TWO top students will be mastering minutiae after their stunning A Level results allow them to study atomic fusion and forensics at university.
Barnard Castle School students Charlie Naseby and Iona Borer were among 12 sixth formers to achieve straight As as the school secured its position as one of the best in the region.
Charlie Naseby proved to be the best of the best with A*s in chemistry and maths, and a D1 in physics, which is even higher than an A* grade. In further maths he achieved an A and he will now study natural sciences at King’s College Cambridge.
“I hope to go into research, possibly something to do with atomic physics,” said Charlie, 18, of Barnard Castle. “I’m interested in atomic fusion as a means to generate power.”
For Iona, 18, of Romaldkirk, her results will see her study forensics following in the footsteps of her parents and grandparents.
“They are forensic scientists whereas I am interested in forensic psychology – why people actually commit crime,” said Iona, who will study philosophy and psychology at Edinburgh thanks to As and an A* in maths, religious studies and geography respectively.
The school’s regimental sergeant major in the Combined Cadet Force, captain of the netball team which reached the national finals and winner of the McKinsey Leadership Scholarship, Iona may also consider a career in the Armed Forces.
Staff joined pupils in the celebrations as the school recorded the third best results in its long history in a wide range of subjects, from fine art to physics, further maths to politics.
There was a 99.6 per cent pass-rate and 58 per cent of all grades were at A*, A, or B grade.
Other grade A students included Sarah Child, of Barnard Castle, who will study zoology with industrial experience at Manchester University; Ben Earl, of West Auckland, who will read aerospace engineering at Bath; boarder Matthew Jeffrey who is to join the police force; George Jones, of Kirkby Stephen, who will study philosophy and politics at Bristol; Max Jones, of Barnard Castle, who is considering veterinary science; Hans Kukreja, of Northallerton, who is considering medicine or biomedical science; Nathan Miller, of Whitworth, Spennymoor, who will study dentistry at Newcastle; James Raper, of Staindrop, who will read maths at Warwick: Nick Stainthorp, of Barton, Richmond, who will study mechanical engineering at Bath or Newcastle; and Helen Stephenson of Leasingthorne, Bishop Auckland, who will read agri-business management at Newcastle.
Headmaster Alan Stevens said: “These are stunning results and the most wonderful thing is that pupils have risen to the challenge of a really robust curriculum, staffed by highly qualified teachers who can produce the highest grades across the board.
“Half of our A* grades this year came from maths and the three sciences, whilst the other half came from subjects as diverse as geography and Latin. Our students are destined for top flight universities to study everything from dentistry and aerospace engineering to philosophy and agri-business – in fact, all the skills which are crucial to the future of our country.”
