We are proud of our academic reputation, and we celebrate our students’ personal successes. A*s are great for league tables, but the real value of a SWPS education can be found in the student who gets a grade or two higher than they ever thought possible, or the pupil who is supported from lacking confidence in a subject to becoming passionate about it.
Sir William Perkins’s School prides itself not only on excellent academic outcomes but also on the achievements students make and the experiences they have outside of the classroom.
Sir William Perkins’s students celebrate A Level success, securing places at top universities
· 19% of grades achieved were A* grades
· 47% of grades achieved were A* / A grades
· 80% of grades achieved were A* - B grades
· 93% of grades achieved were A*- C grades
Students at Sir William Perkins’s School in Chertsey are celebrating well-deserved A Level results this year. 80% of all grades achieved were A*- B and nearly half of grades awarded were A*- A.
“This year group was exceptionally hard-working and very much deserve their successes,” suggested Debbie Picton, Head. “We should like to congratulate our students not only on their impressive A Level results, but also for the difference their contributions have made at SWPS. Our 2024 leavers have been so keen to develop through the opportunities outside of the classroom, as well as maximising their intellectual potential inside the classroom. It is very much a team effort in championing the individual here at Sir William Perkins’s and well-motivated students are supported by excellent teachers; committed support teaching staff; dedicated coaches and peripatetic staff and supportive parents.”
Schools are now firmly in the territory of grading for A Levels in line with pre-pandemic levels. “Given that grading for public examinations returned to normal last summer, after the disruption caused by the pandemic, it is relevant to compare this year’s results with those achieved up to 2019. Our students should be delighted with their outcomes, which are firmly in line with those grades.” said Mr Peter Forrest-Biggs, Deputy Head Academic. “We are delighted that many of our students will have again secured places at a university of their choice with a large number of our leavers going on to Russell Group and top 10 universities. It is exciting to see that students demonstrate success in the Arts, Humanities and Languages and all students who applied to study Medicine and Veterinary Science achieving places at university. This pays tribute to the personalised approach we take in ensuring success is brought out of every student, wherever their talent may lie.”
100% of grades awarded in Computer Science were A*, with Art and Design, DT Product Design and Music seeing all students secure A* - A grades. STEM subjects continue to enjoy huge success overall, with 70% of grades in Maths and 71% of grades in Physics at A*- A. There have been notable achievements in many other subjects, including Geography, where 100% of grades were A* - B, 94% of grades in English Literature were A* - B and 88% of grades were A*- B in Religious Studies. Overall, 27% of the students sitting A Levels gained all A* - A grades.
Melanie Duke, Chair of the Board of Governors at Sir William Perkins’s School, commented, “At such an exciting time in the school’s long history, it is wonderful to see our students obtain yet another impressive set of results, securing promising futures. We wish our 2024 leavers the very best as they embark on the next chapter of their lives, as we celebrate the school’s 300th anniversary.”
At Sir William Perkins’s School the ethos of championing the individual is not just a motto but a way of life, going beyond the traditional confines of education to nurture curiosity, ambition and generosity in every student. Through personalised learning plans and individualised support students are empowered to pursue their passions while excelling academically.
As the school approaches the celebrations to mark its 300th anniversary next year, there are exciting changes afoot. From September 2026 Sir William Perkins’s will start welcoming boys in Years 7 and 12 as part of a phased approach to becoming fully co-educational by 2030 “We look forward to extending our impressive Sixth Form provision to boys in 2026, to offer an outstanding alternative choice for girls and boys.” remarked the Head.
In their inspection this year, the Independent Schools’ Inspectorate highlighted SWPS’s culture ‘in which high expectations are the norm’ and where ‘students are highly self-motivated and responsible in their attitude to their work’. The inspectors also remarked on the School’s ‘happy and purposeful atmosphere in which students enjoy School life and achieve well’.
