2010 A Level Press Release

Merchant Taylors' Boys' School A Level Press Release - August 2010

Merchant Taylors' Boys' School's best ever A Level results have been heralded as a "spectacular advance in boys' centred learning" by Headmaster David Cook.

This year the Crosby Boys' School had 86% of all grades at A*, A or B up from 82.5% AB grades, which was then a record last year. They achieved 100% pass rate and almost 20% of passes were at the new A* level.

"What is more," said Mr Cook, "our boys have gained this new mark of excellence in what are traditionally the very toughest subjects such as Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Economics."

Mr Cook, who has lead a revolution in the way boys are taught in Liverpool's top school over the last six years, said: "We have studied closely worldwide research on what makes boys successful in the classroom and in order to debunk the tired cliché that boys must always trail in the wake of girls. These results prove that if teachers adopt more creative learning approaches then boys will respond and perform just as well as girls.

"Evidence has shown that girls seem to flourish in traditional studious environments where their diligence, discipline and attention to detail can come to the fore but boys thrive on competition. They find competition stimulating not threatening, they enjoy dynamic learning environments and appreciate practical experiments, role play and lively debate."

"Our skilled enthusiastic and young teaching team have risen to the challenge of providing stimulating classrooms and as our results prove, the boys have responded with huge enthusiasm."

He also paid tribute to Merchant Taylors' new GTX programme which has been designed to enhance creative and imaginative skills alongside academic rigour. Boys have the opportunity to take modules in bee keeping, photography, climbing, diving and horticulture alongside their traditional subjects.

Mr Cook said: "The GTX programme is now a key part of our curriculum and is designed to stimulate the parts of the intellect that standard education simply does not reach!"

Mr Cook praised the introduction of the new A* grade, he said: "Candidates must achieve at least 90% in their final A2 papers to gain this mark of excellence and it has raised the bar, increased aspirations and given university admissions tutors a more sensitive barometer of excellence."

Star pupils included Mustafa Farooqi from Crosby who gained a clean sweep of 5A*. He is going on to study medicine at Imperial College London and wants to become a Cardiac Surgeon.

Other star achievers were Mark Quigg from Kirkby and Jonathan Reid from Huyton who came to Merchants on assisted places. Almost 20% of pupils in the Senior Schools at Merchants receive some form of assistance with fees.
Both Mark and Jonathan are also very keen musicians. Jonathan wants to become a lawyer and Mark is going on to study medicine with the ambition to become a Surgeon. He said this success is down to his parents and a lot of hard work.

Crosby lad, Rob Braningan, optimises Merchants' all round approach winning a place at Cambridge University to study Fine Art. As well as an A for Art he is also achieved A* in Physics and A in Maths.

Rob Branigan

Mustafa Farooqi

2010 A Level Press Release

Merchant Taylors' Boys' School A Level Press Release - August 2010

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