Students and staff at John Kyrle are celebrating another set of outstanding A Level results. The school's biggest ever Year 13 had 51% of all entries scoring an A or B grade; 75% at A-C; an overall pass rate of 99% and a UCAS Average Points Score of 270. These results are all the more impressive when it is noted that they do not include General Studies.

The vast majority of departments had 100% pass rates with Product Design, Technology, Music, Drama, Sports Studies and Food Technology having their students gaining all top grades. At a time when the sciences are falling in popularity at other schools and colleges, Physics at John Kyrle was one of the most popular and best performing subjects with 85% of all entries at AC and a 100% pass rate.

Headteacher, Nigel Griffiths praised his staff and students and said he was delighted with the continued upward trajectory of results. 'Our biggest ever cohort with over 200 entries has seen students gain outstanding grades and accessing their first choice university courses across the UK. In addition to our own students' successes, I am especially pleased to see excellent achievements from students joining us from other schools across Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire. The increased investment in the school leading to the recently opened £1 million Sixth Form Centre has been money well spent. We were identified as a High Performing Specialist School by the DfES in the summer term and as these results confirm this judgement, I am, as ever, ambitious for even more improvements in years to come.'

Rob Wallace, Head of Sixth Form identified the key drivers for this continued success. He felt outstanding teaching with a relentless focus upon high standards, coupled with the individual care given to students and the school's close partnership with parents led to these excellent achievements. Students have also been widely involved in sport, music, drama and community service throughout their two years with us. Taken together this further confirmed the strength of John Kyrle's sixth form experience.

A number of outstanding individual performances are listed below.

Members of the Ross on Wye and District Age Concern have been busy collecting sponsorship for a very special walk they took part in on Monday, August 21st.

During the month of August staff and volunteers from the Age Concern organization and groups in Herefordshire and Worcestershire have been taking part in the Age Concern Roundabout Challenge to raise much needed funds. The relay type walk started at the main office in Worcester and groups have since travelled from one office to another throughout the two counties.

One of the walkers wore a special sash which was handed on to the next group and decorated with a ribbon from each group. All Age Concern groups across the two counties have been working hard to sign up sponsors who can help to raise their target of £600. Proceeds will help Age Concern groups carry out vital work with, and on behalf of older people.

A group from Age Concern Hereford arrived at Ross on Friday, August 18th. The walkers from Ross set off from their office for the twelve and a half miles walk to Age Concern, Ledbury at 8:00 am on Monday, August 21st. The Mayor of Ross, Phil Cutter and supporter, Maria Cudok were there to wave them off.

The walkers from Hereford to Ross were Daya Boodhoo, Lyndon Barrington and Jay Boodhoo. Those who walked from Ross to Ledbury were Janet MacDonald, the Chief Officer, Jean Wagstaff, the acting Chair of Age Concern, Debbie Griffiths and Lynne Drabble, two of the Trustees of Age Concern. Support on the day was provided by co-ordinator Alan Drabble.

For further information about the walk or to make a donation towards this cause, please contact Age Concern Ross-on-Wye on 01989 567165 or call into The Age Concern Information and Advice Centre at 18, Gloucester Road, Ross-on-Wye.

Age Concern Ross also currently needs volunteers to do small repair and maintenance jobs in the HR9 area. If you can help, please telephone the office.

In the photograph below, left to right are: Daya Boodhoo, Janet Macdonald, Chief Officer Age Concern, Ross, Lyndon Barrington, Brian Burrows, Jay Boodhoo, Mayor of Ross, Councillor Phil Cutter and Jean Wagstaff.

If you have a local news item or story of local interest which you would like to appear on Wyenot News you are very welcome to submit it by email, telephone or by post.

Please advise as early as possible if you would like me to photograph your local event so that I can put it in my diary. This service is offered strictly on a first come, first served basis.

Many Wyenot News photographs appear in various local newspapers and magazines. This does not imply that Wyenot News or any other part of this web site belongs to those publications. Wyenot News is a totally independent news magazine.

Contacting Wyenot News:

Email: please click here.

Telephone: 01989 763217 - Mobile: 0779 683 4077

Postal address: Wyenot News, 1, Hillview Road, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire. HR9 7EY

Although it is fine to submit if you are submitting an event taking place in a pub / shop / restaurant etc., please make sure that your story does have real news value and is not simply an advertisement for your business. It would be unfair to those who support Wyenot.com and Wyenot News by advertising to publish blatant advertisements disguised as editorial material.