A number of our Sixth Form boys have successfully completed the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge.

Aakash Dharmaraj and Alex Edey both achieved a Gold certificate, placing them in the top 9% of more than 7,000 entrants across the country. Congratulations also go to Ethan Horspool, who was awarded Silver certificate and to Rohan Suresh, Chris Moustaka and Temuulen Enkhee, who all achieved a Copper certificate.

The competition aims to stretch and challenge students interested in chemistry, providing an excellent experience for anyone considering taking their studies further.

Set by an experienced team of teachers and university chemists, it is accessible to Year 12 students but takes them significantly beyond the syllabus and encourages them to think about science in the way they would at university.

The boys attended TENDO sessions where many practice questions were tackled, following which they endured a challenging 90-minute written paper to achieve the award.

Students and staff at Merchant Taylors’ Boys’ School are celebrating another excellent A Level performance this year, in spite of challenges caused by Covid-19 restrictions.

More than half of all boys (56%) achieved at least one A* grade among their scores and one fifth of the year group got straight A*s. Indeed, A* was the largest single grade achieved by boys at the school.

Almost 80% of the year group achieved an A* or A, with 43% of the year group scoring straight A*or A. More than 60% of all grades awarded were at A* or A.

Marcus Baldwin was one of six boys who achieved four straight A* gradesSix boys – Marcus Baldwin, Ben Falconer, Shaun Fernando, Ed Pope, Ethan Roberts and Sam Roughley – all achieved a remarkable four A* grades across a broad range of subjects including Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Economics, Latin, German, English and History.

More than 92% of boys are leaving to take up university places across the UK and beyond, including two, Sam Roughley and Ben Falconer, heading to Oxbridge colleges.

Sam Roughley (L) & Ben Falconer (R) both achieved four A* grades and are heading to Oxbridge colleges

Three boys will now study medicine at Edinburgh, Manchester and Sheffield, while other destination courses include Materials Science & Engineering at Imperial College London, Software Engineering at Lancaster University, History at Durham, Aeronautics & Astronautics at Southampton and Economics at LSE.

STEM subjects performed particularly well, with 43% of all grades at A*, while four in every five grades in modern and classical languages were either A* or A.

This year, following the cancellation of examinations, grades were awarded through a process of teacher assessed grades, against a national standard and approved and awarded by the exam boards. Throughout periods of enforced lockdown and isolation, Merchant Taylors’ delivered online lessons, tutorials, assessments and support to boys in all year groups, every day.

Among the many Merchant Taylors’ success stories is Joseph Collins, who achieved three As and one B grade and is now looking forward to studying Genetics at the University of Leeds, and Joshua Green, who scored two A* and an A and is heading to Durham University to read Anthropology.

Josuha Green achieved two A* grades and an A grade

Head Boy James O’Sullivan, who has been playing rugby at Sale Sharks Academy U18 and Irish Exiles U19s this year, achieved three A* and a B and is leaving to study Economics at Bath.

Head Boy James O’Sullivan achieved three A* grades and a B grade

Luke Suarez, who has shown an instinct for veterinary science from a very young age, will now fulfil his ambitions at the University of Liverpool after achieving two A*s and an A. Luke is also a talented athlete, who represented Merseyside in the English Schools Championship earlier this year.

Luke Suarez achieved two A* grades and an A grade and is heading to the University of Liverpool to study Veterinary Science

Another boy following his dreams is Oliver Powell, a passionate ecologist, who is leaving to study Marine and Freshwater Biology at Aberystwyth.

David Wickes, headmaster at Merchant Taylors’ Boys’ School, said: “Collectively and individually, the boys have been a huge credit to themselves and their families this year. Despite the challenges of lockdown, restrictions and remote learning, they have risen above it all to show their very best.

“The breadth of success across many subjects is especially pleasing and these results further demonstrate that with excellent teaching from specialist staff, the crucial support of parents and their own strong work ethic and positive approach, students really can achieve anything at our school.”