The headteacher of Bury St Edmunds’ King Edward VI School has praised his students for achieving “stunning” A-level results.

East Anglian Daily Times: Students at Stowupland High SchoolStudents at Stowupland High School (Image: Archant)

A total of 163 teenagers sat exams this year and their results – 10% of grades A*s, 56% B or high and 80% C or higher – being described as “impressive” by headteacher Geoff Barton.

He said: “Yet again our students have achieved stunning results. This is a nerve-wracking time for them, their parents and their teachers. Now the wait is over. Congratulations to them all.

“We are proud to have helped so many students gain places at the UK’s most prestigious universities, including Oxford and Cambridge, whilst seeing them do all the things that make being a sixth form student special – charity work, dressing-up days, music, sport, drama and debating.

“This year’s year group has exemplified a spirit of a character-building and leadership based on strong values. Their results show that they have done themselves and our school proud. My thanks to all the teachers – including those in our partner primary and middle schools - who have contributed so much to the success of the ‘Class of 2014’.”

The overall pass rate, between A*-E, was 98%.

Stowupland High School achieved its “highest performance figures” this year in terms of the “quality and quantity” of passes, according to headteacher Karen Grimes.

More than 40% of the 61 students were awarded the highest grades A*- B, with almost 70% achieved grades A*- C. There was an overall pass rate of more than of 98%.

Mrs Karen Grimes said: “The vast majority of sixth form students have been with us for five years and these results are a testament to the quality of the partnership between students, staff and parents. A day such as this is the best possible antidote to the criticism of education in Suffolk. Our students are an absolute credit to the county.”

“Of particular significance this year have been the extremely high results in the Extended Project Qualification which students at Stowupland took for the first time in 2014.”

100% of students gained top grades of A*-C with 73% of students securing A*/A.

“This qualification is highly prized by the top universities as it demands intellectual rigour, creativity and high levels of self-discipline,” Mrs Grimes added.

“We have thoroughly enjoyed mentoring students through this qualification and the results are truly superb.

“It is clear that Stowupland students are going to thrive both in employment and higher education destinations. Their families should be justly proud of their achievements and, as a school, we feel privileged to have been able to support such outstanding young people.”

After a stream of students entering Cambridge for maths and science, 2014 brought an Oxford double for the Arts at the school. Alice Harrison takes up a place at Brasenose to study Law with French law while Eloise Silkstone will read philosophy and theology at Lady Margaret Hall.

Meanwhile at Ipswich School almost 20% of A-level students got at least three A grades or above – with more than 40% of teenagers receiving A* or A grades for their hard work.

Headmaster Nicholas Weaver said: “I would like to congratulate our students on their A-level results – they recognise the effort put in by these young people over the last two years, and the parents and staff who have supported them.

“I am pleased that our results have held up, in a year which has seen the start of major on-going reforms to the A-level exam process.”

There were 102 students taking exams this year at Ipswich School: 42.3% were awarded A*-A grades, 88.9% were awarded A*-C grades and 99.1% were awarded A*-E grades.