A Levels 2023 — Sydenham High girls forge their own path to success

From Cambridge to a degree apprenticeship, Sydenham High School students celebrate overwhelming success on A Level Results Day as almost the entire cohort got on to the courses of their choice.

Despite the repeated disruption to their education through Covid, almost the entire cohort at Sydenham High School were accepted at their first or second choice university. Two students will be heading off to Cambridge to study History of Art; Former Head of School, Liza, is going to the Royal Veterinary College to study Veterinary Medicine; her fellow Head of School, Kyah, is going to study Medicine at Brighton and Sussex Medical School. Other destinations of choice include UCL, Birmingham, Leeds, Loughborough, Edinburgh, and the Royal Welsh Conservatoire. Having realised that she prefers learning on the job, Jerusha will be starting a degree apprenticeship on Monday morning with Jacobs Engineering Solutions.

“It has been a privilege to celebrate A Level results with our wonderful students today. I’m incredibly proud of all that they have achieved, their ambition, curiosity and hard work. Our school ethos focusses on harnessing the individual strengths of our girls, empowering them to forge their own path in life. This is illustrated by the fantastic range of university courses, art colleges, conservatoires and apprenticeships chosen by our students.” —  Antonia Geldeard, Head, Sydenham High School

Sydenham High’s girls forged ahead in the Sciences and Maths with 44% A*/A grades and offers for an exciting range of courses, including Ruby who could not stop smiling all morning with her A*A*A*A, gaining her first choice of Biochemistry at York University.

“I was crying this morning as I was so happy” said Ruby, who looks forward to her first choice place at Manchester to study History alongside her fellow students celebrating two places at Cambridge University to study History of Art; Edinburgh for Philosophy & Theology; two at Leeds for Philosophy History of Art; Criminology at Durham; Sociology at Manchester as well as History & Politics overseas in the Netherlands.

Creative Arts were equally as strong with three students off to Art Foundation courses at Central St Martins, Kingston and Loughborough and five achieving places to study Art and Design at University of Arts London, Animation Production and Model Making at Bournemouth University and Photography at Falmouth and Music at the Royal Welsh Conservatoire.

After months of applications and seeing off some tough competition, Jerusha begins her degree apprenticeship as soon as Monday at the engineering firm, Jacobs. She is really looking forward to the challenge; “I realised that I really enjoy learning on the job so this is exactly what I wanted to do. They wanted me to get started straight away so that I can settle into the company before the degree course starts in September.”

Former Heads of School spoke of their delight at achieving their dream destinations:

“At first my reaction was stunned as I realised that I’d actually done it, and it’s really happening. I’m just so excited and happy, but also slightly sad at leaving Sydenham High and all my friends here.”
Kyah-Sarisse [Medicine]

“It feels surreal that I’m actually leaving school and going off to university and adult life, but it’s an amazing feeling knowing that I’ve actually got to where I wanted to go to.”
Liza [Veterinary Medicine]

“The dedication that the students have shown over the past two years has been unwavering, and this has paid off with excellent results. They have risen to the demands of A Level, overcome challenges and have shown a level of determination and resilience that will serve them well for the future. We are so proud of them and I wish them the best of luck for the future.”
Rebecca Parrish, Head of Sixth Form

A Levels results at GDST

A GDST girls only Sixth Form offers the very best of independent learning, supercharged by our powerful network of schools and alumnae. Find out how other GDST girls from across our 25 all girls, independent schools have done in their A Levels 2023.