Case Studies: A Level

ALEX BALLARD

Which subjects did you take and what were your results? I achieved A* in all four of my subjects: Maths, Further Maths, Physics, and Economics.

How did you feel when you got your results? I felt an overwhelming mix of excitement and gratitude. Achieving A*s across all four subjects exceeded my expectations, and it was a reminder that the hours my peers and I had poured into revision had truly paid off.

How did Worth help you achieve those results? More than anything, it was the environment Worth fostered that made the difference. Long revision hours can easily become isolating, but the friends I revised alongside were incredibly dedicated, and having them there kept me focused and motivated. I am especially grateful to Mr Morrison, my Butler Housemaster, and Mr Weaver, who often kept the Year 13 Butler common room open late so I had a quiet, focused space to work – and friends there to work alongside. On top of this, my A Level teachers in all four subjects were extremely supportive, regularly going above and beyond by marking extra papers and essays in the lead-up to my exams and giving up their free time to talk things through with me.

How much have you enjoyed your time at Worth? Since joining in Year 7, Worth quickly became a home away from home, particularly during exam periods. Although I wasn’t a boarder, the School consistently created a supportive working environment beyond the school day. I have built friendships I know will last a lifetime and received guidance from teachers – my Matron, Mrs Makepeace, in particular – that supported me both academically and personally. Worth also helped shape who I am, encouraging my wider interests by supporting me in organising an economics conference and founding the Worth School Economics Society.

What are you hoping to do next? I have secured a place at Durham University to study Economics, and I’m looking forward to deepening my understanding of the subject while building the skills that will serve me well in whatever career path I pursue – as well as for whenever I come back to Worth for the school debates now and then.

JAKUB KAJKOWSKI

Which subjects did you take and what were your results? I studied Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Economics and Polish, achieving A*A*A*A*A*.

How did you feel when you got your results? I was genuinely surprised, as I hadn’t expected to achieve all A*s. I felt incredibly happy and relieved, knowing that all my hard work had truly paid off. Even though I had already secured my first-choice university before results day, I still felt proud to meet my Imperial offer.

How did Worth help you achieve those results? During my two years at Worth, I have received so much support from all my teachers. In particular, Mr Ambridge was always happy to answer my numerous questions and dedicated many extra hours after classes to help me prepare for university entrance Physics exams. I am also very grateful to Mr Meston, who spent countless hours in the final two months before exams marking dozens of my Economics essays. His feedback and guidance helped me improve my essay-technique, allowing me to go from a A/B in my mocks to an A* in the final exams.

How much have you enjoyed your time at Worth? Although I only joined Worth in Year 12, the School quickly became more like a home than just a place of study. I formed many lifelong friendships, especially within my boarding house, St Bede’s, and my Further Maths class. Overall, Worth helped me grow as a person and I’m forever grateful for the two years I spent here and for the people who made them so memorable.

What are you hoping to do next? My next step is to study Aerospace Engineering at TU Delft in the Netherlands. Choosing where to go was not easy, as I was fortunate to receive offers from several world-class universities including Imperial College London, École Polytechnique and Columbia University. However, I ultimately decided on TU Delft as it is home to the best Aerospace faculty in Europe and it seemed like the right place for me to grow into the kind of engineer I want to become. Looking ahead, I hope to apply my knowledge of aerospace to design more efficient wind farms and contribute to the transition towards sustainable energy.

CHARLOTTE WONG

Which subjects did you take and what were your results? I took Mathematics (A*), Physics (A*), Further Mathematics (A) and an EPQ (A*) linking Mathematics and Music.

How did you feel when you got your results? I was really glad to see these results and happily surprised since I came out of almost every exam thinking it went terribly. It was great to see the fruits of my hard work.

How did Worth help you achieve those results? I received a lot of extra 1-on-1 support from my Maths and Physics teachers outside of lessons so I could understand everything to a deep level and reach the top grades. At times when I didn’t fully believe in myself, I would always receive genuine encouragement from them, as well as from staff I interact with outside of my subjects, for example in House and the Music department.

How much have you enjoyed your time at Worth? One of the biggest highlights of my time at Worth was starting to play the organ, enabling me to serve in church. I also really enjoyed getting involved with the Chaplaincy, especially speaking in the Abbey and co-running the Praise and Worship prayer experiences. Worth provided many opportunities of student leadership, helping me develop soft skills beyond the classroom. I also loved boarding in St Mary’s, where I’m sure my closest friends will be friends for life.

