At Northampton School for Girls, we are delighted to announce that this year’s GCSE exam results fly in the face of national trends and prove high expectations are the key to success. Our Year 11s have made us incredibly proud with a set of results that up on last year and well deserved. The headline results, which may be subject to change as more results are received, include 70% of students achieving A* to C in English and Maths. Headline results are pleasing, but at Northampton School for Girls, we are much more focused on the individual results of our girls. Each year it is a privilege to congratulate students for their standout performances, and this year is no different. Nineteen students gained a minimum of 8 GCSEs at grades A or A* and every single one of them deserves a mention here. They are: Lucy Askew, Jade Chowdry, Xenia Christofi, Abbie Coxhill, Cara Duttaroy, Ella Homer, Kiran Johal, Sneha John, Erin McGauran-Porter, Idil Mohamed, Priya Patel, Eva Ressel, Katie Saunderson, Gabrielle Slater, Bella Smith, Marta Stachowiak, Nesha Vuriti, Magda Wilczewska and Bex Williams. We would like to give a special mention to four students who gained a minimum of eight A*s; they are Bella Smith (8A*, 4A), Xenia Christofi (8A*, 5A), Gabrielle Slater (9A*, 1A) and Erin McGauran-Porter with an exceptional 11A*s and one A. In a year when three of our Year 13 students are off to Oxford and one is off to Harvard, we are thrilled that so many of our current Year 11 are choosing to stay with us in the sixth form. Their confidence in our ability to help them achieve their potential and realise their dreams speaks volumes about the quality of teaching and learning at our school. This is evident in the superb results from a range of subject areas across the curriculum, most notably in English and Maths. Their headline A*to C figures were English Literature 77% and Maths 79%. Other high performing subjects included Art (89%), Graphics (85%), Music (83%), Food Technology (84%) and Drama (79%). Each year the numbers taking subjects such as Physics, Resistant Materials and Computing at A Level are very healthy, which is reflected in the achievement of these and similar subjects at GCSE. For example, all three single sciences achieved A* to C percentages well over 80%, Resistant Materials achieved 75%, Sport BTEC gained 100% and the Level 2 Cambridge National ICT achieved 100%. Other subjects that deserve praise are Geography (77%) and Spanish (72%), both of which made huge gains on 2015 results. Whilst the unarguable high attainment of individual girls and individual subjects is a cause for celebration, we also wish to congratulate staff and students on superb gains made in the progress measures. In both English Literature and Maths approximately 70% of students made expected progress and similar progress was made in ten other subjects. In terms of individual success, our top five girls for progress were Rashmita Giri, Jessica Delgado, Sneha Abraham, Yasmin Harrison and Anna Popielska; all of whom performed above and beyond expectations. These girls, and so many others, are shining examples of how hard work, determination and a focus on developing good learning habits pays off. None of this would be possible, of course, without the support of outstanding teachers and support staff. The quality of teaching and care given by our staff is second to none and today they are, quite rightly, celebrating and sharing the students’ successes. Each year there are girls that we wish to congratulate in the press for the results they achieve against the odds. This year, we wish to say a particular well done to Abbie Dadds, who achieved a C grade in Art; and to Vita Owens and Drew Parker, both of whom achieved 6 A* – C even though they only joined Northampton School for Girls in January of this year. There are many others who have battled against circumstances beyond their control to achieve results that allow them to take their next steps. For the majority of our girls, those next steps will be at our highly successful Sixth Form. where they will no doubt go from strength to strength. For others who have chosen an apprenticeship or a different education provider, we wish them every success and are proud to have been part of their journey.