Sheffield Girls’ students prove that A Level Maths remains a firm favourite

Students from Sheffield High School for Girls GDST, which this year was voted as the top independent secondary school in the north, are challenging some of the current opinions in the media about girls avoiding tough technical subjects at A-level.

Of the 23 students who studied Maths at A-level at the school this year, 100% achieved a grade B or above, with 83% scooping a top A* grade.

Students are heading to a variety of universities in September to study a range of subjects.

Isabelle Watts will be studying Economics at Durham, and her Mum was delighted with today’s results: “She worked so hard and fully deserves her incredible achievement.”

Aida Tesfaye’s mum was equally proud of her daughter who will go on to study Medicine at UCL: “We’re so proud of her and so grateful for everything the school has done for her.”

A-level Mathematics is currently the most popular A-level in the UK taken by students who go on to university.

“At Sheffield Girls’, we continue to see high numbers of students choosing Maths as one of their A level subjects each year, despite reports that girls shy away from this subject because they find it difficult.” — Nina Gunson, Head, Sheffield Girls’

Whilst comments in the media over the last couple of years have highlighted an apparent reluctance for some girls to tackle ‘harder’ subjects like Maths, Head of Sheffield Girls’, Nina Gunson, has seen a completely different trend and comments: “Our students achieved superb results across their subjects, and we are incredibly proud of them. At Sheffield Girls’, we continue to see high numbers of students choosing Maths as one of their A level subjects each year, despite reports that girls shy away from this subject because they find it difficult. This certainly doesn’t reflect what we see. Often our girls choose subjects because they are hard; they love a challenge and this year’s Maths results would demonstrate that they have risen to that challenge with aplomb. We and they are thrilled by the results!”

Head of Maths at the school, Ben Plowman, is clear about the benefits of studying the subject at this level: “Studying Maths at A-level provides the opportunity to learn so much more than just technical skills and theory. You learn to think and communicate in a mathematical way, reasoning, proving and justifying ideas, connecting knowledge and showing creativity in problem solving. You learn how to take complex ideas and explain them clearly using precise accessible language and well structured arguments. The attention to detail, clarity of thought and the academic rigour involved in A-level maths provides an incredibly solid skills set for students to take with them into their undergraduate studies and beyond, regardless of which subject they choose to specialise in. I’m so delighted with the results achieved by our students this year which is testament to the hard work and dedication that they have shown. It’s been a pleasure and a privilege to teach them and I wish them the very best for the future.”

Approximately 73,000 fewer A*s and As have been awarded this year nationally compared with 2022, following ministers’ pledge to return the education system to normal after the pandemic, so staff and students are in celebration mood at the School after 95% of grades were awarded at A* – C, with 61% at A*-A.

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.