Smiles all round

Heathfield School in Ascot proves its ‘Excellent’ rating by Independent Schools Inspectorate this year, when every student exceeded their GCSE prediction

When the GCSE results came in last week, it was smiles all round at Heathfield School in Ascot, for all girls had exceeded their predicted aspirational targets, with 100% of its students achieving A*-C / 9-6 grades in Maths and English Language, and 100% A*-C grades in Business, Classical Civilisation, French, History and Spanish. Every student taking History secured A-A*s and all those taking Latin a 9-7 grading. Half of students taking Chemistry secured a 9-7 and a quarter of students taking French also secured A*s / 9-8s.

The girls’ fortes in the arts also shone through – every student taking Music secured 9-8, four in five students taking Art 9-7 and half of all girls taking Drama 9-7.

Hermione Hunt-Davis triumphed with two A*s in French and History, five 9s in English Language, English Literature, Maths, Latin and Religious Studies, three 8s in Chemistry, Biology and Spanish and one 7 in Physics.

Sophia Adderley, next year’s Head Girl, also excelled with four 9s in Maths, English Literature, Geography and Art, two 8s in English Language and French and two 7s in Chemistry and Religious Studies.

Tansy Adam – who has starred in many school productions and won her heat in the vocal class in the RIBI Young Musician of the Year Competition – achieved 9 in Drama, English Language and Religious Studies.

Talented and promising art student Harriet Hooper gained a 9 in Art, while Lacrosse player Aisha Edwards, who was selected to represent the U17 South East London North Team in the Regional Academy Tournament in April earlier this year, achieved 7 in both PE and Maths.

Commenting on the results Headmistress Marina Gardiner Legge, said, “I’m absolutely thrilled with this year’s GCSE results and would like to congratulate each and every girl on their terrific achievements. The results are a glowing testimony to the breadth and diversity of education we provide here at Heathfield – valuing in equal measure academic achievements and success in sport, music, drama and the arts. It is our job to enable every girl to be the very best she can be, in a happy and supportive environment. Developing character traits like persistence, confidence and the desire to achieve are top of our agenda, and as we all know, happy, confident girls to succeed.”

To meet growing demand for places, the school has submitted plans to develop a superb new £1.5m Sixth Form Study Centre which will sit next to the school’s existing Sixth Form boarding house. This state of the art building will feature a large and tranquil study area overlooking greenery and woodland, classrooms and break out hubs as well as a spacious social, café and event area with bi-fold doors into an outdoor space, designed to bring nature inside. It will also feature a fully furnished library set in a landscaped environment with a sensory garden.