What are you hoping to do next? I will be reading Mathematics at Durham University while joining many music societies. In the far future, I hope to become a teacher/professor and pay it forward!

EOIN DINNEEN

Which subjects did you take and what were your results? I studied Maths, Religious Studies, Further Maths, Physics and an EPQ on mathematical philosophy and got A* A* A A A*.

How did you feel when you got your results? On results day, I had originally missed my offer. However, after a remark I was delighted to have achieved the grades I needed to get into my first choice university.

How did Worth help you achieve those results? The overall level of support I received in every subject as well as teachers giving up their time to run revision sessions was invaluable. Along with this, having the Spencer Building as a place to revise and work in provided a very productive environment that helped me achieve my grades. On and after results day, all my teachers were readily available to look at my papers and see if there were any potential marks to be gained which eventually proved to be incredibly useful.

What are you hoping to do next? I have accepted a deferred place to study maths at the University of Edinburgh.

TOMOYA SHIINA

Which subjects did you take and what were your results? I took Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and Economics and my results were four A*s.

How did you feel when you got your results? I was not only extremely relieved but also felt that all my work had paid off as I got the grades I was hoping for.

How did Worth help you achieve those results? Worth helped in many ways, but the pivotal reason why I managed to achieve these grades was due to the valuable work of my teachers. I was pushed to explore not just the A Level course but the various academic competitions and wider reading outside it. Extra content my teachers provided throughout my time at Worth helped me develop a true passion towards my subjects and I am truly thankful for that.

How much have you enjoyed your time at Worth? I have loved my time at Worth. I started in Year 9 as a boarder and Worth, without a doubt, catered to my needs. Extracurricular activities related to subjects I was dedicated to were challenging but also enjoyable. Outside of study, Worth provided a really relaxing environment in House and relieved stress.

What are you hoping to do next? My next step is to read Chemistry at University College, Oxford, this coming October. In the long run, I am hoping to pursue research in chemistry. As to what I want to specialise in, I am not sure yet, but I am sure I will find the answer in due course.

LOUISA GOOCH

Which subjects did you take and what were your results? I took Biology (A*), Chemistry (A*) and Maths (A).

How did you feel when you got your results? I was so happy and relieved as I had made it into the university I applied to. I was especially pleased with Maths where I had done better than I thought.

How did Worth help you achieve those results? All my teachers were very supportive, especially the Science department, and offered lots of clinics and pushed me to work on areas I struggled in. I was also provided with lots of resources and quiet areas to keep my revision focused.

How much have you enjoyed your time at Worth? I joined in Year 12 and loved my time, especially the hockey and volunteering activities. I have really enjoyed being part of such a strong, friendly community.

What are you hoping to do next? I am starting university in Valencia this September and am studying Dentistry.

LUCAS ELLIS-BROWN

Which subjects did you take and what were your results? I took Geography, Business and History. I managed to achieve A*s in both Geography and Business and a B in History.

How did you feel when you got your results? I felt extremely relieved when I finally got my results as I had worked extremely hard on my A Levels throughout the academic year, so it was very nice to see that my hard work finally paid off.

How did Worth help you achieve those results?  The support that I had received at Worth during my A Levels had been unparalleled. In an academic regard, the small class sizes allowed me to get the attention and support I needed, as well as personalised feedback and the opportunity for one-on-ones with my teachers for every subject. These both helped me identify my strengths and weaknesses, subsequently helping me improve my grades. From a pastoral point of view, Worth also made sure that I had further support during stressful exam periods, offering advice on how to overcome exam stress, as well as my Housemaster always having an open door if I needed to discuss any private matters with him.

How much have you enjoyed your time at Worth? Since I joined Worth in Year 9 I have loved every minute of my time here and I am disappointed not to return for another year again in September. The countryside setting made for a fantastic school environment and I have some fantastic memories of my time at worth from ski trips to football matches. Everyone, both teachers and fellow students, have been incredibly kind and light-hearted, helping me to thoroughly enjoy my time here. I hope to one day send my own children to Worth to continue the family tradition.

What are you hoping to do next? I will be attending University College London (UCL) in September to read for a BA in International Social and Political Studies.

JESSICA H

Which subjects did you take and what were your results? I did an EPQ (A*), English Literature (A*), History (A) and Psychology (A).

How did you feel when you got your results? I felt extremely relieved and happy as my work had paid off, the anxiety of waiting for exam results was over and I was able to continue through a stress free summer!

