Withington Girls' School celebrated a raft of exceptional GCSE and IGCSE results today, with 74% of all entries achieving the elite A* grade, and 96% being awarded A* or A grades, defying the national downwards trend. The percentage of pupils achieving the top two grades is an increase of 5% over last year’s Withington results. Click here for a full breakdown of results. 

Joanna Amaya (right) receiving her GCSE results with sister Marieta 

From the total cohort of 81 Upper Fifth candidates, more than one third achieved a clean sweep of A*s in every subject taken and 99.5% of entries achieved A* to B grades.   

This year’s Withington results included strong performances in IGCSE subjects, selected for their more rigorous academic challenge. Achievements in Mathematics, English and the Sciences at IGCSE were impressive with 99% of girls securing A* or A grades in Mathematics and 94.5% gaining the top two grades in the Sciences. 

For the first time the school entered some pupils for the IGCSE in Further Mathematics and from a group of 38 girls, 1 achieved an A grade and 37 were awarded A*, 23 with Distinction. 

Girls celebrate their exceptional results with Headmistress Mrs Sue Marks

In Music and Drama too, students were star performers with 100% A* or A grades achieved in both subjects.

In addition to their GCSE and IGCSE qualifications, 76 girls also gained a Level 2 National Award in ICT, with Distinction. 

Said Headmistress Mrs Sue Marks: “Whilst there has been a national downward trend in top grades achieved, at Withington we have actually improved  on our own year-on-year performance, with an increase from 92% last year to 96%  of girls this year achieving A* or A grades.”   

 “Our girls take a minimum of 9 different subjects at GCSE or IGCSE, often more, across a broad and balanced curriculum which has at its core Mathematics, English Literature, English Language, the Sciences and at least one Modern Foreign Language. This provides all our pupils with the necessary foundation for Advanced Level study and helps enable them to achieve places at the most selective universities in the country.”  

“We are particularly pleased that the move in some subjects to the rigorous IGCE courses – which in our opinion provide greater academic challenge – has proved to be such a success.  We are also delighted with the girls’ achievements in Music and Drama, creative subjects which allow them to develop their talents and pursue their interests in the performing arts.”

“We are immensely proud of our girls’ performances this year.  They have worked exceedingly hard to achieve these exceptional results, supported by highly committed teachers who are passionate about their subjects.”