Bede’s Sixth Formers Celebrate Record-Breaking Results as School Achieves Best-Ever A Level Performance

 

Pupils at Bede’s School are celebrating a historic academic milestone today, having achieved the finest A Level and BTEC results in the Sussex school’s history. An impressive 84% of all grades were awarded at A* to B, with a third of all grades (33%) achieved at the top A* level (or equivalent).



A standout triumph this year stems from Bede’s remarkable on-site zoo—a unique asset for a school that provides pupils with direct, hands-on animal management experience. The Animal Management BTEC course saw a flawless 100% pass rate at A*-C equivalent (Distinction* to Merit). Among those celebrating is Tamiza Di Miceli, who achieved D* A A studying at the school's zoo facility and has now secured her place to read Veterinary Medicine at the University of Lancashire.

Bede’s renowned reputation in the creative and performing arts shone brightly once again, bolstered by the school's prestigious Legat Dance Academy. Dance Captain, Angel Yuen balanced significant leadership duties with world-class dance training, securing A* A* D* A to take up a place at the prestigious London Studio Centre for Professional Dance Performance. Joining her in artistic excellence are straight-A* pupil Cordelia Fahey (A* A* A*), who will study Drama and Film at the University of Birmingham, Francesca Eve (D* A* A*), who is heading to the University of Manchester to study Psychology, and Lulu Xu (A* A A B), who goes on to read History of Art at UCL.

Behind the headline statistics are inspiring individual stories of dedication and tenacity. Academic star Oli Davis earned a clean sweep of straight A*s (A* A* A*) and moves on to study International Relations at the University of Leeds. Demonstrating remarkable resilience, Ukrainian pupil Alina Kholiavka achieved an extraordinary A* A* and Distinction despite joining Bede’s under challenging circumstances. Meanwhile, Ilana Diamant Vidana originally joined Bede’s from Mexico for a one-year Pre-Sixth course and chose to stay on at the school —a decision richly rewarded with A* A A.

Bede’s high-performance sports provision continues to act as a launchpad for world-class athletes, with several pupils securing prestigious sports scholarships in the United States. Head of School, Jack Ford (A* A* A) heads to Hillsdale College, Michigan, on a Tennis Scholarship, while Jacob Hill (D* D* D) and Toby Kelly (D* D* B) have gained Football Scholarships to Seward County College (Kansas) and the University of Findlay (Ohio) respectively.

Domestically, Bede’s athletes are bound for the UK’s elite sporting hubs. Ife Owoigbe, George Lythgoe, and Archie Lyons have all gained places at Loughborough and Nottingham universities alongside top-tier football scholarship programmes. Meanwhile, Beau Mills Bennison (D* D* D) and Alhan Hussain (D* D* D*, who balanced his studies as Head of House alongside intense football commitments) will read Sport Management and Coaching at the University of Bath. Jake Sales (D* D* D*) heads to the University of Birmingham for Applied Golf Management Studies, while swimmer and prefect Alfie Johnson earned D* D* B.

Headmaster Pete Goodyer praised the dedication of this year’s cohort, commenting:

'I could not be more proud of our pupils and staff. To achieve the best results in Bede’s history is a phenomenal accomplishment, but what makes me happiest is how these results were achieved. At Bede’s, we believe in helping every child find joy in their pursuit of brilliance. Our pupils balance intense academic focus with extraordinary commitments in sport, the performing arts, leadership, and service. This departing year group leaves us not only with exceptional grades, but as happy, well-rounded, and ambitious young people ready to shape the world.'

The record-breaking results reflect Bede’s commitment to personalised learning. Each week, Bede’s delivers over 100 dedicated extra academic sessions, offering tailored revision, subject masterclasses, and one-to-one coaching outside standard timetable hours.

This academic support is intentionally balanced with a dynamic co-curricular programme. Bede’s firmly holds that when children are supported to explore their passions—whether in the science lab, on stage, or on the sports pitch—they are happier, more resilient, and perform better academically.

Academic Assistant Head, Nicholas Abrams, highlighted this approach:

'Every pupil’s success story at Bede’s is entirely unique, and that is what makes this year’s record results so gratifying. Whether a pupil is aiming for a sports scholarship, a veterinary degree, or the West End, our job is to map out a personalised pathway that supports their specific needs. By combining structured academic intervention—such as our 100+ weekly support sessions—with the freedom to pursue their passions, we empower pupils to achieve beyond their expectations.'

August 2026