A London school based in East Ham has achieved record A-level results with more than 100 (out of around 200) students achieving straight A or A* grades. Brampton Manor Academy will also send 20 students to Oxford or Cambridge, all from ethnic minority backgrounds.
The final tally saw 99% of students achieve at A*-C.
The school’s director of sixth form, Sam Dobin, told BBC News: “...if you put passionate teachers in front of these kids, the sky is the limit. Our aspiration is to send more kids to to Oxford and Cambridge than any other school.”
The school has been rated outstanding by Ofsted twice in the past five years.
What is the formula for Brampton Manor Academy’s success? First and foremost, high aspirations. Progress scores suggest pupils make outstanding progress at this school, not only from Year 7 entry to GCSE but also in the Sixth Form. Data published by the Department of Education suggests that average attainers form the biggest group among the Year 7 intake, but clearly pupils make such outstanding progress that many turn into high achievers during their time at the academy. Hard work is another key part of the school’s success.
The school’s stated aim is to prepare as many pupils as possible for Oxbridge and Russel Group entry, and high performing students undergo a dedicated Oxbridge training programme to give them an edge. The school’s “bespoke Oxbridge preparation programmes” includes training courses for all admissions tests and specialist interview preparation.
The size of the Sixth Form helps as well. 150 additional pupils are admitted into their Sixth Form from across East London, leading to a Sixth Form size of 250 to 300 in future years. Entry requirements are high, with a minimum of Grade 7 or higher required at GCSE for any subject studied in the Sixth Form. Where there are more applicants than places (very likely in future years!), the pupil with the higher score in the relevant subject will be chosen.
The school is therefore likely to attract bright, hard-working students who aim high and fully support the school’s mission to conquer Oxbridge. We will likely here more of this impressive school in future years!