2015 has proved to be another vintage year for those Wellingtonians who studied for International Baccalaureate qualifications: both Diploma and the Middle Years Programme (MYP).

The group of 66 Sixth form students, Wellington’s largest ever IB Diploma cohort, averaged over 39 points for the second year in a row with exactly half securing a score of 40 or above. Bearing in mind that 39 points is the average offer at Oxford University and a score of 40 points roughly equates to A*A*A*A* at A-level, the 39.2 average represents a truly outstanding achievement. Just as impressive was the performance of the 55 Fifth formers who opted to study the MYP as an alternative to GCSE; they have also produced record results with 66% of grades awarded being a 7, the IB equivalent of an A*.

Four Diploma students secured the perfect score of 45 points, a feat achieved by less than 0.1% of all candidates worldwide: Becky Cook (H), Ella Heilmann (C), Will Wilson (S) and Barbora Bute (Ap).  Will balanced his commitments as Deputy Head of College with captaining the First XV rugby side which won the Daily Mail Schools Trophy as well as a successful application to read History at Keble College, Oxford.  Barbora was one of the first students to join Wellington under the Prince Albert Foundation bursary scheme and will now read English at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. Head of College, Nicky Maxwell (Bl), also secured 44 points and will take up a place at Harvard having turned down an offer to read Psychology and Philosophy at Brasenose College, Oxford.

Of the MYP candidates, nine secured straight 7s in their academic subjects: Archie Atkinson (R), Sam Clempson (Bn), James Heavey (Bn), Rory McMichael (Bn), Eleanor Melville (O), Claudia Papke (Hn), Daisy Walker (O), Ben Witten (Bn) and Sholto Wright (Bl).  Eleanor and Ben also secured the top grade in their personal projects.

Furthermore, of the twenty-one Lower Sixth students who took IB exams a year early, nineteen secured a 7, the IB equivalent of an A*.

Mr Matthew Oakman, the College’s Deputy Head (Academic) said, “These results are yet again outstanding and cement Wellington’s place as one of the most successful IB schools not just in the UK, but in the world. A huge amount of credit must go to all the students who worked tirelessly across six separate subjects, and we must not forget the whole-heartedly committed teaching staff who have once again helped facilitate outstanding results. As other schools have dropped the teaching of the IB Diploma, the number of students at Wellington opting for a curriculum which is widely regarded as more challenging than A-levels has continued to grow. Next year, almost half the Sixth Form will be studying the IB Diploma which is a fantastic reflection both on the academic aspirations of our current students and also the success which the College has enjoyed over the past five years with this curriculum.”