are going to have so many young women go on to do great things."