Comparisons to previous years remain difficult in light of how grades were awarded in 2020-22.  However, overall, our excellence in academic performance is retained with increases across key attainment measures.  The overall pass rate is 99% and the percentage of higher grades awarded in 2024 remains strong with nearly 30% of all grades at the highest A*/A grade.  Similarly, this cohort achieved 57% at A*-B and 82% at grades A* - C this year.  All of these are above national averages.

There are some amazing individual success stories across the full range of academic achievement.  At the top end a number of students gained straight A or A* grades. Three students secured an impressive full suite of A* grades and go on to their first choice of university with Lois Cameron-Young and Jack Cumming taking up their places at Oxford University to read History & French and Maths, respectively.  Maisy Dixon also secured her place at Nottingham to study Politics and Economics.

Six further students achieved a mixture of A* and A grades and also progress to their first-choice destination.  Among them are Asher Dawrant who will study Mechanical Engineering at Manchester University, Ollie Horvath who takes up his place at Durham to pursue Engineering, Daisy Millward-Higgins who will read Maths at Nottingham, Raj Sharma who is pursuing Medicine at Leeds University and Daisy Lister.

There were a number of other high-achieving students banking straight A’s who included Zach Robinson, who moves on to Sheffield to study Mechanical Engineering, Violet Romaine, who is going to read Geography at Liverpool and Luke Stanton, who is considering his options after securing a place at Manchester to study International Business, Finance and Economics.

Also of note were top achievers in our vocational programmes, many of whom will go on to take up places at university or on apprenticeships, which are rapidly gaining in popularity.  In addition to the more traditional courses, the eclectic variety of destinations and subjects for our students this year is testament to the forward-thinking advice given to our sixth form, where new opportunities are increasingly promoted and taken up. Joseph Fletcher achieved an impressive 3 Distinctions in his BTEC courses and is considering his pathway and whether to follow the apprenticeship route. A growing number of students also choose gap years to consider their next steps.

We are particularly proud of a number of our students who have faced challenges around special educational needs and disabilities and of course there are many more personal success stories too numerous to mention.  It should go without saying that we are proud of each and every one of our students for their endeavours and hard work whatever grades are achieved or destinations are being embarked upon.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank and congratulate the sustained efforts of our committed and dedicated staff at Prince Henry’s who continue to go the extra mile to ensure that our students can really flourish and achieve, fully equipped both academically and personally.  The continued success of Prince Henry’s is due to their hard work and the commitment of our amazing students. Well done to all – we look forward to your photographs adorning our walls in years to come when you become one of our future Prince Henry’s People! Good luck and keep in touch.”

Sally Bishop, Headteacher, Prince Henry’s Grammar School