With EPQ results at 100% A* A and overall results at 43% A* A, against a national average of 28%, Read School students have done themselves and the school proud. 

78% of students were awarded places at their first choice university – a phenomenal achievement which is testimony to the wonderfully well-rounded individuals that Read School helps nurture. 

As a small, non-academically selective school, Read prides itself on offering bespoke educational programmes to ensure all students achieve their full potential. Read School has taken just a few personal stories from the Sixth Form, to demonstrate how Read helps to create exceptional young people who are more than ready to take their next step into the wider world.

Ruslana, having left Ukraine due to the war, joined Read School as a boarder in September 2023 to study Art, Design and Technology, History and an EPQ. She settled quickly into life at Read and blossomed into a confident and very capable student.  Her love of Art has always shone through and she chose to study the changing styles of Claude Monet as her EPQ project. Ruslana’s practical and academic excellence in art was recognised by her A* in A-level Art and A in her EPQ. She also excelled in Design and Technology with a B grade and a C in History. This is all the more remarkable when taking into account all her exams were done in English, which is her third language. Lana also gained outstanding scores in her IELTS test. She is now going on to Lancaster University to study Art and Design.

Joe has been at Read School since Year 7 and has been a key member of the sports teams as well as a very conscientious student. Following a broad selection of GCSE subjects, Joe chose the STEM route and should be delighted with his results of ABB in Chemistry, Computer Science and Physics. Joe has successfully gained a place on a highly sought-after apprenticeship, which he secured prior to receiving his A-Level results. 

Louise joined us from France for a term at the end of Year 11 and loved it so much, she stayed on to do A-Levels. As a very talented sports woman, Louise was a key member of the Hockey and Netball first teams. Louise’s overall contribution to school life, including speaking French to Mrs Oliver, was hugely valuable. Her results for French (A*) Maths (C) and Economics (C) reflect her hard work and mastery of English as her second language. Louise will take up her place at university to read Maths.

Mary, who joined Read in Year 1, has had a very busy year carrying out her duties as Head Girl as well as captaining the Hockey and Netball First teams and representing Read Ladies at Netball. Mary worked tirelessly to support a range of charities and was chief editor of the school weekly newsletter. Mary’s A-levels displayed her academic commitment and with Maths (A) PE (B) and Economics (C), Mary is going to Northumbria University to study Sports Management.

Hugo joined Read in September 2023 and made a huge contribution to the RAF section of the CCF. Hugo’s love of languages and his interest in computing led to his choice of A-Levels: French (A), Computer Studies (A) and Maths (B). Hugo showed his extraordinary dedication to improving his achievements by moving to France for a month in his summer holiday between Lower and Upper Sixth to improve his spoken French. We are delighted with Hugo’s well-deserved success. Hugo will now take up his preferred choice of course – to study Computer Science at the University of Sheffield.

Aston has been at Read since Year 8 and has thrown himself into school life, especially as a keen footballer. Aston is also the Captain of the Oaks Golf Club and has shown himself to be a very talented golfer. Aston took an Open University course in Football Business Management while in Year 13. Aston chose to study BTEC Sport and BTEC Business, gaining distinctions in both. Aston is now heading to Sheffield Hallam University to study Sport Business Management. When asked about his time at Read, Aston said: “Attending Read Sixth Form was a time of growth, friendship, and finding the confidence to step into the future.”

Zak joined us in Year 12 from Howden School. Zak instantly became a pivotal member of the Sixth Form and got involved with the School Newsletter as well as charity work. Zak’s passion for Art History shone through his EPQ topic ‘Can it be said that the portraits of Elizabeth I invoke female authority and autonomy in 16th-17th century England?’. Zak’s insight was rewarded with A* grade. His A-Level results, English (A), Classical Civilisation (B) and History (C), were extremely pleasing as he battled serious health issues in Year 13. We are delighted he has taken up his offer at the prestigious Courtauld Institute to study History of Art.

Our Head Boy and Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet, Leon Tabiner-Taylor, said of his time in Sixth Form: ‘Sixth form has shaped me into who I am today.’ as he sets out to York St. John University to study Warfare and History, having gained A-levels in Classical Civilisation (B), History (B) and PE (C).

Our overseas students are such an important part of our community and one of the things we have in sixth form is a number of clocks, showing the time in each of the countries our students come from. Kolyer commented: “I loved the clocks set up on the wall displaying the local times in a wide range of countries. Having Barbados put up for me shows so much thought for us as students.”

Head mistress, Ruth Ainley, added: “It is gratifying to see so many of our pupils achieve their preferred university places after so many months of hard work, and I am very proud of them all and of our staff whose advice and guidance helped them get there. A Read School education is not just about obtaining grades - we aim for each pupil to build confidence while acquiring other skills that are needed in the workplace, such as communication, teamwork, leadership and endurance.” 

We still have a few places left in our Sixth Form for September, so please get in touch for more information on :
admissions@readschool.co.uk