Pupils celebrate GCSE results 2022

Lancing College has had another excellent year of GCSE results, made more pleasing given the resilience and dedication that our students have shown in overcoming the challenges of lockdowns, school closure, online learning and the pandemic. 36% of all GCSE qualifications attained were Grades 8 or 9, the equivalent of A* or better this year with 78% of all GCSEs awarded at Grade 6-Grade 9.  

There were some spectacular individual performances, as outlined in the individual case studies below. Two students attained an amazing clean sweep of Grade 9s, the much-vaunted equivalent to A**. A further four students managed to achieve a clean sweep of Grades 8 and 9 and 37 students, nearly a third of the cohort, achieved five Grade 8s and 9s among their results.  

Academic excellence is a hallmark of the Lancing experience. In this first year of examinations since the pandemic started and at a point where the national trend is to move top grades down, some Lancing College departments managed to improve grades this year from already exceptional levels. This is evident across the piece from science to the humanities, and English Literature, Biology and Music are particularly notable in this regard.  

Commenting on the results, Head Master Dominic Oliver said: ‘The turmoil of the last few years makes the achievements of Lancing’s GCSE students taste particularly sweet today. Remote learning and forced absence from the classroom dominated so much of their learning time and these excellent results give a chance to celebrate not just their talents but their resilience and determination – they have worked so very hard against the odds and deserve every ounce of their success. Many, many congratulations to them and to the teachers who have supported them with such dedication.’  

Here are some of the highlights from this year’s cohort:

Christopher Clay has netted a wonderful set of GCSE results, a clean sweep of Grades 7, 8 and 9s including an incredible five Grade 9s along with the highest grade in a post-GCSE Further Mathematics qualification. As one of Lancing’s academic scholars, Christopher is a genuine polymath. He will continue with his study in our outstanding Mathematics programme – that has produced 15 Oxbridge Mathematicians in the last decade – studying Maths, Further Maths and Physics along with History, another of his passions.  

Hannah Cleallsmith is one of Lancing’s top academic scholars and has benefitted from the Lancing College scholarship programme where she has long been nurturing her literary and linguistic talents. Hannah achieved a clean sweep of Grades 8s and 9s with four Grade 9s in total, including English Literature, Latin and German, all of which, along with Politics, Hannah will study in the Sixth Form as well as taking French, in which she has already achieved a Grade 9 in 2020. Hannah aspires to study French and Linguistics and is already well on her way.  

Henry Gibbs achieved a highly impressive two Grade 9s, six Grade 8s and a Grade 7. He goes on to study for A Levels in Biology, History, English Literature and Psychology. 

Jai Lawrence has scooped a clean sweep of Grade 8s and 9s at GCSE including among his 9s (the coveted A** standard), Mathematics, Physics and Geography, subjects that he will study at A Level alongside a new discipline, Economics.   

Alex Mawhinney is one of Lancing’s academic scholars. He has attained an outstanding clean sweep of Grade 9s along with the highest possible grade in a post-GCSE Further Mathematics qualification. Alex goes on to the Lancing Sixth Form where he will join our outstanding Mathematics department for A Levels in Mathematics and Further Mathematics along with Physics and Spanish. Alex aspires to become an engineer and will join the long line of Lancing Science, Technology and Engineering graduates to benefit from the outstanding CREST Award Scheme programme that Lancing runs in collaboration with local research and development engineers, Ricardo. 

Grace Murray netted an incredible eight Grade 9s and a single Grade 7. Grace, one of Lancing’s academic scholars, will go on to the Sixth Form where she will take A Levels in Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry, continuing Lancing’s incredible legacy for support young women in the life and physical sciences. With specialist programmes for medical science and engineering as well as one of the county’s leading Mathematics programmes, Grace looks well set to aim for university study at an elite university.

About Lancing College

Located in the picturesque South Downs of West Sussex, Lancing College is a leading independent school and sixth form for pupils aged 13-18. Founded in 1848, the co-educational English private school is home to both boarding and day students and has a longstanding reputation for traditional values and exemplary pastoral care. Contact us today to begin your journey.