A SCHOOL is celebrating a record pass rate and individual successes of students achieving the International Baccalaureate Diploma.

Windermere School saw a 97 per cent pass rate in its eighth year of running the IB Diploma.

The records did not stop there. Out of a maximum of 45 points, this year eight students scored 40 points or more, which represents just over a quarter of those who passed the IB Diploma.

On a global scale, only five per cent of IB students attain a score of forty or more. According to UCAS, this level of success is equivalent to achieving three A*s at A-Level.

Miles Blanch and William Chamberlain, both achieved a score of 42; Hynek Halakuc, Sina Nokodian and Alexandra Redhead,

scored 41; and Michal Andrzejewski, Jack Wee Ng and Thea Winn-Reed, all scored 40.

Having obtained a starred double distinction in his BTEC in outdoor

education, Jonathan Harwood may also achieve a score of more than 40 when this is combined with his IB subjects.

Many students have already secured places at their chosen universities, Seven weeks ahead of the publication of the A-Level results, Miles Blanch, Jack Wee Ng and Sina Nokodian have secured places at University College London; Alexandra Redhead and Thea Winn-Reed have secured places at Durham University; Mohammed Lawan has secured a place at the University of Edinburgh; and Michal Andrzejewski and William Chamberlain have both secured places at the University of St Andrews to read economics and history respectively.

Marta and Mariia Zinicheva achieved 39 and 38 points to secure places

in the USA and Canada.

Delighted headmaster, Ian Lavender, said: “We are thrilled with this year’s International Baccalaureate results. They represent a culmination of much hard work on behalf of both the students and the staff. There was wonderful atmosphere at the School this morning, as students learned what they had achieved, in many cases achieving beyond what they thought was possible.”

Other causes for celebration for the school were the average score achieved by the students, as well as the results of the bilingual diploma.

The average IB score this year was 34, equalling the previous record, which was set in 2011. The average score worldwide in 2015 was 30. The results could be even stronger as a number of students at the school were within one point of the next grade boundary in several subjects, which could lead to a re-mark.

Twelve of the students this year gained the bilingual diploma. Representing 39 per cent of the students. This is the school’s highest ever percentage in the bilingual diploma.

Mr Lavender said: “The IB continues to provide a fantastic foundation for university and several of the students who left last year have contacted me to say how well prepared they have felt as they embark on their further education courses. I am delighted that so many of our students have, once again, achieved so highly. This success comes as no surprise given their hard work over the last two years.”

The school wish this year’s leavers the very best in all that they do.

One-month old baby airlifted to hospital after suffering cardiac arrest in Windermere