Superb grades from LVS students top off busy year
The Licensed Victuallers' School established for the children of licensees has produced record-breaking results both at GCSE and at A Level in its bicentenary year. At GCSE, pupils achieved a 100% pass rate at grades A* to C in at least five subjects, and up among the star performers was licensee's daughter Henrietta Curtiss who gained three A* grades, five A grades and two B grades. Henrietta will be staying on at the LVS to study for her A and AS levels and will be able to take advantage of the Bicentenary Building currently under construction at the Ascot site. A Level results also gave cause for celebration. The pass rate, up 2% on last year at 98%, remained above the national average rate of 95%, with more than 20% achieving grade A. Licensee's daughter and last year's head girl, Sarah-Jane Flanagan, is hoping to become a star of the stage. Sarah achieved an A grade in drama and theatre studies, along with two furtherA Level passes in psychology and English. She is off to Leeds University in the autumn to develop her skills by studying for a BA Honours degree in acting. Sarah is thrilled with her achievement: "I'm so pleased. I've been really happy at this school and to get these results is just the icing on the cake." The Flanagans have four children, all of whom have been boarders at the LVS. Their son, Coln, went on to Queen's University in Belfast and will be called to the bar later this month. Sarah's older sister has just graduated from Southampton University with a degree in psychology, and her younger sister, Roisin, will be taking her A Levels next summer. The Flanagans, who have run pubs in south London for 25 years, opted to send their children to boarding school so that they could benefit from an uninterrupted education. They chose the LVS because of its ethos of developing the individual and its understanding of the licensed trade. Delighted with Sarah's results, her mother, Geraldine, says she can't speak highly enough of the school: "The children have all done very well and have benefited tremendously from being at the LVS, and have always looked forward to returning there after the holidays. It's superb." The Ascot-based school, which now takes pupils from all backgrounds but still remains open for children from the trade, had other notable A Level achievements. Top of the tree was Iryna Markelevych with straight A grades in four subjects: business studies, Russian and a double in IT, and she will be going on to King's College to study business management. Following close behind Iryna, with three A grades apiece, were Giles Harrison and Ashley Smart. Headteacher Ian Mullins is delighted with the continuing high standard of achievements reflected in this year's results both at GCSE and A Level. Commenting on the results, he said: "This is an outstanding performance, demonstrating the hard work and commitment of staff and pupils. "It is a superb result reflecting the quality of teaching and learning at a non-selective school. I am delighted and very proud of their achievements.
