The Royal Hospital School in Holbrook is celebrating a bumper year of top grades, with pupils gaining 101 grade 9s between them: the largest number of nines achieved by a RHS cohort.

This is a significant achievement for this broad ability and diverse cohort, whose GCSE foundation years were badly affected by the pandemic. 91% of exams taken achieved 9-4 grades, higher than in 2019, considered to be the last normal year of results. A particular highlight were our GCSE Language results in Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish, where over half were graded 8 or 9 (55%). 

The school's top performer was Molly Nichols, from Manningtree, who achieved an incredible clean sweep of ten grade 9s in her GCSEs. 

Molly Nichols from Manningtree Picture: RHS)

Molly achieved the top grade in all her GCSEs (Biology, Chemistry, Design & Technology, English Language, English Literature, Geography, History, Latin, Mathematics, Physics and Spanish) and will be going on to study A Levels in Classical Civilisation, Geography and Mathematics at RHS Sixth Form in September. 

Molly is currently on holiday in Spain and said: "I am so pleased with my results and look forward to celebrating with my family on a sunset cruise this evening." 

An Academic, Sport and Design & Technology Scholar, Molly is a true all-rounder, balancing her studies with playing in the school hockey, netball and horse-riding teams. A particular highlight has been representing the school at The Royal Windsor Horse Show earlier this year. She was also nominated for and applied for a prestigious Arkwright scholarship due to her strength and interest in STEM subjects. 

Molly also has a real passion for playing the flute, in which she has achieved Grade 8, and enjoys playing in the School Flute Ensemble and Band. 

Simon Lockyer, Headmaster, said: "I am really delighted for our 2023 GCSE cohort, who have had to navigate the disruption to some of their most formative educational years.

"RHS is proud to recruit pupils from diverse backgrounds, which is what makes our school so special; to give pupils the opportunity and support to achieve to their full potential and to provide a platform for their post-16 education takes the support and dedication of teachers as well as a team of other colleagues who share a belief and interest in developing our pupils. 

"I am immensely proud of all that they have achieved both academically and through their wider commitment to life at RHS, with many balancing their academic work with involvement in sport, music, sailing, debating and the numerous other opportunities available here at the school. We look forward to welcoming the vast majority back to join us in the Sixth Form, which is often see as the most memorable and exciting two years". 

Jesse Dallas from Maldon, Essex (Picture: RHS)

Jesse Dallas, from Maldon, is the school's top performing boy this year, having gained a fabulous set of GCSEs results, all graded 8s and 9s. He sat ten GCSEs in Biology, Business, Chemistry, English Language, English Literature, French, Geography, History, Latin, Mathematics and Physics, and will be going on to study Economics, Further Mathematics, Physics A Levels in RHS Sixth Form. 

Jesse is currently on holiday in France with his family, added: "I am really happy with my results and look forward to celebrating with family later". 

Jesse balances his studies with being in the CCF and playing the drums, in which he recently achieved his Grade 5 exam.