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A Level Results & University Offers 2022

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A L E V E L R E S U L T S & U N I V E R S I T Y O F F E R S

In contrast to national headlines about students being disappointed with university admissions this year, we are extremely proud of the Class of 2022 for attaining exceptional A Level examination results. Having attained a plethora of places at a range of exceptional universities both in the UK and abroad in a variety of subjects, we look forward to seeing the ways in which they grow academically over the next few years, and go on to use their skills for the common good in the future.

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93.3% 93.3%

of students achieved A*-B

85% 85%

49.5% 49.5% 25% 25%

of all grades awarded being A*

20+ 20+

of students attaining A* grades in all their subjects

20+ 20+

Students attained the requirements for their first choice university.

Students will read medicine or dentistry and have secured places at top universities. With 25 offers and 23 who secured places at Oxbridge

This is one of our strongest ever sets of exam results, which is particularly impressive given the significant challenges learners have faced as a result of the pandemic. There are many different pathways to success and today we are celebrating our students’ resilience as well as the full breadth of their achievements.

I would like to thank all the staff at Reading School for their exceptional commitment to our students, and thank parents for their support and trust during times of great trial. In addition, we must thank our Governing Body, led by Mr Robert Kenwrick, for their strategic oversight and direction. I wish all our students the very best for the future, whatever their next chapters hold. Mr A M Robson (Headmaster)

Photo above: Reading School's Oxbridge Students with Mr A Lloyd (Teacher of English; Head of Sixth Form; South House House Master). Photo below: Reading School’s Medical Students with Ms J Pickering (Teacher of Biology, EPQ and Medical School Applications Coordinator).

B O U N D F O R T H E U S A

This year, two Reading School students are set to jet across the Atlantic to study at a university in the United States.

Reuben Henry-Daire (2015-2022) Harvard University

Reuben Henry-Daire is just one of the thousands of UK applicants to apply to study at Harvard. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University is one of the worldrenowned Ivy League Colleges. .

"I hadn't had many thoughts about going into the US. When I found out my coach's daughter goes to the US and the agency they were with contacted us, that's when we were like, “Okay, this could be possible", said Reuben.

"After a few months of dabbling around, we got sent back a list of potential universities that would be interested. Whilst I'm an athlete, I'm also an academic person, so I didn't really want to trade off one for the other. Harvard was very, very proactive and they sent me a lot of stuff and spoke to me a lot. We had quite a few calls and fellowship calls with the head coach." Speaking about the interview process, Reuben continued, "I got a fast track through my sport, so that greatly helps my application. "Harvard... they’re just trying to find out who you are as a person. What are you like, if put in with someone who's like a bit different from you? Can you still get on? Can you still socialise well, and are you going to do the best that you can to do, to be the best that you can be?" It has been a long road to Harvard for the 18-year-old, with the application process taking around a year to complete and significant exams, interviews and forms to fill out along the way. Reuben has been successful in applying for an athletic scholarship with the University, which will see the world-renowned institution pay for the majority of his expenses around tuition, accommodation, travel and subsistence. "I had also to do the financial aid stuff. Which was a bit long, a bit annoying, but it's what allows me to go to Harvard. So very important, very grateful for it." Harvard tends to only accept around 2,000 applicants in a year, making Reuben's achievements even more remarkable.

"I got a fancy letter, which came all the way from the US and everything which is quite nice, a certificate which is framed up already. It's going to be exciting. And interesting." Reuben's studies at Harvard start in September 2022. He will get the chance to specialise his Liberal Arts degree at Harvard during the course and hopes to major in History. We wish Reuben the best of luck and will watch his athletics career with much interest.

Karan Baishkiyar (2020-2022) University of South California

Karan headed to the University of South California in September and has chosen to major in Aerospace Engineering. Speaking on his subject choice, Karan said, "Engineering has this unique collaboration with it. No one man makes a rocket alone, right? So, it's basically a combination of engineering and my love of space. That's why I chose aerospace engineering." Located in Los Angeles, USC is one of the world’s leading private research universities in the United States.

"It will be very fun, I'm sure. But yeah, I'm very nervous about heading to LA. It's very far." Karan explains, "the process of applying to an American university is long. I'll be honest, it's much harder than UCAS because you have to apply to each School separately. Obviously, there's the common application, but you have to write an application for each School." This year, USC received more than 71,000 applicants for its fall Freshman class with an acceptance rate of 12.5 percent. Karan said, "American Universities are notorious for having very, very low acceptance rates. For Ivy League schools like Harvard, they have a 4% acceptance rate. MIT has a 4% acceptance rate. And if you're applying for scholarships and stuff like that, it's even harder to get in." Karan stresses the importance of building your co-curricular profile when applying for a US university, "they value extracurricular activities, way more than UK universities. So, you need to have a good extracurricular profile. You need to basically sell yourself. It's more like a job interview than an academic interview. Going to Reading School, you will have good academics, but you also need to be an all-rounder with activities beyond the classroom." Speaking of his time at Reading School, Karan said, "People here are just amazing. I think what makes Reading School good are the people here. Your friends will be the people who support you, push you through to succeed in subjects. I definitely feel like my academics have improved a lot. The teachers respond to queries and are very supportive." Speaking on what attracted him to study in the US, Karan said, " I feel like America caters more to what I want out of the university experience. American Universities are broader in subject areas. You can take a bunch more classes.... they encourage you to meet the general education requirements to study things outside of your major." Karan has been successful in applying for full financial aid with the University, which will see the world-renowned institution pay for the majority of his expenses around tuition, accommodation, travel and subsistence.

Research to study abroad should start in Years 9-10 in order to build strong extra-curriculars. Karan commenced his studies in September 2022, after attending a month-long summer school, fully funded by the University. He hopes to pursue a career in Aerospace Engineering. We wish Karan the best of luck.

Students interested in applying to Universities in the USA should join the Non-UK Universities Microsoft Teams for more information lead by Mrs J Pickering.

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