Durham High School, a historic private school in County Durham, marked its final A-Level results day on Thursday, bringing together students, staff, and parents for one last celebration of its sixth form's achievements. The school, which announced its closure last month, was one of three schools closed by Chinese company Galaxy Global Education.
Results and Destinations
Over 40% of grades awarded were at A* or A, with more than three quarters of all grades at A* to B, reflecting the hard work and academic ambition of this year's students. Two students will head to the University of Cambridge to study law and education, while others will pursue courses including medicine, pharmacy, biomedical sciences, physics with astrophysics, economics and mathematics, nuclear engineering, English, and history.
Some students are taking alternative routes. One will begin a Rolls-Royce apprenticeship in non-destructive testing, while another is taking a gap year before pilot training. Several students will use a gap year to complete additional A Levels and explore future options.
Legacy and Reactions
University destinations span the country, including Cambridge, Bath, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, York, Liverpool, Sheffield, Lancaster, Northumbria, and Sunderland. Although the school officially closed its doors on July 2, staff say its legacy will continue through its students.
Acting Headteacher Laura Middleton said: "Yesterday was a very proud day for everyone connected with Durham High School. These results reflect a huge amount of hard work, but what makes us particularly proud is the young women our students have become. They leave us with confidence, ambition, strong friendships and a real desire to make a difference. Their next steps are incredibly varied, from Cambridge, medicine and law to engineering apprenticeships, humanitarian work and pilot training, and that breadth says so much about this group."
Closure Context
Following the closure announcement, Education Minister Olivia Bailey said Galaxy Global Education could face an investigation if it goes into administration. Alongside the closure of over 700-year-old Ruthin School in North Wales and 133-year-old Malvern St James in Worcestershire, the Durham school was the subject of a House of Commons debate in July.
