Two years ago, we made a strong effort to change the value of boarding at Aitchison. Not only was boarding in decline by numbers (it is now full), it was littered with a history of academic under-performance. Not so now. I am delighted to report that boarding results in O Level and AS level equaled the Day outcomes and in some cases exceeded. As boarders acclimatize and have time to benefit from regular staff support in Prep School, the performance builds and builds. The take-aways from this are extremely important:
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The impact of residential staff on the quality of tutoring is highly apparent. We cover all subjects and boys have a timetable they understand and can utilize for support –group and individual. Weekends are not wasted.
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The Headmistress of SS and Headmaster of PS, staff and especially housemasters have been instrumental in building the right type of social climate and responsibility. Bullying and other old practices have gone. Leadership is a positive skill and everyone is an individual made to feel welcome and valued.
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Our school tutors are every bit as good if not better than external tutors and cost nothing. Aitchison teachers undergo relevant and modern professional development and rarely, if ever, do external tutors. Our teachers are up with curriculum developments.
This last point I have been emphasizing to parents and Day boys for quite some time. Everything you need and more is here at Aitchison, and forming a strong relationship with your teachers means a lot! Relationships govern outcomes because those who help actually care. Being in the environment in which success is palpable is also reassuring for a boy. Missing school is the beginning of the end.
The figures tell an interesting tale because many of our boarders have not come from city schools and have overcome the challenges of remote education to sit at the top of international curriculum. I would say that not in Aitchison’s history have boarders ever challenged Day boys in academics. A bit of healthy competition is good! The following academic summaries tell the story of Total, Boarders & Day % grades:
AS Level results
| AS Result | A | B | C | D | E | U |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 257 | 162 | 149 | 103 | 61 | 51 |
| % | 32.8 | 20.7 | 19.0 | 13.2 | 7.8 | 6.5 |
| Cum % | 32.8 | 53.5 | 72.5 | 85.7 | 93.5 | 100 |
|
Boarders |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
U |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Total |
21 |
7 |
16 |
6 |
2 |
7 |
|
% |
35.6 |
11.9 |
27.1 |
10.2 |
3.4 |
11.9 |
|
Cum % |
35.6 |
47.5 |
74.6 |
84.7 |
88.1 |
100 |
|
Day Boy |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
U |
|
Total |
236 |
155 |
133 |
97 |
59 |
44 |
|
% |
32.6 |
21.4 |
18.4 |
13.4 |
8.1 |
6.1 |
|
Cum % |
32.6 |
54 |
72.4 |
85.8 |
93.9 |
100 |
O Level results
|
O Level Result |
A* |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
U |
|
Total |
202 |
557 |
436 |
272 |
84 |
26 |
14 |
|
% |
12.7 |
35 |
27.4 |
17.1 |
5.3 |
1.6 |
0.9 |
|
Cum % |
12.7 |
47.7 |
75.1 |
92.2 |
97.5 |
99.1 |
100 |
|
Boarders |
A* |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
U |
|
Total |
14 |
57 |
70 |
36 |
12 |
2 |
0 |
|
% |
7.3 |
29.8 |
36.6 |
18.8 |
6.3 |
1.0 |
0.0 |
|
Cum % |
7.3 |
37.2 |
73.8 |
92.7 |
99 |
100 |
100 |
|
Day Boy |
A* |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
U |
|
Total |
188 |
500 |
366 |
236 |
72 |
24 |
14 |
|
% |
13.4 |
35.7 |
26.1 |
16.9 |
5.1 |
1.7 |
1.0 |
|
Cum % |
13.4 |
49.1 |
75.3 |
92.1 |
97.3 |
99 |
100 |
Mrs Amina Kamran
Principal