Year 12 and Year 13 have now completed their mock exams in most subjects and are looking forward to receiving feedback and grades in order to help them develop the mastery they seek and to identify areas they can improve in. Many of them have commented to me on how useful the experience has been and how they intend to harness what they have learned through it.

The number of British 18-year-olds aiming to go to university directly from school continues to increase at a record pace, according to figures that show a surge in applications this year, so adopting teacher recommendations immediately is essential to our students. In fact, the number of school-leavers applying for undergraduate courses starting in September increased by another 5% at the initial January deadline, faster than the age group’s demographic growth and after two successive years of steep rises in applications. In England alone, 44% of all 18-year-olds applied in January, the highest on record. 

As parents, we recognise our role is to support our children as they strive to achieve their own goals and build character and I am always immensely aware of and grateful for the unswerving support you give to your sons and daughters. This support, combined with the expertise of our incredible subject teachers and the determination of each student to improve and progress, has so often resulted in remarkable outcomes, and I am confident this cohort will be no different.

Mr Hope and I will be meeting students individually to discuss mock exam results and reflect on the attitude, work ethic and strategies which culminated in the grades achieved. Our only motivation is to empower each student to optimise their opportunities in the Sixth Form and to help them identify what they should do beyond Claires Court. Here is a link you might like to explore over the weekend with your Year 12 son or daughter as they prepare to visit the Higher Education Exhibition in Farnborough later this month. Guardian University Guide 2022: find your subject League tables of all the subject areas taught at UK universities and the profiles of those subjects.

I do hope you have an enjoyable weekend.