How did Worth help you achieve those results? The facilities at Worth provided an encouraging environment needed to complete my studies and achieve the results I wanted. For someone who is terrible at concentrating and has difficulty working for long periods of time, the Spencer Building was a quiet and collaborative space that was great for revision. The numerous subject support sessions that were provided allowed me to focus on particular subjects, as well as the teachers working tirelessly to aid everyone as much as possible and to equip us with extensive knowledge when exam season approached.

How much have you enjoyed your time at Worth? I have thoroughly enjoyed each and every year I have spent at Worth. Starting from Year 7, I was able to explore both academia and everything extracurricular. I had the opportunity to perform in the school orchestra, choir and the drama productions, not to mention various sport groups and activities. Moreover, I had the huge privilege of being appointed as Deputy Head Girl. This created many close friendships and memories with teachers and pupils alike. From classrooms to concerts to prefect meetings, I will forever cherish the memories and the second family that I made, which is why it is so difficult to say goodbye to the Worth community.

What are you hoping to do next? The next step for me will be studying Archaeology and Anthropology at Durham University. With regards to what I want to do after that, I am not sure, but I will definitely pursue a future that is full of travel and continuous study.

GEORGE McLOUGHLIN

Which subjects did you take and what were your results? I took Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and Economics and managed to achieve A*A*A*A.

How did you feel when you got your results? I felt relieved when I saw my results and was happy I had met my offer for university.

How did Worth help you achieve those results? Worth helped me achieve my results as all my teachers were very helpful whenever I needed anything, while also making me feel assured and relaxed before exams started. Worth also gave me so many opportunities outside the classroom and on the sports field which I believed contributed massively towards achieving the grades I wanted.

How much have you enjoyed your time at Worth? I joined in Year 7 and have thoroughly enjoyed my entire time at Worth. The people I have met will remain close friends and I have made so many amazing memories along the way.

What are you hoping to do next? I am now taking a year out of school in which I will first travel to Australia to play cricket, after which I hope to travel round Europe too. I have a place for Maths and Economics at Durham which I will start in September 2026.

ANNA PARTYKA

Which subjects did you take and what were your results? At Worth, I took A Level courses in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Polish achieving AAAA*.

How did you feel when you got your results? When I got my final A Level grades on 14 August I was relieved. Getting those results allowed me to meet my offer at the UCL university in London to study Biochemistry as well as to be accepted to all the medical schools in Poland – my homeland.

How did Worth help you achieve those results? When I came to Worth, studying in English was something completely new to me. However, all the teachers were very understanding and helpful, showing individual approach, which allowed me to catch up all the gaps in knowledge very quickly. The teachers were always happy to answer the countless amount of questions I had, no matter how complicated they might have seemed. I am really grateful for this support, which has made my learning journey truly enjoyable.

How much have you enjoyed your time at Worth? I came to Worth in Year 12 and I can certainly say that it was the best time of my life. I made life-long friendships, gained many new skills, pushed myself out of my comfort zone and strengthened my faith, which had an enormous impact on who I am today.

What are you hoping to do next? Choosing university was not an easy choice as I received many offers from the UK, Poland and Ireland. However, I decided to attend a top medical school in Poland – Jagiellonian University Medical School in Kraków (UJ CM), aiming to become a paediatrician. I am really excited for what the future may hold and grateful for all the support from Worth that enabled me to come to this place.

DANIEL AGHEDO-JACOB

Which subjects did you take and what were your results? I took Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry, Physics and an Extended Project Qualification. I achieved A*s in Maths and Further Maths and obtained As in Chemistry, Physics and in my Extended Project Qualification.

How did you feel when you got your results? While I was slightly disappointed I did not gain A*s in Chemistry and my EPQ, I was ecstatic to have secured my first choice of university and I got an A in Physics which was a subject I struggled with greatly.

How did Worth help you achieve those results? Worth was pivotal in supporting me to achieve these grades as the quality of teaching remained excellent throughout my years at Worth and each teacher was very passionate about every subject they delivered to us. Also, I owe it to my friends for the countless hours we spent revising together and setting each other challenges.

How much have you enjoyed your time at Worth? I have had a splendid time at Worth because of the lifelong friends I have made and the plethora of opportunities it provided in the form of clubs and societies like debating where I was able to develop my confidence and skills in public speaking which I would say helped with my university interviews.

What are you hoping to do next? I am now heading to Imperial College where I will be studying an Integrated Masters degree in Chemical Engineering.