School bucks trend in science entries

A Shropshire school is bucking the trend amid national concern that not enough young people are studying the sciences.

More than a third of this year's A-level group at Shrewsbury Girls' High School will be going on to study science or engineering degrees at many of the country's top universities.

The school yesterday celebrated eight consecutive years of a 100 per cent pass rate at A-level.

Typical of the school's science successes are Sarah Lee, who has achieved four A grades in maths, further mathematics, physics and Latin, and is to study engineering at Cambridge.

Carla Lunt also gained four As in maths, biology, chemistry and geography and will be studying medicine at Cardiff.

Former head girl Catriona Till has four As in mathematics, biology, chemistry and art, and is off to St Andrew's to study biology.

Former head girl Catriona Till has four As in mathematics, biology, chemistry and art, and is off to St Andrew's to study biology.

She will be joined at St Andrew's by Bethan England who will be studying medicine with four grade As in chemistry, biology, maths and Latin.

Others are going on to study pharmacy and environmental geosciences

Reputation

School spokesman, Ben Jason, said it had always had a "strong reputation" for sciences and there had been significant investment in science facilities over the years.

But every subject has produced excellent results and a total of 25 girls achieved straight A grades.

Headteacher Marilyn Cass, said: "I know we have a reputation for academic excellence, but this year our A-level pupils have done better then ever, with one third getting straight As, despite the school having its biggest ever A-level entry."

Pupils at Shrewsbury School have yet again produced another very strong set of results, with 80 per cent of the 157 candidates achieving grades A and B, and 51 of them scoring A grades in all their examinations.

Three boys scored five A grades and a further 13 gained A grades in all four of their subjects.

Headmaster Jeremy Goulding said: "It is always very gratifying indeed when the hard work of staff and students pays off in this way.

All across the county and in Mid Wales outstanding results have been achieved.

For example, New College in Wellington recorded a 97 per cent overall pass rate, with 36 per cent of the students achieved grades A and B and 22 students achieving a maximum grade A in all subjects.

Ludlow College set a new record with more than 63 per cent of students gaining A or B grades and 87 per cent gaining A, B or C grades. It had an overall pass rate of 95.8 per cent, as did Ellesmere College.

Welshpool High School's students achieved a 100 per cent success rate, with 81 per cent of students gaining A to C grades.

By Dave Morris