Reaching for the A*s: Jewish schools hit A-level heights

Nearly a quarter of the grades attained by Hasmo Boys (23 per cent) were at A*, compared to the 15 per cent for the Girls. Seven Hasmonean Boys gained three or more grades at A*

Miriam Langdon, headteacher of Hasmonean Boys’ School, said: “Our students have worked with dedication and determination, and I am thrilled to see their efforts rewarded with such excellent results.”

At Yavneh College, 51 per cent of all A-level grades were at A*-A, compared to 44 per cent last year. More than a quarter of students (28 per cent) gained all A or A* grades, while 29 per cent of vocational students gained two starred distinctions and a distinction.

Nine Yavneh students achieved two A*s and an A at A-level – Maddy Aziz, Nathan Cohen, Dylan Davila-Pessak, Mia Fraser, Eytan Freeman, Jacob Maze, Rafi Niman, Sadie Shear and Ariella Summers: while 5 gained two starred distnctions and a distinction – Tali Ardeman, Tyler Crème, Asher Ezeqiel, Nate Greenfield and Ben Jacobs.

Spencer Lewis, executive head of the Hertfordshire school, said the clutch of top grades was “fantastic achievement. “To get top grades at A-level takes a huge amount of work and a very high level of dedication and I could not be prouder of what all our students have achieved again this year.

“I am particularly pleased with the incredible progress so many students have made, outperforming their individual target grades through sheer hard work and dedication. Well done to all.”

JFS, the largest Jewish school in the country, matched its performance last year for the two top grades, with 55 per cent at A*-A;  more than 80 per cent of students in vocational courses achieved a distinction or starred distinction. Fifteen students attained straight A*s at A-level.

With 84 per cent of A-level grades gained at A* to B, the school surpassed its figure of 83 per cent last year.

[Missing Credit]Immanuel College students celebrate their A Level results

Headteacher Dr David Moody said: “The results are up on last year and are a testament to all of the hard work that our fantastic staff and pupils have put in, not just in Year 13, but in all the previous years building up to it. It has been incredible to watch the determination which students have applied themselves and they are a credit to the community!”

At JCoSS, the 56 per cent of all grades this year at either A* or A , or starred distinction or distinction for vocational subjects, bettered last year’s 54 per cent, which was a record then.

According to JCoSS, its vocational results were “stronger than ever”, with 52 per cent of grades being awarded a starred distinction*, and 90 per cent at least a distinction

Melanie Lee, headteacher at JCoSS, said “Our young people leave us not only with impressive qualifications, but with the confidence, compassion and curiosity to shape the world around them. As they take their next steps.”

Millie Ash, Rocco Bloom, Adam Herschkorn, Rocco Lewis, Noah Oakley and Toni Savage all attained at least three A*s; Noah Bercott, Katie Enoch, Joshua Rosenthal and Sacha Sevel, three starred distinctions: while Talia Levy bagged an A* and two starred distinctions and Talia Gelb two A*s and a starred distinction.

Joe Rudling, Robbie Gordon, Noah Danker, Kobi Richards, Aaron Friedberg, Alexander Wilson-Smith and Daniel Agur all attained at least two  A*s; while Katie Anahory, Isabelle Schofield, Ellis Bailey, Max Bailey, Sami Hirshler, Maximillian Koehne, Raife Hockley-Lester, Brianna Ryb, Jessica Hyams, Oliver Ram and Ariella Boyd at least two starred distinctions.

JCoSS's Millie Ash learned of her results at an 80th anniversary for the arrival of "the Boys' - young Shoah survivors who were brought to Windermere in 1945. Millie - pictured here with one of the Boys, Arek Hersh and her father Howard, gained a Higher Project Qualification for research on the Boys[Missing Credit]

King Solomon High School delighted with best A-level results in past 3 years

At King Solomon High School (KSHS) in Ilford, Essex, students and staff were celebrating the best A-level results in three years.

There was a 13 per cent increase in the number of A and A* grades, an 18 per cent increase in A* to B grades and an 18 per cent jump in the number of A* to C grades.

Top performing students were Drin Kacaniku and Daniella Vajushi, who achieved two A*s and one A, Wen Jun Zhuang, who got one A* and three As, and Ava Metzger, Amber Hooper and Ethan Clerck, who achieved three As.

The average grade for A levels and vocational courses went up one whole grade from C- last year to B- this year.  

[Missing Credit]Drin Kacaniku from King Solomon High School

Headteacher Michele Phillips said: “Today, the sixth form centre was full of joy, happiness and pride. All 67 of our students should be immensely proud of themselves. Our work to improve the school continues, but these results show that our plan is working. There can be no doubt that our year 13 cohort have left King Solomon today knowing that all of the teaching staff and governors did the best for them, with almost every single student achieving the grades required for their chosen destination.” 

[Missing Credit]Ava Metzger from King Solomon High School

A greater proportion of pupils at Immanuel College also achieved A* or A grades this year than last, 60 per cent compared to 53 per cent last year. More than 40 per cent of the cohort achieved three A grades or higher, with two pupils achieving four A*s.

Immanuel head Dan Endlar, said its staff were “incredibly proud” of the students’ results, which reflected “not only their academic abilities but also their resilience, determination, and the outstanding support they have received from our dedicated staff.”

Something to celebrate at King David Liverpool[Missing Credit]

King David High School in Manchester described their results this year as a “huge leap forward”.

The school said over one fifth of all grades were awarded at A*, the second highest in the school’s history, with close to 50 per cent of all grades either A* or A (an increase of 16 percentage points for the two top grades last year).

Tracy Basger, interim headteacher of KDM, said this year’s improvement is “nothing short of remarkable” and are a testament to pupils’ “hard work, the dedication of our staff, and the unwavering support of our families”.

King David High School in Liverpool, meanwhile, achieved what it said were “some of the best outcomes in recent memory”..

This year, 30 per cent of KDL students achieved A and A* grades. Outstanding students this year included Roman Jones, off to Oxford University to read history, and Matthew Simpson, heading for Cambridge University to study music after achieving three A*s and an A.

Headteacher Michael Sutton said: “I don’t think anything gives you more pleasure as a teacher than to see so many happy young people on results day. These are truly stunning results and a testament to the hard work and determination of the students, and the commitment and support of the staff.”

Top grades rose generally in the UK, with 28.3 per cent at A* and A compared to 27.8 last year. The percentage of passes at A* to B was 55.2. 

This is the second year when marking returned to pre-pandemic levels. But there is continuing upward trend: the percentage of A* to A grades (28.3) was notably higher than in 2019 (25.4).

Rabbi David Meyer, chief executive of PaJeS, the Jewish schools network, said,|‘With results even stronger than last year, Jewish schools are yet again performing among the top schools in the country.

"Especially during these challenging times, this is a testament to the whole school community and reflects the important contribution our community makes to wider society. Congratulations are due to all the teachers, school leaders, governors, parents and, above all, the students.”