Exam Results

Exam results

Hereford Cathedral School students enjoyed another year of outstanding exam results in 2022, with outcomes for A-Levels breaking all previous records. 

This year saw over a quarter of A-Level grades awarded an A*, the School’s best ever outcome in public examinations. Meanwhile, 58% of all GCSE exams were awarded the highest grades of 9-7 (A*/A).

A-Levels

The 2022 A-Level results were impressive across the board, with excellent outcomes in all subject areas. The Maths Department boasted superb results, with almost three-quarters of pupils achieving A*/A grades, while in Further Maths, two-thirds of grades achieved were A*. 

Over half of grades achieved in English Literature were A*, while in both Music and Drama, 100% of students achieved A*/A grades.

Outstanding individual achievements included Seyi A and Beren G, both of whom achieved their dream of studying at Cambridge University. 

Seyi who achieved a clean sweep of A*s in Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths and Physics, will read Engineering with a choral scholarship at Corpus Christi College, while Beren plans to read Mathematics at Trinity College, having gained A*s in Maths, Further Maths and Physics, and an A in French. 

Other top performing pupils included Tom S, who achieved four A* grades in Chemistry, Economics, Maths and Further Maths, Daniel P (A*A*A*A) and Sarah G (A*A*A*). 

Alongside the School’s A-Level successes were outstanding results for Sport BTEC students with almost three quarters of grades awarded distinction and starred distinction. 

 

A-Levels

Dr Gray, Headmaster, congratulated the students on their exceptional levels of success: "I am absolutely delighted with this year’s record-breaking A-Level results as we celebrate the School’s best ever outcomes in public examinations with over a quarter of grades being awarded an A*.  

“Our Year 13 students have worked with incredible determination and industry to achieve this extraordinary level of success. They are an extremely talented, delightful, and conscientious group of young people who have outstanding qualifications to their name. Their results will open up several doors of opportunity for them in educational and employment contexts both now and in the future. Our Year 13 pupils are going to take up places at some of the world’s most prestigious universities including Oxbridge, Russell Group and other highly selective institutions both in the UK and overseas.”  

He also acknowledged the challenges this cohort has needed to overcome: “To fully appreciate this year group’s accomplishments, one must also remember that these recent A-Level papers were their first ever experience of public examinations, having had their GCSE and A Level experiences impacted by the pandemic. These results are testament to their resilience, and the expert teaching and guidance from our wonderful and talented teaching staff.”

Maths

GCSEs

Hereford Cathedral School pupils celebrated another year of excellent GCSE results in 2022, with 58% of all exams awarded the highest grades of 9-7 (A*/A). This compared with 26% grades 9-7 nationally. Nearly a quarter of all grades at HCS were awarded the top grade 9. 

Results were impressive across the board, with excellent outcomes in all departments and the Sciences, English Language and Maths being of particular note. Twenty-one exceptional pupils achieved all 9-7 (A*/A) grades, with 8 pupils boasting all top grades 9-8.  

Noa S, one of the school’s top performers, achieved an incredible eleven grade 9s and is looking forward to studying Maths, Further Maths, Physics and English Literature in the sixth form. He said: “I’m looking forward to having more freedom [in HCS sixth form] and small classes where you can discuss things in depth with teachers and other people who are also interested in the subject.” 

Anna-Maria D and Sunaina R scooped 23 grade 9s and one grade 8 between them. Both girls were proud of their successes, which they achieved despite the impact of the pandemic on their studies.

Anna said: “I’m insanely grateful for all the teachers at HCS because even in lockdown I think we had one of the best educations and it was honestly amazing. There are so many teachers that have put in so much effort and work for us.” 

Drama and Music departments achieved great things again in 2022. In Drama almost two-thirds of students achieved grades 9-8, while in Music nine out of 12 pupils received a grade 9. 

Dr Michael Gray, Headmaster, congratulated the students on their endeavours through what has been a challenging period: "Our pupils have achieved some really fantastic results and we are all absolutely delighted. These wonderful outcomes reflect the hard work that our Year 11 pupils have put into their studies; they have exhibited resolve and determination amidst the challenges of the pandemic. I would also like to say a huge thank you to all the teachers and staff who have supported them on their journey so far.

“Our record-breaking A-Level results and these tremendous GCSE outcomes are part of an exciting academic momentum full of opportunity and possibility; I know that this Year 11 cohort will thrive in our newly refurbished Sixth Form with our exciting new digital strategy and HCS Diploma, and we can’t wait for September.”

Exam results

Five-Year Average Grades

A-LEVEL

Our students achieve outstanding A-Level results with grades over the past five years well above the national average: 

22.4% of all grades at A*
53.1% of all grades at A* to A
77.4% of all grades at A* to B
92.2% of all grades at A* to C

GCSE

GCSE results over the past five years have also been exceptional:

19.4% of all grades 9 (A*)
36.7% of all grades at 9-8 (A*)
56.2% of all grades at 9-7 (A*/A)
75.6% of all grades at 9-6 (A* to B)
96.4% of all grades at 9-4 (A* to C)

In 2022, Hereford Cathedral School pupils excelled themselves, with the Sciences, Maths, Music and Drama being of particular note.