PUPILS at Westbourne School Sixth Form in Penarth are preparing for university after receiving their final exam results.

Several pupils will be heading off to Russell Group universities including University College London, King’s College London, Durham University, the University of Bristol, and Queen Mary University of London.

The independent school, which is among the highest rated schools in the UK, has been shortlisted in the Independent Schools of the Year Awards 2022, as well as in the TES Schools Awards.

Pupils at the school study for the International Baccalaureate (IB) instead of A Levels.

Instead of getting grades for specific subjects, pupils studying for an IB diploma are awarded overall points.

More subjects are studied, and students must take maths, english, a language, a science, a humanity and one other subject of their choice.

A research-based extended essay is a key component and is considered by some to give students and edge over their counterparts taking A Levels when applying to university.

Head pupil Mia Nunes achieved 44 IB points and is ranked among the top one per cent of students worldwide.

Still only 17 as she took the exams a year early, Miss Nunes is planning on studying medicine.

Miss Nunes said: "Westbourne has been a very large part of my life since I was three years old and has been the place where I've met the closest people to me.

"The teachers have been wonderful and the school has provided a great place for personal growth."

Abi Fox and Isabella McGrath both achieved grades good enough to be accepted into Oxford, though both are considering different futures.

Miss Fox will study business at the University of Bath while Isabella will focus on her online business during her gap year.

Miss McGrath said: "My confidence has grown massively.

"Westbourne really pushes you to be the best version of yourself and I’m very much grateful for that."

Chelger Chiew joined Westbourne from Malaysia for sixth form and attained 40 IB points, which is the A Level equivalent of 4 A*s.

He will start a degree in Law at Durham University in September.

Mr Chiew believes that the school’s smaller, close-knit environment has supported him to excel academically.

He said: "Westbourne is a really supportive community, which has helped me to adapt to a new environment while also providing top tier education."

Principal of Westbourne School, Dr Gerard Griffiths, said: "We are immensely proud of the achievements of our IB2 students, whose results today are a springboard to studying at some of the world’s most prestigious universities.

"Not only have they excelled in completing the IB Diploma programme, which is universally acknowledged as a challenging yet extremely rewarding academic programme, they have also developed essential skills and attitudes - leadership, confidence, resilience and global mindedness to name only a few - which will support them in making a real impact on the world."